What 51 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Corvette

Wheels on these cars commonly crack and break online. Mine have a visible crack in one of them and is losing air due to quality of wheel from Chevrolet

NHTSA ODI 11632251

Multiple rim cracks due to manufacturing error. General Motors had acknowledged this but not made reimbursement possible nor provided information if defective rims are still being produced. My car was inspected and rim was repaired by a Chevy dealer and confirmed to have a cracked rim in several spots deemed not due to road damage or driver error. Wheel issues can pose an extreme safety threat as a crack in the rim could make the tire unstable thus creating unsafe driving conditions … cracks in rims can be hard to see at all as well

NHTSA ODI 11627601

Inside lip of rear wheel cracked and wheel bent beyond repair, per wheel repair company. OEM make and model tire was in place and no noticeable impact was felt to cause this failure. This caused an air leak leaving me stranded at the side of the highway. Had to buy an expensive replacement wheel.

NHTSA ODI 11550568

Vehicle had a shake, and felt like it was shifting wrong. Apparently, Two of the four rims have were confirmed cracked which led to an unsafe vehicle for travel. The vehicle had approximately 15,230 miles on the tires and rims when air was leaking out. All four tires were shot. All four tires and all four rims had to be replaced.

NHTSA ODI 11542753

Rear wheel cracked in 4 places inside rim towards outside causing slow leak. Could eventually crack enough to cause wheel to fail.

NHTSA ODI 11486702

Purchased the vehicle February 2018. In September 2019, I replaced the tires and within a few days, I started losing air pressure. Both rear wheels cracked. I tried to get GM to honor the 36 month bumper to bumper warranty but they refused. I purchased replacement wheels at my own expense. In June 2022, after 9000 miles, the car started driving rough so I brought it to the dealership. Both the driver side wheels, front and back, are bent.

NHTSA ODI 11471614

Prior to warranty expiration I took my car to be checked for vibration at highway speed. McMulkin Chevrolet NH told me they had to change the fluid in the transmission. This did nothing for the problem. During this time the drivers side tires would lose tire pressure faster than what is acceptable. At no time did the dealer mention the wheel cracking and warping problem experienced by this model vehicle. A year later I am experiencing excessive air leakage on three wheels. Upon further inspection I have found that the three tires have stress cracks. If I had known about the wheel defect I would have taken action sooner. I find this to be a dangerous safety related policy by GM to not alert the owners of these vehicles to the widespread problem.

NHTSA ODI 11431838

Failure was the right rear wheel cracked in two places causing tire to go flat on highway . A flat tire could cause the vehicle to go out of control in traffic resultion in a serious accident causing injury or death Dealer Bob Huff Chevolet of Wrythville Va diagnosed and confirmed the problem and initially Walmart tire and service attempted to diagnose and fix the tire thinking a nail had beenj picked up causing a air leak but discovered the cracked wheel in two places causing air loss wrs . A new wheel was ordered by Bob Huff Chevy and installed by them. GM is well aware of the cracked wheels and refuse to do anything about it calling the bad wheels a result of road hazards and potholes etc. When the tire loses air the low tire warning light comes on and more air must be installed but as i was stranded on Easter Saturday and Sunday waiting too order a new wheel making it impossible to travel as i could only get about 25 miles after putting additional air in the tire.

NHTSA ODI 11417801

I PURCHASED MY 20018 CORVETTE Z06 IN DECEMBER OF 2020 AND BECAUSE THIS WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE VEHICLE I ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTENDED 6 YEAR BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. I DROVE CAR OFF THE LOT AND DROVE IT FOR A VERY BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A SLOW LEAK IN THE DRIVER REAR TIRE AND TOOK IT TO BE REPAID AND THE DISCOUNT TIRE COMPANY SAID THAT IT WAS CRACKED WITH A FAILING REPAIR. I THEN LOOKED TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO REPORT THIS UNSAFE SITUATION AND THEY INFORMED THEY COULDN'T COVER UNDER ANY OF MY WARRANTIES AND THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURER ISSUE NOT THEIRS I ALSO TOOK OFF ALL 4 WHEELS TO SEE IF OTHERS WERE CRACKED AND 1 ADDITIONAL FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WAS CRACKED AND REPAIRED SO I HAVE 2 THAT ARE UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON. I ALSO CONTACTED CHEVROLET CONSUMER AFFAIRS WHO AFTER A MONTH FINALLY GOT BACK TO ME TO SAY THAT IT IS THE ROADS NOT THE WHEELS SO THEY ARE NOT COVERING THIS ISSUE UNLESS AND UNTIL A LAWSUIT IS SUCCESSFUL IN CREATING A RECALL CAMPAIGN. WITH THAT SAID AM LOOKING TO JOIN A LAWSUIT BECAUSE I HAVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE TO DRIVE WITH THAT GM KNOWINGLY IS CONTINUING TO DENY AND SOMEONE MAY LOSE THEIR LIFE BY CRASHING AFTER A BLOWOUT THAT MOST LIKELY COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY GM STEPPING UP AND TAKING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR SELLING US FAULTY CAST WHEELS.

NHTSA ODI 11402783

I STARTED FEELING VIBRATIONS IN DEC 2018, TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT ONE OF MY RIMS IS BENT...TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP JUNE 2019 AND THAT DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THAT THE RIMS WERE CRACKED...FINALLY JULY 2020 I PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES AND THAT'S WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT MY TWO FRONT RIMS ARE BENT AND THE TWO REAR RIMS HAVE CRACKS IN THEM. GM WILL NOT REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE RIMS, SO I ENDED UP PURCHASING NEW RIMS.

NHTSA ODI 11385359

4 CRACKS IN REAR WHEEL. 2ND OCCURANCE

NHTSA ODI 11373917

THE RIM CRACKED SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING IT. IT'S WELL KNOWN THIS MODEL HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE REPLACEMENT WAS COSTLY. 2018 GRAND SPORT, WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE MY TIRE LOSS PRESSURE AND I HAD TO MAKE AND EMERGENCY EXIT AFTER BEING ALERTED BY THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11372322

4 BENT AND CRACKED RIMS UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. GM REFUSED TO REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 11366899

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THERE WAS A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN TIRE SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RIMS WERE BENT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THE RIMS WERE CHANGED TWICE WITHIN A YEAR. FRIENDLY CHEVROLET (7501 HWY 65 NE, FRIDLEY, MN 55432 612) 276-2955) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,800.

NHTSA ODI 11364330

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET CORVETTE EQUIPPED WITH SATIN BLACK WHEELS W/ COLORED STRIPE - 19X8.5/20X10. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEED THE VEHICLE FELT THAT THE PASSENGER TIRE WAS FLAT. THE CONTACT GOT OUT THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT THE PASSENGER TIRE AND SEEN THE RIM CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HORNE AUTO CENTER 651 W DEUCE OF CLUBS, SHOW LOW, AZ 85901. WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT NO RECALLS WAS UNDER THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE THEN WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE RIM WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.

NHTSA ODI 11364146

NOTICED THAT REAR TIRE WAS LEAKING AIR. CHECKED FOR NAIL OR OTHER OBJECT IN TIRE. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT THE REAR WHEELS WERE CRACKED AND LOSING AIR. PICS SENT TO GM WHO REFUSED TO REPAIR. I THEN HAD THEM WELDED IN AN EFFORT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. STILL LOSING AIR. I HAVE THE REPAIR INVOICE.

NHTSA ODI 11363826

DEIVER REAR WHEEL BEGAN LOAING AIR PRESSURE SUDDENLY 1 WEEK AGO. TIRE PRESSURE WOULD DROP AROUND 1 PSI/HOUR. TOOK TO TIRE SHOP AND NO TIRE PROBLEMS WERE IDENTIFIED BUT THE WHEEL HAD 3 CRACKS IN THE INNER WHEEL LIP. INSPECTION OF PASSENGER REAR WHEEL REVEALED A SINGLE CRACK THAT HAD NOT YET CAUSED TIRE PRESSURE LOSS. THE WHEEL CRACKING ISSUE IS WELL KNOWN AND A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED BUT NO RECALL YET. I FEAR THAT MY SAFETY COULD HAVE BEEN IN JEOPARDY WITH A WHEEL CRACKING AT SPEED. PROBLEM FIRST IDENTIFIED WHEN STARTING A STATIONARY VEHICLE AS THE TPMS NOTIFIED OF A LOW PRESSURE. PROBLEM CONTINUED UNTIL I SECTION OF WHEELS IDENTIFIED CRACKS.

NHTSA ODI 11363333

I HAD MY TIRES CHANGED OUT AT LESS THAN 16,000 MILES!! ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO AND 4,000 MILES LATER MY TPS LET ME KNOW I WAS LOSING TIRE PRESSURE IN MY REAR PASSENGER SIDE. I MONITORED IT AND REALIZED I WAS LOSING ABOUT 5 PSI PER WEEK. I HAVE THE ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY SO I TOOK IT BACK TO MY TIRE GUY. AFTER PULLING THE WHEEL AND TIRE OFF, THEY SPRAYED SOME SOAPY WATER ON IT. THEY FOUND TWO CRACKS ON THE INNER LIP OF THE RIM. THE CRACKS ARE ABOUT 3 INCHES IN LENGTH GOING FROM THE INNER LIP HEADING OUT. THE CRACKS ARE ABOUT 10 INCHES APART FROM EACH OTHER.

NHTSA ODI 11340753

AFTER ONLY 15683MI THE CAR HAS 2 BENT AND ONE CRACKED ALUMINUM WHEEL. THIS WAS NOTICED TODAY WHEN AFTER ALREADY HAVING TO PUT NEW TIRES ON THE CAR (15399 MILES)THE RIGHT REAR WAS AT 10PSI. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO THE SHOP TO LOOK AT THE ISSUE AN APPROX 3CM CRACK WAS NOTED ON THE INNERMOST PORTION OF THE RIM ON THE BEAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11326184

CRACKED LEFT REAR INSIDE RIM NOTICED AFTER TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM INDICATED LOW TIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11325056

I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE NEW WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED IN THE SPRING OF 2019. SINCE THIS TIME, I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 11000 ISSUE FREE MILES. AS OF 2 WEEKS AGO, I HAD ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED AT A CHEVY DEALERSHIP. A FEW DAYS AFTER, I NOTED THAT THERE WAS A SLOW TIRE PRESSURE LEAK IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. UPON TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE 2 LARGE CRACKS IN THAT WHEEL, CAUSING THE LEAK. BECAUSE OF THIS, WE INSPECTED THE REMAINING 3 WHEELS TO FIND THAT THE OTHER REAR WHEEL ALSO HAD A CRACK. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANY IMPACT TO THE WHEELS (POTHOLES, DEBRIS IMPACT, ETC.), THAT WOULD HAVE EVER INDICATED TO ME TO CHECK FOR DAMAGE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A WORKMANSHIP ISSUE FROM CHEVROLET THAT COULD HAVE SEVERE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS IF IT WERE TO TAIL CATASTROPHICALLY AT SPEED.

NHTSA ODI 11322765

AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FROM KENTUCKY TO FLORIDA THE FOLLOWING DAY I RECIEVED AN ALERT ON MY PHONE SAYING MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS FLAT. AFTER EXAMINING THE TIRE AND WHEEL I DISCOVERED A SIGNIFICANT CRACK ON THE INBOARD SIDE OF THE RIM. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DALE EARNHARDT JR CHEVROLET IN TALLAHASSEE FL. AFTER INSPECTING THE WHEEL THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE DAMAGE AS A DEFECTIVE WHEEL. I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE ALMOST 2 YEARS AND HAS 15,000 MILES. THIS WILL BE THE 2ND WHEEL THAT HAS CRACKED AND AND 3 THAT HAS BENT. GM REFUSED TO COVER ANY OF THEM. THE FIRST WHEEL BENT WITHIN 500 MILES OF PURCHASE, THE DEALER BOUGHT THAT REPLACEMENT WHEEL. I PURCHASED AN EXTRA WHEEL AND TIRE WARRANTY AFTER THAT AND THEY PAID FOR 2 BENT AND I CRACKED WHEEL. I BELIEVE THEY TOO NOW KNOW THESE Z06/GRAND SPORT WHEELS ARE DEFECTIVE AND ARE REFUSING TO PAY FOR THIS CURRENTLY CRACKED WHEEL. THIS RIM WAS CRACKED DURING MY DRIVE FROM KENTUCKY TO FLORIDA CAUSING THE FLAT TIRE. ONE DAY THIS ISSUE IS GOING TO CAUSE SOMEONE TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND GM WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ODI 11302955

REAR OEM WHEELS OF HAVE LIP CRACKS AND CHEVROLET WILL NOT HONOR NEW RIMS UNDER THE FULL FACTORY WARRANTY. THEY HAVE STATED THAT THE RIMS HAVE DEVELOPED CRACKS FROM HITTING POT HOLES. THIS IS NOT CORRECT BECAUSE I HAVE NOT HIT ANY "POTHOLES" OR ANY OTHER ROAD IMPERFECTIONS THAT WOULD CAUSE ALL OF THESE LIP CRACKS. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE WHEELS THAT ARE ON THE GRAND SPORT MODEL. THREE DEALERSHIPS HAVE TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO BUY NEW RIMS AT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. I PAID $55,000 FOR A CAR THAT SHOULD NOT NEED NEW RIMS. THE ISSUE IS THAT IF I BUY NEW OEM RIMS, MANY OTHER CORVETTE OWNERS HAVE DONE THIS AND THE SAME CRACKS APPEAR ON THE NEW REPLACEMENT WHEELS. THIS IS JUST WRONG AND CHEVROLET KNOWS THEY HAVE A PROBLEM YET FAIL TO TAKE OWNERSHIP. VERY DISAPPOINTING AND FRUSTRATING TO SAY THE LEAST. BOTH WHEELS LOST AIR PRESSURE AND ONE WENT COMPLETELY FLAT. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE OF DEFECTIVE WHEELS ARE EXPRESSWAY SPEEDS. I WENT TO MANY SHOPS TO GET THEM REPAIRED AND NO-ONE WILL EVEN TOUCH THEM!

NHTSA ODI 11291713

BOTH REAR RIMS (WHEELS) CRACKED, RESULTING IN REPEATED LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE. DISCOVERED AT 13,500 MILES, STILL UNDER BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY, GM DECLINES WARRANTY COVERAGE STATING IT MUST HAVE OCCURRED FROM A ROAD HAZARD. CORVETTE FORUMS DISCUSS MULTIPLE 2018 GRAND SPORTS WITH SIMILAR CRACKED RIMS. DOCUMENTATION FROM DEALER AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.

NHTSA ODI 11290714

I JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 11-04-2019. THE TRUNK POPS OPEN WHEN I GET IN THE CAR AND SIT DOWN. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WHEN BACKING UP TO PULL OFF AND TURNING TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT, THE CAR WILL START JERKING AND THERE'S A POPPING SOUND.

NHTSA ODI 11280891