mikecoffin1,

My 1999 C5 coupe (special ordered and purchased new) has suffered 18 separate defects during the first three years and 21,000 carefully driven miles. It was built in August 1998, and delivered in September 1998.

It has broken down three separate times while my wife and I were driving out-of-state, immobilizing us. It has been recalled twice (one safety - one "campaign).

After the car was ordered, the UAW went on one of their infamous "work stoppages", delaying the car's build and delivery. Chevrolet did nothing for its loyal customers (like me) that waited for their C5 and still purchased it (not even a form "thank you" letter).

I agree with you - the poor quality and reliability is inexcusable. Good luck.

1999 White C5 Coupe

 

Uh-oh, somebody's going to start having trouble real soon!

All kidding aside, I've been driving my coupe every day now for seven months without so much as a wimper. Hopefully, quality improves every year.

 

That's too many problems to deal with and still smile. Good luck.

 

If anyone wants me to go there, l will because I have proof about :cry the lemon C5's. Ask me, but be careful :boxing :boxing :boxing :boxing I feel you man, and I am sorry. :mad

 

I sent you an e-mail. I would suggest that you request a buy-back from GM. Depending on the mileage. Many owners have succeded with this request. It seems that your C5 is one of the bigger C5 problem childs - in fact, yours may be one of the bullys of the bunch. Let us know. Good luck

 

Mike, you were congratulating me too soon. I forgot to mention that I have been to the dealer twice to adjust the driver's side window and top. Every time it rained I would get soaking wet on my left shoulder and arm. They filled the seams and seals with sillcone to stop the leaks.

The synchronizers went out on the transmission at 16,000 miles. The clutch is so mushy that I have to jam it hard to get it into reverse. The dealer will not replace the slave pump on the clutch. He says that the clutch acts the way it was designed. I say they are full of it.

Additionally, I have had to take it in several times to try to fix rattles and squeaks. I thought the power steering pump had gone out because every time I turn at low speeds the steering starts squeaking and whining. At speeds above 80mph the wind noise is so bad I can't hear the radio. I just thought these problems were common with all of the vettes. There are always several at the dealership being worked on when I drop mine off for the latest repair. It sounds like we got stuck with a couple really ripe lemons. Oh well, s@#t happens.

 

Iceman,
That is too bad.

We have over 40,000 miles and almost every issue has been normal wear and tear. The problems we have had were are repaired to our satisfaction.

We really like our C5 and are just waiting to order our 50th anniversary.

 

I feel your pain, I have had all of the typical problems with my '00 9k miles. Fuel sensor,window regulator,axle seals,dash pad w/hud,tele wheel,seat memory problems. etc. etc. I bought this car for a song so all these problems are easier to deal with, but if I bought new or paid market value I wouldn't be a happy camper. When my girlfriend and I bought our Vettes we decided we needed a reliable daily driver - a used Honda.

 

After all the problems, it still is a beautiful car though. It looks great in your sig picture with the BBS wheels.

 

I agree--- I'm sorry you got a bad one, but don't be so short-sighted as to assume that they all are that way...THEY'RE NOT.
You got a car that was sub-standard. 99.5% of them are not!!!!
I'd be pissed, too, but don't blame the Corvette name because of it!!:nono:
If you like the car itself, then you owe it to yourself to get a new one... you will NOT have this many problems with two cars... I'll bet my Vette on it!!!
C'mon---it's REALLY not fair to judge an entire model line by a single car...ESPECIALLY when there are SO many overwhelmingly happy owners out there!!!
If you choose not to like C5 Corvettes because of this one, then, well....go spend $25,000 more on a Viper..., or $60,000 more on a Porsche 911... more power to 'ya...
Guess what, though...you still won't find the refinement AND power of the C5...combined in one sleek, sexy, and refined package.
But hey, it's a free country, right:)
***PS--- I really hope you'll give The Corvette the chance it deserves :yesnod: :cheers:

 

:yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod:

No problems to date - 13 months and going strong!

Lots of Mods added too! :D

:cheers:

 

Ah...the old daily driver trick!!! Well, let me say, the ill feelings I have toward my C5 are made up for by the great feelings for my C4...my daily driver until I bought the C5. What is special here is that the C4 daily driver was a 600 rwhp blown 383 that ran a 10.2/138mph 1/4...after driving it two hours to the track with a/c on and CD playing! That car has been perfect...giving me no problems at all. LOL...if my C5 was 1/4 as reliable as the C4, I would not have written this whole post about this being my last corvette!

As a realist, I accept the fact that any and all cars have lemons. But, the cost of the C5, all the time in the shop...often for repeats of the same defect...is just more than I want to put up with anymore. As I stated early on, I'm not bashing vettes...to me, they are the best on the road when everything is considered. But, I'm beginning to think that almost all cars are made on Friday at 5pm as was mentioned in an earlier reply to my post.

Guess we should just dwell on the parts of our cars that work properly...let's see....on mine, that comes to 14 parts!

Let me say at this point...ya'll have been great with the feedback to my post. Loved hearing how many of you had no problems at all...and sorry to hear that some have had more problems than me. It made me feel good to hear of all your experiences with your vettes. Guess I will deal with mine. When it's paid for, I'll solve the problem by selling it and moving into the rest home where I don't need a dang headache car! :D :D

Thanks to all for your input. This forum is the greatest!!! :cheers:

 

Well, if you're still bound and intent on leaving the Corvette fold, then don't let the door hit you in the *** on the way out
Sorry you couldn't see the light :seeya


[Modified by MDL-01C5, 1:39 AM 1/11/2002]

 

I think you missed some of my post. I am not judging the model...Corvette...by my C5...no vette bashing here. Two out of my three have been great. Yes, there are a lot of happy and satisfied customers here. That's great...but doesn't make up for my nightmares with my C5. I feel GM has really dropped the ball in several areas...but that's life and my problem I guess. I'm the first one to brag on a corvette, especially a C5...just not on MY C5! :U

Mike Coffin

 

Mike,glad to see you still have your sense of humor. All b**ching aside I love my car,just dont understand why these cars all have the same problems model year after model year. My girlfriend bought her '99 a couple months ago and is having all of the same problems I've had with my '00. I understand first year production problems but they shouldn't run into the fifth year! The daily driver is a Honda Passport (Isuzu Rodeo) with 115,000 mi. and I wouldn't hesitate to drive it cross country. BTW you should keep the vette when you check into the retirement home so you will have something to b**ch about with the other old men....... besides the weather. :D

 

Waltz...good point about having something to BS about in the "HOME" besides the weather! But, for me, that is a problem, as I'm a retired meteorologist (43 years worth)...so, I have a lot more old weather stories than I do old corvette stories.. :D :D

And now that I think about it, my track record in weather career is MUCH better than GM's with my C5. Hey...in 43 years, I think I got about five forecasts right! Lot better than I can say about GM and my vette! :cheers:

 

Sorry for your misfortune... There is always going to be problems for it is just a machine.... The only service call I have had on mine has been the rocking drivers seat... At lease your issues weren't big mechanical problems and when they have gone through fixing them all, you just might have yourself a flawless vette :yesnod:

Nick

 

Too bad - Three years - 28,000 miles - 2 waranty issues. No compliants here.

 

:eek:

 

My 97 had a slew of problems, I had just about every TSB you can name.

My current '99 has had the oil pump, Harmonic Balancer, and ignition replaced.

I haven't had any problems for about a year and a half.

Hopefully it will remain that way. :)