This forum is the greatest site I have ever seen for finding out information about corvettes. I have a 99 daily driver and through the forum I have discovered that it isn’t a real reliable car. I have repaired the following; all of which have shown to be problems on this site.

Oil pressure sensor
Fobs
Left differential oil seal
Right fuel tank level sensor
Door lock relays
Ground problems
Cracked flange welds on exhaust system
Got rid of the run flat tires and got a spare and jack
Had a four-wheel alignment done.

Would anyone like to comment on any other problems that might be common to 99’s. I really like these cars but I don’t know if I can afford to keep one. I hate to settle for a Honda just because they don’t break.

 

Bought my FRC used 3 years ago. Only two issues I had to fix. One was the harmonic balancer, original wobbled, replaced with under-drive ASP. Second was the hose going to power steering fluid cooler was leaking. Did repairs myself.

Other issues witht the car, gas gage drops to empty, ususally happens when I but in cheap highway gas. Driver side window doesn't always come down. Both issues do not happen very often.

Nothing to worry about, overall a great car.

 

Car has been very good. Replaced clutch at 73k, front brakes/rotors at 68k, Still on second set of tires. Replace oil pressure relay 48,000 and did have steering column lock repaired twice. Not bad for 6 years of use.

 

Ordered my '99 vert and took delivery at the factory. Have had many of the problems you list which were fixed under warranty. Also replaced the run farts this year and am much happier with the GS-D3's. Still have a small water leak at the top of the driver side window.

Overall, I am very happy with my C5. Now if you want to hear a horror story let me tell you about my '02 TrailBlazer.......

Ike

 

What kind of spare do you carry and where do you have it stored?

 

Guys, I'm not trying to insult anyone, but it is my opinion that the newer vettes have to many do-dads and/or options that can increase the possibilty for something to brake, especially the electronics. I guess I kinda old school, but I always thought of a performance car as being like the 68/69 Roadrunners, where carpet and an AM radio was an option. Just my .02.

 

I am having a transmission fluid leak as I type this in my '99. I'm not sure if this issue is unique to only 99 models, however.

 

My '99 has been mostly trouble free (60K miles) the tires and water pump have been replaced along with the oil pressure sending unit, but hey, maintenance is to be expected on any car. Overall I'd say that I'm quite pleased with it's reliability.

 

The '99 vert won the SAE car of the century!! That's quite a compliment, if I must say so. Of course that award was given out when the car was less than a year old but hey I'll take it. Now what's that about an '02 TrailBlazer? I've got one of them too and outside of a pesky "Service Engine Soon" light and some suspension issues she's been pretty O.K.

 

Awesome dependability despite the little quirks .

 

Well I have to agree on the things that go wrong with the '99. I had a frt rotor issue with warpage but what I understand after several turnings they get small which in turn is more heat I replaced with Brembo seem to have that fixed, then the speed sensor hubs went replace those, had to buy a new fob, had the exhaust jingle x-pipe cured that, just finished replacing the idler and tensioner and belts, and now I have the oil sending unit bad, Yes things do and can go bad I have 97k on mine, but in spite of all that I love the car and love to drive it..... It's a head turner for sure and I guess that comes with a price...

 

Hmm..had some of those issues early on ....oil pressure sensor just died this week at 72K....NFW its getting fixed anytime son as the SC would have to come off...other than some of what you listed...I am pretty happy over 6 years

 

Getting Beat By 98's

 

One I had to do that you didn't mention was replacing the idler pulley, uh, just like other cars I've owned, including a Honda. Oh, had to replace the timing belt, water pump, head gasket, struts, etc., on my Honda.

Things just break on mechanical items. If you perceive the Hondas to be better, be my guest; I've owned them in the past and wouldn't mind owning one in the future if it meets my needs. But to expect perfection in a car that's 6-7 years old (regardless of miles) is a quest towards disappointment.

HTH, and have a good one,
Mike

 

Nothing wrong with my 99 FRC. Wanna buy a bridge?
When I first bought mine 3 yrs ago I drove it for a week and the change oil light came on. I took it to the dealer after I had spent 2 days shining it up inside and out. When I got it back later, they handed me a bill for $90 and there were greasy handprints on the door, the hood, the steering wheel, and the stick shift. I got grease all aver my hands and my white dockers I cancelled my service contract that day and have been doing all my own repairs and upgrades since, except for my gears and rear end, thanks ECS .
I have learned 2 things from this...
1: The car might as well be a John Deere lawn tractor as far as most service departments are concerned, except it costs 50% more to service this model tractor and they break stuff in the process of fixing other stuff.
2: As customers, all we are is a paycheck to the dealers. Get it in, fix it fast, get it out so we can do the next car.
There may be good service departments out there, but I havn't found them. The best thing I did for my car was to invest in a lift, tools, and a set of service manuals and learn how to take care of things myself. Example, when I bought my Vette the guy selling me the service contract told me what If I get on it and blow a head gasket, it would cost $1500 fix. Hmmm, now it costs me the price of the gaskets, the bolt kit, and a day or 2 work that is being done with TLC, and not an eye on the clock and the bank account.
This may not be the best solution for everybody, but it seems to have been for me. I got to use all that experience turning wrenches I got from back in high school when I had my '55 chevy 327/4speed, 4:10's...

 

i have a 99 coupe and has jus tripped 30k miles always garaged but i do twist its ear ocassionaly. The only prob i have ever had is the b. 2205 window roling down problem and the lock switch recall done and something with the lapbelt recall. The car has only been it the rain less than a dozen times but i have noticed where water had come in above the doors before. Overall real pleased but will be looking into the oil pressure switch prob, sounds hereditary! Has your car ever been wrecked because alignments can be difficult on these. I was aksin cause of the tire and alignment prob?? Any way best of luck and happy vette wishes.

 

I agree somewhat. I think they should have made a Z06 track model and released it as an almost non-daily driveable car and left for the hardcore enthusiast. A/C/, carpeting, sound deadening, reclining seats, traction control, stereo, hydraulic line restrictions, and some other things should be thrown out the window.

 

Any pictures of the spare yet?

 

In August we bought a 99 Vert with 32,000 miles on it this is what we have had to do to it.

Items I consider Non-Routine repairs
Repaired Cracked flange welds on exhaust system
Replaced one and had both Fobs Reprogramed
Replaced one of the tire sensors
Replaced left cover "o" ring seal and left shaft seal
Replaced HVAC door servo

Items I consider routine maintanence
Replace tires (Michelien RF Pilots)
4Wheel alignment
All fluids changed
4Wheel brake job

My bigest complaints are:
That the tire sensor's batterys were not designed to be changed. I know some people have done it but why couldn't the factory have demanded that they be designed to be easy to replace.

Knowing that many of us do not use our cars as daily drivers why could they not have designed the electrical system to be put in a dormant mode so they wouldn't kill the battery in just a couple of weeks. I understand the C-6 is even worse about this. It will actually roll the windows down when the voltage goes below a certain level. Great for any car sitting say out at the Airport!

 

I have owned two corvettes with differential leaks,both on the left side.