The Chevrolet C5 Corvette is an excellent choice for sports car enthusiasts on a budget. It’s a beautiful model and generation of sports car with a powerful engine, ferocious handling, impressive fuel economy and cheap and readily available parts. It also offers a myriad of modifications and customization support, from the exterior to the powertrain, making it the perfect canvas for sports car enthusiasts to transform their ride into something truly unique and custom.
However, if you want a reliable sports car, you might be best off avoiding an edition of the Chevrolet C5 Corvette: the 1998 Corvette C5.
The story of the Chevrolet C5 Corvette
The Corvette C5 is the fifth generation Corvette and was produced for the 1997 to 2004 model years. It was supposed to debut for the 1993 model year to celebrate the Corvette’s fortieth anniversary, but was delayed due to financial issues and changes in General Motors personnel. When it was introduced in January 1997, it was an instant hit and became one of the most sought-after sports cars of the time.
The Chevy Corvette C5 succeeded the previous C2, C3, and C4 generations, including the best-selling Chevrolet Corvette of all time, the 1979 C3. It was a significant upgrade over its predecessors, sharing very few parts with them and increasing the technology and performance limits.
It has a beautiful fiberglass body with a pointed front end and a long hood, titanium exhaust and the iconic pop-up headlights that are missing from today’s sports cars. The spacious interior is well appointed with plush leather upholstery and head-up display technology, uncommon in American vehicles of the era. It was initially launched as a two-door coupe, but Chevrolet later introduced a convertible model, followed by a hardtop version a year later.
The Chevy Corvette C5 was the first car with the exceptionally powerful and reliable LS V8 engine. Its titanic 5.7-liter LS1 V8 makes 345 horsepower with a six-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. It has relatively high EPA ratings for its time of 18/25 mpg city/highway with the manual transmission and 19/28 mpg with the manual transmission.
Coupling the powerful engine with impressive 50/50 weight distribution, it was one of the fastest Corvettes ever. Later model years used the upgraded LS6 engine that increased output to 385 hp and later 405 hp for 2002, and fuel economy dropped to 17/26 mpg city/highway.
Why is the 1998 Chevy Corvette C5 the worst model year?
The Corvette C5 had some issues and recalls like any other car. However, the 1998 model has some alarming registered owner complaints and recalls, according to HotCars, that show it’s a very problematic model year.
Complaints from registered owners
The 1998 Corvette C5 has more than 400 owner complaints logged on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website. More than half of these complaints relate to the steering, with many others related to the electrical system, engine and engine cooling, fuel system, powertrain, seats and seat belts, and the service brakes.
Many steering problems involved seizing and locking, requiring drivers to replace the steering plate, axle, lock and wheel. Unfortunately, many owners report that they had to pay out of pocket because their cars’ VIN was not part of the recall.
Most engine problems involve the engine shutting down while driving. Some drivers had to stop in the middle of the fastest lane of the highway, risking their lives. Another common engine problem is exhaust system failure that causes exhaust fumes to be blown into the passenger compartment.
Owner complaints registered on the NHTSA website reveal the extent of the 1998 Corvette C5’s unreliability.
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The 1998 Corvette C5 has received four recalls. The first recall was because the headlights did not meet the required visibility and brightness standards, reducing driver visibility, especially in low light conditions. According to the Corvette Forum, the second recall was related to the lap belt straps catching on the retractor, rendering the seat belts unusable.
The third recall of the C5 Corvette involved the most important safety issue: the malfunction of the electronic column locking system. It would randomly shut off engine power or refuse to unlock the steering wheel when in motion. Following the recall, several owners were upset with how the manufacturer handled this factory defect, prompting NHTSA to launch investigations to further address the issue.
Later model years of the C5 Corvette are more reliable
You should avoid the previous models of the Corvette C5 if you want a reliable car, especially the 1998 model year. However, each generation is better than its predecessor, so if you must get a ‘Vette, keep in mind consider the C5 models from 2002 to 2004, which are significantly more reliable.
However, all C5 models of the entire generation tend to have common problems. Major C5 Corvette problems throughout the generation include corroded ground wires, burning engine oil, locked steering column, leaking differential, and faulty LS1 needle bearings . Despite these issues, the Chevrolet Corvette C5 is still a great car.
