1997 Chevrolet Corvette reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 1997 Chevrolet Corvette — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 196
- on record
- Top problem area
- STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
- 48 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 0
- none on record
- Reported harm
- 4 reported crashes · 2 injuries
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#2,617
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Chevrolet median
-112
median 308 across 473 Chevrolet records
Vs 1995-1999
-61
median 257 complaints in 591 records
Top component share
52%
Steering: 101 complaints
What owners report fails — 1997 Chevrolet Corvette
- STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR 48
- STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE 33
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE 13
- STEERING:COLUMN 11
- STEERING 9
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 1997 Chevrolet Corvette
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 1997 Chevrolet Corvette units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Chevrolet Corvette reliable?
NHTSA has 196 consumer complaints on record for the 1997 Chevrolet Corvette. The most-reported problem area is steering: steering wheel/handle bar (48 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 1997 Chevrolet Corvette units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Chevrolet Corvette?
Owners most often report problems with: steering: steering wheel/handle bar (48), steering:column locking:anti-theft device (33), engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (13), steering:column (11). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 1997 Chevrolet Corvette?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.