Are Corvettes Reliable? Reasons for Their Reliability
They’re iconic sports cars for a reason. In its long history, the Chevrolet Corvette is an anomaly among supercars. It offers blazing performance practicality, is less expensive to maintain, and is affordable.
However, despite being budget-friendly, a Corvette still costs more than your average car. Thus, you probably want to know the answer to the question: are Corvettes reliable?
A performance-focused car like the Corvette will fare worse than the average car in reliability right out the gate. But how long do they last, and what are their common problems? That’s what we’re going to answer in today’s post.
How Reliable are Chevrolet Corvettes?
Performance vehicles are generally not known for their reliability. That’s the case with the venerable Corvette, although it boasts better reliability than most of its sports car contemporaries. All things considered, no one’s buying a Corvette because of how reliable they are.
As per RepairPal, the Chevy Corvette has a reliability rating of 3.0 out of 5, ranking 23rd out of 24 midsize cars. In addition, the annual repair cost for owning a Corvette is $737, which is a lot higher than the $526 average for midsize cars and $652 across all models.
The Corvette fared better in repair frequency, with their vehicles having 0.3 visits annually, compared to 0.3 times for midsize cars and 0.4 times across all vehicle models. However, the Corvette faltered in repair severity, where 22% of its unscheduled visits are for severe issues. It has a considerable gap compared to 12% average for midsize cars and 12% for all vehicle models.
Over at CarComplaints.com, only a few complaints are lodged against the Corvette across all models. Based on the number of complaints, the 2005 Corvette has 718 NHTSA complaints and six recalls.
The Corvette is built differently. If you’re lucky, the Corvette can go as far as 150,000 miles and even 200,000 miles. If you’re planning to buy a used Corvette, we highly recommend vetting its repair and maintenance numbers. An adequately maintained Corvette can serve you for a long time.
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What are the Common Corvette Problems?
Are Corvettes reliable? There were many problems with past Corvette models, some are worse than others. Here are a few Corvette issues you should keep an eye out for:
Shifter Stuck in Park
Many drivers were hesitant to drive their Corvette due to the fear of getting stranded. Relatively common with the 2005 Corvette, many owners reported that their vehicle’s shifter wouldn’t come out of Park. One user claimed that it used to occur far and few in between, but it eventually got worse that it’ll get stuck every time.
There are many potential sources of the problem, including a shift lock solenoid failure and bad shift linkage.
Erratic Fuel Gauge Readings
Several owners reported that their Corvette’s gas gauge would wander all over the place. For instance, it will go from empty to full and back again. This problem seems widespread on the C6 Corvette, but it’s actually prevalent enough to affect 16 different Corvette models.
For the C6, the fuel gauge is prone to failure due to sulfur deposits building up on the fuel level sensor. The presence of sulfur can disrupt the electrical components and lead to false fuel gauge readings.
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Service Steering Column Lock
Owners of the C5 Corvette have found themselves immobilized by a hopelessly locked steering wheel with a message at the instrument panel that reads: “Service Steering Column Lock.” Drivers have complained that the lock won’t disengage after starting their vehicle. Faulty steering-column locks are common with 5th-gen Corvettes.
There are DIY fixes for this annoying issue, including using a steering-lock bypass kit such as the LMC5 Module. Some owners claimed they got to disengage the lock by aggressively turning the wheel back and forth.
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What are the Most Reliable Corvettes?
Are Corvettes reliable? Here are a few Corvette models that you can buy with confidence:
2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8
Many critics raved about the Corvette C8 and how it’s the “best car they’ve ever driven.” It’s a supremely capable sports car with all the right compelling attributes. That tends to be the feedback when you have a car that offers supercar performance, silky-smooth ride quality, and much-improved interior space.
What about its reliability? The Corvette’s reliability record is a hit and miss, but they definitely nailed it with the C8. According to J.D. Power, the 2020 Corvette C8 has four out of five predicted reliability ratings.
2009 ZR1 Corvette
The ZR1 designation has always been synonymous with top-notch performance. True enough, the ZR1 Corvette is one of the fastest Corvettes of all time with a jaw-dropping 638 horsepower and flies at 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds. However, it’s also a highly civilized Corvette due to its dependability.
It’s the type of car you can use for your daily commute, then tear up the race track over the weekend.
What are the Least Reliable Corvettes?
Are Corvettes reliable? We’d be inclined to say no if you only look at the following Corvette models:
2022 Chevrolet Corvette
The latest and greatest Chevy Corvette isn’t doing so hot as it was named one of the least reliable cars by Consumer Reports – earning a paltry 13 out of 100 reliability rating. It is kept company by other least reliable vehicles like the Volvo XC90, Volkswagen Tiguan, and Tesla Model Y.
Consumer Reports cited many problem areas in the 2022 model year, ranging from broken trim bits to engine failure.
2005 Chevrolet Corvette
Don’t get us wrong; the 2005 Corvette is an exhilarating and comfortable sports car that’s a lot of fun to drive. However, it does have numerous reliability concerns, making it a reluctant pick for this section.
According to CarComplaints, the 2005 Corvette has over 700 NHTSA complaints, indicating that it’s a fairly popular model. Some of its worst reliability woes include the shifter being stuck in park, faulty airbag harness, faulty column lock, and more.
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