Home · 2016 Chevrolet Corvette · Complaints

What 103 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Corvette

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (103)Crash / fire / injury (2)Wheels (59)Fuel system (14)Transmission & drivetrain (12)Electrical system (6)Engine (6)Steering (4)Body & structure (3)Airbags (2)Visibility & wipers (2)Brakes (1)

Newest first · 103 complaints · page 2 of 5

Oct 21, 2021Visibility & wipers

The top drivers side of the windshield has a 2" hairline crack that you cannot feel from the outside of the vehicle. Numerous Corvette Forum Sites have discussions regarding this to be a manufacturer assembly flaw. Apparently there is some left over welding material near the corner of the windshield pillar. This material creates pressure against the inside of the glass causing it to crack on the inside layer of glass. I have contacted the local Chevrolet dealer and the GM Customer Care Center. Both have declined to even look at the crack stating it is not GM's fault. There are numerous posts on the Corvette Forums showing pictures of cracks just like mine. GM's answer was to have my insurance company replace the glass. I do not feel this is right given this is a quality control issue. Some of the windshields in the forum posts have continued to crack across the whole top of the windshield. See below for forum sites and discussions! https://www.stingrayforums.com/threads/cracked-windshield-just-cracked-itself.39937/ https://www.stingrayforums.com/threads/cracked-windshield-already.6414/ https://www.corvette7.com/forums/showthread.php?p=9165900 My car only has 11,000 miles on it, has never been driven in the rain and is always covered in my garage when not in use. It also has never been in an accident.

NHTSA ODI 11437646

Oct 11, 2021Wheels

Have now experienced, for the FOURTH time, a crack in one of my rear cast aluminum rims on my 2016 limited edition C7R Corvette. Once the rim cracks, it leaks air, slowly to start with but then faster and faster as the crack grows over time. This latest crack is on a rim that I bought for over $1,000 from my local GM/Chevy dealer when they wouldn't do anything for me over a previously cracked rim. Every one of the four cracks have been on the inside of the rear rim with no trauma evidence to be seen as a don't hit curbs or potholes with my car. I drive carefully as evidenced by my getting 19.7 miles per gallon for the life of my car and as much as 27 miles per gallon for a 50 mile stretch. I don't take it racing or abuse it as this was my dream car, one of 500 made for the US market. The local dealer folks admit the rims are defective but say they can't do anything about it because GM says the rims are not defective. The first cracked rim was also examined by a metals professor at Sacramento State who confirmed the rim was defective but said destructive testing would be required to prove that with absolute certainty. I have not agreed to destructive testing and am in possession of the latest cracked rim. Once a rim cracks, I have to get it replaced or fixed as the car is not really usable with a flat tire.

NHTSA ODI 11436289

Sep 25, 2021Wheels

Right rim is cracked. Mechanic informed me the tire leak is due to cracked rim. Appears like others have the same issue. What’s not known is if the crack is propagating therefore becoming a true safety hazard while driving the vehicle at highway speeds.

NHTSA ODI 11434329

Sep 1, 2021Wheels

The left rear rim on the vehicle cracked resulting in air loss. GM covered only a 40% of the cost to replace. This fracture places all four of the wheels in question. Rims should not CRACK and fail.

NHTSA ODI 11431337

Jul 31, 2021

Right rear rim cracked for the third time on my car. I noticed a slow leak after driving for about an hour earlier in the day. I get back in my car after a round of golf and notice that the right rear tire is low on air pressure. This is the third time I've had a cracked rim. I don't abuse my car, as this is a limited edition C7R, one of 500 made for the US market. My dealer admits that the rims are defective but says they can't do anything about it because GM says the rims aren't defective. Even though my car is only five years old with less than 36,000 miles on it, GM no longer makes these rims and none are available nationwide, so I'm forced to go to a aluminum wheel repair shop to get my rim fixed as there is no alternative. The original rim cracked, the $1,000 OEM replacement rim cracked (in the same place), and now the original rim repaired has cracked (again in the same area just next to where it was repaired).

NHTSA ODI 11427289

Jun 17, 2021Wheels

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated while the vehicle was being serviced at a tire shop, he was notified that the rear driver and passenger side rims were cracked. The contact called the local dealer to inform them of the failure and ordered both rims to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired as of yet. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 12,488.

NHTSA ODI 11421316

May 15, 2021Wheels

I RETURNED TO MY CAR AFTER PLAYING A ROUND OF GOLF ON MONDAY AND THE CAR SAID THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS LOW. I DROVE TO THE TIRE STORE AND THEY FOUND THE RIM WAS CRACKED WITH NO SIGNS OF ANY TRAUMA TO THE RIM OR TIRE. I HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN IN JANUARY 2020, AND ENDED UP BUYING A NEW ALUMINUM RIM FROM THE DEALER (OVER $1.000) BECAUSE GM SAYS THE RIM ISN'T DEFECTIVE. THE CAR THEN HAD 26,500 MILES ON IT. NOW 7,600 MILES AND A LITTLE OVER A YEAR LATER, THE NEW REPLACEMENT RIM CRACKS ON THE INSIDE OF THE RIM IN THE VERY SAME MANNER AS THE ORIGINAL RIM CRACKED. I'VE ATTACHED A PICTURE AND NOW HAVE TWO CRACKED (DEFECTIVE) RIMS IN HAND. I REPORTED THE FIRST CRACKED RIM TO NTHSA WHEN IT HAPPENED A YEAR AGO AND NOW AM REPORTING THE SECOND IDENTICAL DEFECT. DO I NEED TO DRIVE THE CAR AND HURT MYSELF VIA AN ACCIDENT TO GET YOU FOLKS TO TAKE MY CASE SERIOUSLY?

NHTSA ODI 11416711

Apr 9, 2021Transmission & drivetrain

I HAVE A '16 CORVETTE Z-51 W/8-SPEED AUTO TRANS. ORDERED CAR BRAND NEW IN APRIL 2015 - TOOK POSSESSION IN SEPT. 2015. CAR TURNED 6,000 MILES IN APRIL 2021. ON A DRIVE RECENTLY, REAR END BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A SHUDDER/ VIBRATION BETWEEN 50-65 MPH LIKE DRIVING OVER SMALL RUMBLE STRIPS. INTERNET RESEARCH RESULTED IN ME FINDING THE EXISTENCE OF SERVICE BULLETIN NO. 18-NA-355, DATED FEBRUARY 2019 AND AN UPDATED BULLETIN WITH SAME NUMBER DATED APRIL, 2020. PROBLEM IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR A HOST OF GM VEHICLES FROM 2015-19 WITH THE GM 8L45 AND 8L90 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. APPARENTLY THE WRONG FLUID WAS INSTALLED IN THESE TRANSMISSIONS. REFERENCE ATTACHED BULLETIN 18-NA-355. TOOK CAR TO DEALER THE FOLLOWING MONDAY AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING THE STATED TRANSMISSION SHUDDER PROBLEM AS OUTLINED IN SERVICE BULLETIN. BECAUSE MY CAR IS OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY BY 6-MONTHS AND GM EXTENDED WARRANTY WON'T COVER FOR THIS EXPENSE, I WAS LEFT TO PAY THE $650 TO CORRECT A KNOWN ISSUE. WHY MUST OWNERS PAY FOR GM'S ERROR? ATTACHED BULLETIN EXPLAINS THE STEPS TAKEN TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, INVOLVING 3 FLUSHES AND INSTALLING NEW/ DIFFERENT TYPE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID - NEW PART NUMBER 19417577. TIME WILL TELL IF THIS SO-CALLED FIX WORKS. INTERNET AUTO FORUMS INDICATE SOME FOLKS HAVE HAD TO RETURN TO THE GM DEALER MORE THAN ONCE FOR THIS PROBLEM, AFTER THE FLUSH PROCEDURE. CONTACTED GM AND LOGGED FORMAL COMPLAINT -- WITH NO RESPONSE AND BASICALLY NOTHING BUT A RUN AROUND THUS FAR. AS A CONSUMER WHO PAID GOOD MONEY FOR A HIGH END PERFORMANCE VEHICLE WOULD IT NOT HAVE BEEN GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICE TO NOTIFY CUSTOMERS OF A PENDING PROBLEM RATHER THAN REMAIN SILENT ABOUT THE PROBLEM, LET VEHICLE WARRANTY RUN OUT, THEN TELL CUSTOMERS IT'S THEIR PROBLEM? POOR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION POLICY NO DOUBT! GM SHOULD BE FORCED TO OWN UP TO THIS PROBLEM AND PAY FOR THE REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI 11407293

Mar 26, 2021Engine

AT 627 MILES TOOK TO DEALER, TRANSMISSION WAS SLOW SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. DEALER REPROGRAMMED TRANSMISSION. AT 2319 MILES TOOK TO DEALER. TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS AT STEADY SPEED ON HIGHWAY OR GOING UP SLIGHT INCLINE. DEALER FLUSHED AND CHANGED TRANSMISSION FLUID TO REMEDY PROBLEM. CUSTOMER CHARGED $576. CAR WAS MANUFACTURED WITH INCORRECT TRANSMISSION FLUID FOR THE 8 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION APPLICATION. TEMPORARY COMPLAINT #CLN19-56809

NHTSA ODI 11405057

Mar 11, 2021Wheels

WHEELS DEVELOPED CRACKS AND ARE SUBJECT TO BECOMING OUT OF ROUND.

NHTSA ODI 11400325

Feb 13, 2021Wheels

HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR LESS THAN A YEAR. TOOK IT IN TO BE SERVICED AND TO GET NEW TIRES. UPON TAKING THE RIMS OFF, THE DEALERSHIP SHOWED ME THAT 3 OF MY RIMS HAD CRACKS IN THEM. ONE OF THE THREE RIMS HAD 3 CRACKS IN IT ALL THE WAY AROUND THAT COULD HAVE BROKEN AND FOLDED AT ANYTIME CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR EVEN DEATH. AFTER DOING RESEARCH THIS SEEMS TO BE AN EXTENSIVE PROBLEM FOR NUMEROUS CORVETTE OWNERS FROM 2015 TO PRESENT. WORST PART IS I'M ACTIVE DUTY MARINE CORPS AND USED MY DEPLOYMENT MONEY TO BUY THIS VEHICLE THAT IS NO LONGER RELIABLE OR SAFE, AND IS NOW JUST SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY, UNDRIVEABLE AS THE RIMS CONTINUE TO CRACK AND ARE NOT SAFE.

NHTSA ODI 11396081

Feb 11, 2021Wheels

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET CORVETTE EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN TIRES, TIRE LINE: PILOT SPORT A/S 3PLUS, TIRE SIZE: 335/25/ZR20, DOT NUMBER 4M2R00VX3418. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE RIM WAS CRACKED IN TWO PLACES. ADDITIONALLY, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE RIM WAS BENT SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER AUTONATION CHEVROLET PEMBROKE PINES (8600 PINES BLVD, PEMBROKE PINES, FL 33024, (954) 644-5038) WHERE THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE RIM WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,070.*DT

NHTSA ODI 11395725

Dec 3, 2020Engine

2016 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06. CONSTITUENT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO THEM WITH A LIEN FROM PREVIOUS OWNER. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS ENGINE ISSUES. *LD *JS

NHTSA ODI 11377670

Nov 27, 2020Wheels

I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-20 AND MY TIRE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. I TOOK THE CAR TO DISCOUNT TIRE AND THE TECHNICIAN PULLED THE TIRE AND SAID THAT THE RIM WAS CRACKED AND SHOWED ME THE CRACK. I BELIEVE IF I HAD DISREGARDED THE TIRE WARNING AND JUST ADDED AIR I COULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT IF THE RIM DISINTEGRATED WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11376698

Oct 14, 2020Wheels

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AIR WAS LEAKING FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DISCOVER FOUR CRACKS ON THE INTERIOR SECTION OF THE WHEEL CAUSING THE AIR TO LEAK FROM THE TIRE. THE WHEEL WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER COUGHLIN CHEVROLET OF PATASKALA (900 EAST BROAD ST, PATASKALA, OH 43062) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

NHTSA ODI 11364351

Oct 12, 2020Wheels

MULTIPLE STRESS CRACKS IN BOTH REAR WHEELS, NO DAMAGE OR INSULTS TO WHEEL! GENERAL MOTORS OR NASSANI BROTHERS CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP CULVER CITY, CA, WOULD ACKNOWLEDG THE PROBLEM. THIS WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND GENERAL MOTORS NUMEROUS TIMES, WITH GM TELLING TO TAKE IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALERSHIP TELLING ME TO CONTACT GENERAL MOTORS, I CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS RESULTING IN BUYING 1 TIRE AND NEW WHEELS OUT OF POCKET.

NHTSA ODI 11363886

Oct 12, 2020Wheels

BENT OR CRACKED WHEEL RIMS DESPITE LOW MILEAGE AND CAREFUL DRIVING. SOME HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, OTHERS TO THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU.

NHTSA ODI 11363925

Oct 11, 2020Wheels

ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2020, I TOOK MY 2016 CORVETTE Z06 TO CLASSIC CHEVROLET IN SUGAR LAND, TEXAS BECASE I HAD A LEAK IN MY RIGHT REAR TIRE/WHEEL. I WAS TOLD LATER THAT DAY THAT I HAD A CRACKED WHEEL AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST TO ME OF $900. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO REPLACE THE WHEEL. I HAVE NOT HIT ANYTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS CRACK, AND FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE WITH Z06'S HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM; THAT IS, CRACKED WHEELS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I QUESTIONED THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN ABOUT THIS COMPLAINT AS I HAVE READ ABOUT IT ON LINE. HE SAID GM KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS IS NOT ONLY POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS, BUT A HORRIBLE EXPENSE THAT SHOULD NOT BE BORNE BY Z06 OWNERS.

NHTSA ODI 11363797

Oct 10, 2020Wheels

I WAS DRIVING AND I NOTICE A WHEEL IS LOW ON AIR. I GO TO A TIRE SHOP AND THEY TELL ME THAT THE WHEEL IS CRACKED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE SO FAR. I DON'T REMEMBER HITTING A POT HOLE OR ANYTHING.

NHTSA ODI 11363746

Oct 2, 2020Engine

IT HAS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS AND IS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. STRONG SMELL OF GAS WHEN PARKED IN GARAGE AND ALSO WHEN DRIVING AND STOPPED. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A WHILE BUT HAS GOTTEN WORSE.

NHTSA ODI 11362411

Aug 26, 2020Wheels

ALL 4 RIMS WERE BENT WHEN I TOOK MY CHEVY CORVETTE IN FOR A TIRE CHANGE AT 15,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11351461

Jul 11, 2020WheelsEngine

RIGHT REAR TIME CRACKED MULTIPLE TIMES AND SUPERCHARGER RATTLE AT LOWES SPEEDS

NHTSA ODI 11338811

Jun 24, 2020Wheels

MY DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE HAD A SLOW LEAK, AND I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL TIRE SHOP FOR A QUICK REPAIR AND SIDE TO SIDE TIRE ROTATION. COME TO FIND OUT BOTH REAR WHEELS ARE CRACKED AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED. I SEARCHED THE GM CORVETTE OWNER'S FORUM, AND IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM. THIS ISN'T COVERED BY WARRANTY EITHER DESPITE THIS BEING THE SECOND SET OF WHEELS FOR MY VETTE. THE FIRST WERE BENT OUT OF ROUND. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11330675

Jun 19, 2020Wheels

MY 2016 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 CONVERTIBLE JUST PASSED 18000 MILES. I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THE FAULTY BRAKE WEAR SENSORS REPLACED. I ALSO HAD A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT DONE AS THE INSIDE OF MY TIRES WERE WEARING. WHEN THEY GOT THE CAR UP THEY SHOWED ME CORDS ON MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE WERE SHOWING ON THE INSIDE WEAR AREA. SO I HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES, DEALERSHIP SAID 18000 MILES FROM FACTORY TIRES WAS GREAT. I THINK THAT IS AN INDICATION OF HOW I DRIVE THE VEHICLE, MEANING I DON'T BEAT IT UP NOR TRACK IT. ON MY WAY HOME I NOTICED A VERY STRONG SHAKING/VIBRATION IN THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR BACK AND THE DEALER SAID MY RIGHT FRONT RIM WAS DENTED. I'VE OWNED THE CAR SINCE 1825 MILES AND HAVE BEEN THE ONLY PERSON TO DRIVE IT. I HAVE NEVER HIT A POT HOLE OR ANYTHING TO CAUSE THIS. SO I WAS SHOCKED WHEN THEY SAID MY WHEEL WAS DENTED. THEY THEN SAID THAT THIS IS EXTREMELY COMMON ON THE C7 CORVETTE. THE DEALER SAID THEY'VE HAD CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE REPLACED 3-4 WHEELS. THEY RECOMMENDED BUYING AFTER MARKET FORGED WHEELS AS REPLACING THEM WITH NEW FACTORY WHEELS WON'T GUARANTEE THAT THEY WON'T BEND OR CRACK. A SET OF FORGED WHEELS RUNS $8000 OR BETTER FOR THE CAR. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE ON A VERY EXPENSIVE CAR THAT WAS DESIGNED TO RUN ON A RACE TRACK. THIS COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF THE WHEEL FAILS WHY DRIVING. ONLINE YOU CAN SEE THIS ISN'T JUST A MINOR PROBLEM, BUT ONE THAT SEEMS TO BE PLAGUING MAY OF THE C7 Z06 AND GRAND SPORT OWNERS. I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE ZR1 OWNERS, MAYBE GM GOT THEIR WHEELS RIGHT. GM SHOULD BE REPLACING ALL Z06 AND GRAND SPORT OWNERS WHEELS AND NOT WITH THE CURRENT FACTORY WHEELS AS THEY ARE CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. ANYWAY I JUST WANTED TO POST MY COMPLAINT AS I THINK ITS IMPORTANT FOR YOUR AGENCY TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY AFFECTED. I'M SURE THERE ARE MANY THAT HAVEN'T THAT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11329756

Jun 11, 2020Wheels

Z06 MODEL, BLACK WHEELS WITH MACHINED GROOVE, 12K MILES,MARCH 2016 BUILD. HAIRLINE CRACK FOUND ON LEFT REAR WHEEL, ON THE INSIDE LIP. APPEARS IDENTICAL TO PROBLEMS REPORTED BY OTHERS HERE AND ON CORVETTE RELATED WEB SITES. FIRST NOTED AS SLOW LOSS OF AIR IN SEPTEMBER 2019. THE AIR LOSS WORSENED AND WAS BROUGHT IN FOR REPAIR IN JUNE 2020. THE LOCAL SHOP DISCOVERED THE CRACK AS THE CAUSE OF THE LEAK. THE WHEEL WAS FIXED (WELDED) AND IS BACK ON THE ROAD. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE RIMS SAFETY GIVEN THE (APPARENT) ORIGINAL MANUFACTURING DEFICIENCY, AND ALSO THAT ONE HAS NOW NEEDED TO BE WELDED. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO HAVE HAPPENED ON ITS OWN. THERE ARE NO KNOWN CONTRIBUTING FACTORS SUCH AS ACCIDENTS, UNDERINFLATION, RACING, POTHOLES OR SUCH. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11328303

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Working with the data? Download all 103 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 10, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2016 Chevrolet Corvette verdict →