Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1979 Chevrolet Corvette
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Engine & Cooling
538.5%
0 crashes, 1 fires
Body & Structure
323.1%
Equipment & Accessories
215.4%
Tires
215.4%
Wheels
17.7%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Sep 2001peak 6Sep 2008
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Toledo, OHFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DRIVER OF 1979 CHEVY CORVETTE HEARD A BANG UNDER THE HOOD AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT A FIRE AND BURNED. THE FIRE STARTED AFTER AN OIL HOSE BROKE AND SPRAYED OIL ONTO THE HOT ENGINE. THE CONCLUSION WAS MADE AFTER SEEING APPROXIMATELY 700 FEET OF OIL RESIDUE ON THE ROADWAY LEADING FROM THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE CENTER LANE. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0361-89.
NHTSA complaint #10244808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Toledo, OHFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DRIVER OF 1979 CHEVY CORVETTE HEARD A BANG UNDER THE HOOD AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT A FIRE AND BURNED. THE FIRE STARTED AFTER AN OIL HOSE BROKE AND SPRAYED OIL ONTO THE HOT ENGINE. THE CONCLUSION WAS MADE AFTER SEEING APPROXIMATELY 700 FEET OF OIL RESIDUE ON THE ROADWAY LEADING FROM THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE CENTER LANE. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0361-89.
NHTSA complaint #10244808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kentwood, MI
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
THE T-TOP LEAKS WATER WHENEVER IT RAINS OR WHEN THE CAR IS WASHED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #562989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kentwood, MI
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
THE POWER ANTENNA IS INOPERTIVE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #562989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kentwood, MI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
THE MUFFLER WAS MAKING A LOUD RATTLING NOISE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #562989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kentwood, MI
TIRES
THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAS A LEAK, TIRE INFO NOT GIVEN. NLM
NHTSA complaint #562989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kentwood, MI
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
THE LEFT REAR TIRE CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL, FENDER AND UNDERCARRIAGE, DEALER FAILED TO PROPERLY TIGHTEN THE LUG NUTS. NLM
NHTSA complaint #562989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kentwood, MI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH AT LOW SPEEDS AND WOULD FREQUENTLY STALL WHEN AT IDLE, THE ENGINE LEAKS OIL DUE TO FAULTY HEAD GASKET. NLM
NHTSA complaint #562989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kentwood, MI
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
THE T-TOP LEAKS WATER WHENEVER IT RAINS OR WHEN THE CAR IS WASHED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #562989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kentwood, MI
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
THE POWER ANTENNA IS INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #562225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kentwood, MI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
MUFFLER WAS MAKING A LOUD RATTLING NOISE.
NHTSA complaint #562225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kentwood, MI
TIRES
RIGHT REAR TIRE HAS A LEAK, AND THE LEFT REAR TIRE FLEW OFF AND CAUSED SIGNIFICGANT DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL, FENDER AND UNDERCARRIAGE.
NHTSA complaint #562225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kentwood, MI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER BELIEVES HE WAS A VICTIM OF FRAUD, HE WAS TOLD BY THE SALESMAN THAT THE PARTS ON VEHICLE WERE ORIGNAL, HOWEVER VEHICLE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AT LOW SPEEDS AND WOULD FREQUENTLY STALL WHEN AT IDLE, THERE WAS ALSO AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AS WELL AS A LEAKY HEAD GASKET.
NHTSA complaint #562225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kentwood, MI
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
CONVERTIBLE TOP LEAKS WATER WHENEVER IT RAINS OR IF THE VEHICLE IS WASHED.
NHTSA complaint #562225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.