Not that long ago, a C8 Corvette owner found a quality control checklist in his car’s glovebox. Earlier still, Internet forums and groups were full of photographs that reveal the extent of the mid-engine car’s problems.
Leaky transmissions, a self-blowing horn, windows going up and down by themselves while driving, water falling into the engine bay because of the design of the rear hatch, there’s a lot to go through. Owner John Paul, for example, is “in for many days of warranty work” for his high-winged Z51.
“The loaner is a beast,” he jokingly told fellow C8 Corvette enthusiasts on Facebook, referring to a Chevy Equinox finished in black like his ‘Vette. As the headline implies, “crooked dash stitching” is the biggest issue while the door panel has a flaw in the guise of a bubble. “Parts took two months to arrive,” and “everything has to come out including the center console.”
Digging deeper into John’s issues, he posted two pictures of the said problems in April 2020 on the Corvette Forum. “Just came back from the dealership. General Motors authorized the replacement of both parts.”
As if that wasn’t enough, John will also be treated to a full paint correction because of excessive orange peel. Other owners have reported “small dots in the paint” that can be corrected with a bit of polish and a microfiber cloth.
There’s no denying GM can learn a thing or two from Toyota in terms of quality control and assurance. On the flip side, even the Japanese automaker has trouble with first-year vehicles. As a rule of thumb in the automotive industry, a lot of things are sorted during the first year or two of production, things that the engineers couldn’t spot during research & development.
As it is, the ‘Vette is more than meets the eye. Not only does it cost $59,995 including destination charge for the 2021 model year as well, but it runs the quarter-mile in 10.9 seconds with nothing more than rear drag radials.
“The loaner is a beast,” he jokingly told fellow C8 Corvette enthusiasts on Facebook, referring to a Chevy Equinox finished in black like his ‘Vette. As the headline implies, “crooked dash stitching” is the biggest issue while the door panel has a flaw in the guise of a bubble. “Parts took two months to arrive,” and “everything has to come out including the center console.”
Digging deeper into John’s issues, he posted two pictures of the said problems in April 2020 on the Corvette Forum. “Just came back from the dealership. General Motors authorized the replacement of both parts.”
As if that wasn’t enough, John will also be treated to a full paint correction because of excessive orange peel. Other owners have reported “small dots in the paint” that can be corrected with a bit of polish and a microfiber cloth.
There’s no denying GM can learn a thing or two from Toyota in terms of quality control and assurance. On the flip side, even the Japanese automaker has trouble with first-year vehicles. As a rule of thumb in the automotive industry, a lot of things are sorted during the first year or two of production, things that the engineers couldn’t spot during research & development.
As it is, the ‘Vette is more than meets the eye. Not only does it cost $59,995 including destination charge for the 2021 model year as well, but it runs the quarter-mile in 10.9 seconds with nothing more than rear drag radials.