Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 39 complaints with NHTSA about the 1990 Chevrolet Corvette, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 17 | 44% |
| Seat belts | 6 | 15% |
| Visibility | 2 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 5% |
| Suspension | 2 | 5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 5% |
| Fuel system | 2 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 5% |
| Air bags | 1 | 3% |
| Seat belts | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The Seatbelt Retractors failed per both of the safety belt recalls. The belts no longer function and GM refuses to provide a remedy to clear the safety recall.
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
GM ORDERED THE INCORRECT SEAT BELTS WHICH WOULD SATISFY THE RECALL. THEY'VE IGNORED MY PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS. ACCORDING TO MY FINDINGS GM MUST EITHER SATISFY THE RECALL OR PROVIDE ME WITH A SUITABLE VEHICLE WHICH IS SAF
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
I HAVE CALLED SEVERAL DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THEY SAY THEY CANNOT GET THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPLACE MY SEAT BELTS.
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING DOWN 1-20 AT 70 MPH WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON KNOWN TO US. I WAS DRIVING AND WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AND GET IT STOPPED. THE AIRBAG INJURED MY LEFT ARM
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE LISTED ABOVE IN DEC. 2012. I RECENTLY TOOK IT TO A CHEVROLET DEALER FOR SERVICE WHO AT THAT TIME RAN IT THROUGH THEIR DATABASE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY OUTSTANDING RECALLS. IN 1990 A RECALL WAS IS
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SEAT BELT MY SELF INTO MY CORVETTE THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT UPPER HARNESS WOULD NOT RELEASE AND ATTACH TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BELT CLASP. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
PROBLEM: I HAVE A 1990 CHEVY CORVETTE AND THE SAFETY BELT ON THE DRIVES SIDE OF CAR HAS "LOCKUP OR JAMMED" IN THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR. CONSEQUENCE SUMMARY: IF LOCKUP OCCURS, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL BELT OUT OF T
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1990 Chevrolet Corvette. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CE
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AN
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
FUEL FEED AND RETURN LINE CONNECTORS HAVE INCORRECT LINE END FLARE CONFIGURATIONS.
Risk: LINE ENDS COULD CRACK CAUSING A FUEL LEAK THAT COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Fix: INSTALL NEW FUEL LINES WITH CORRECT END FLARE CONFIGURATION.
UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE OPERATIONS AND OCCUPANT USAGE CONDITIONS, THE SAFETY BELTS CAN LOCKUP OR JAM IN THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR.
Risk: IF LOCKUP OCCURS, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL BELT OUT OFTHE RETRACTOR. THE OCCUPANT OF A SEAT WITH AN UNUSABLE SAFETY BELT ISSUBJECT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR
Fix: REPLACE THE SAFETY BELTS IF THE LOCKUP OCCURS.
| Reliability raw | 81 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 77 | good |
| Maintenance | 66 | good |
| Depreciation | 98 | excellent |
| Performance | 74 | good |
| Efficiency | 30 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other sports & two-seaters in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 39 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 17 of them (44%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 81/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1990 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 74/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.