Here’s a letter from a Corvette owner on their new C8 Corvette Z06, which for those that don’t know is GM’s current halo car. Even with their halo car which can cost up to $180,000 GM still can’t get the quality right. The letter, which is copied below, was sent via certified mail to Mary Barra, the CEO of GM. As you see from the letter, this owner has not had the best of luck with his C8 Corvettes.
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Ms. Mary T. Barra
300 Renaissance Ctr.
Detroit, MI. 48265-3000
Ms. Mary T. Barra,My 2021 C8 Corvette VIN *********** with less than 4000 miles exploded and burned in March. The engine threw a rod through the block and punctured the fuel tank. Please see the attached photos. But that is not why I am writing to you today. I need your help in resolving the issue with my 2023 ZO6 Corvette VIN ********, which I purchased to replace the C8.
The ZO6 has been at the dealership for the past 10 of 12 weeks. After the 1500-mile break in, the transmission failed the first day at Road Atlanta in May, where I am a driving instructor. The car sat at the dealership for four weeks, while they replaced the valve body. I trailered the car to Road Atlanta where it failed again on the first lap in June. Car was returned to the dealership where it sat for three more weeks while they replaced the wiring harness to the fluid pressure sensor. I went to pick up the car July 14th and I did not make it out of their parking lot before the transmission failed again. The ZO6 is still at the dealership, Terry Thompson Chevrolet going on three more weeks. I love corvettes, but I believe I have a “lemon.”
I have owned nine corvettes and have loved them since I was 10 years old. The ZO6 is the premier world-class sports car and the flagship of Chevrolet. This is not what one would expect when purchasing such a car.
I am a driving instructor at Barber’s Motorsports Park and Road Atlanta, and professionally raced corvettes for 20+ years. The ZO6 was purchased specifically to be used as a “track” car as it was designed.
I no longer trust the reliability of this car and expect future problems. I have no interest in the pursuing the lemon law process or getting attorneys involved. This is evident by me not pursuing legal action against GM when the C8 exploded. GM did not spend a penny in compensation on the C8 since I let my insurance cover the loss.
Considering the trauma and emotional stress of almost being killed in the C8 and the ridiculous infuriating circus I am going through with the ZO6, I would like to donate this car back to GM, so the engineers can determine lessons learned and replace it with the first available ZO7 corvette. I believe this is a reasonable resolution. I look forward to your reply.
The engine threw a rod through the block and punctured the fuel tank
My brother's Silverado just threw a rod too. Only 60k on the AFM engine. He had the Range disabler too. And he's a freak about maintenance.
This gentleman's Corvette is not a "lemon". It's the norm for GM. It's how they make cars now. All the die-hard fans are learning painful lessons. The next generation won't be any better.
It is very sad that a consumer can no longer count on their products to be trouble-free even in the first 100,000 miles.
There was a dealer on the Corvette Forum (his role was service manager and now he is general manager). Anyways, he said his dealership saw plenty of trucks, SUVs, Corvettes over the years come in due to engine issues. He also said that some people use the Range Device to disable the Active Fuel Management; however, the failures according to him had nothing to do with how often the engine goes into 4-cylinder mode. He didn’t elaborate further, but that stuck out to me.
yeah It think it's just a general lack of oil pressure and lubrication to the lifters.
I did sit down at one point and do a bunch of research and eventually wrapped my head around it. And then I forgot because I don't have that issue. I dodged that bullet with my low tech van engine.
I dodged the bullet too with my engine in the 2004 Corvette (now sold) and my 2009 Hummer H3 Alpha (going strong at 172,000 miles). But, make no mistake, no more GM vehicles for me.
What’s your brother going to do with the Silverado?
it's gone. He drives an older Dodge Cummins diesel now.
GM won't care. The company is run by the same kind of knuckleheads who ran it into bankruptcy in the first place. Harley Earl and Zora Arkus-Duntov must be spinning in their graves.
It is very sad that a consumer can no longer count on their products
Crappy products happen all the time. Why should cars be any different?
It's only sad because they've been around so long. But should we be surprised? Many car companies bit the dust along the way early in automobile history.
I think the real problem is that Americans are supporting these companies who keep kicking them in the nuts, and try to keep them alive. It's not healthy. Let them die so that newer and better American companies have room to grow. That's how competition and the free market works, and it's sorely needed to make better cars. Not corporate welfare.
This isn't really GM any more anyway right? This is "New GM" and it's actually a public company started by the government using your tax dollars. And it was started on a failing foundation, and absolutely nothing was changed within the company to turn it into a success. So when GM fails again the next time the economy gets lean, are they going to inject it with another booster of your blood and sweat to keep the zombie alive some more?
Why do people keep buying their products? I don’t get it. Scotty, Car Wizard, even us - we earn people to stay away from GM and the other stinker car companies, but people for whatever reason keep on buying.
Don't know I can't get inside people's heads. But I hear the phrase " buy American" out of people a lot.
Also it just takes time. Grandpa who's still driving around his 1997 pickup may have no idea what has happened to the domestic car industry. He doesn't watch Youtube.
Wow even turning it off with software before 10,000 miles and one of his customers still had issues before 100,000 miles. Lifter broke.
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I guess a full AFM delete is the only way to go. One way or another customers will pay the price if they keep their vehicles a long time.
Well that's how these car companies operate these days. They do not care about their customers, all they care is making profit by selling vehicles rather than focusing on quality control and customer satisfaction. That's why I tell anyone not to buy any modern GM vehicles at all costs, period.
it's going to eat into profit too. It may take some time, but it will. Maybe then they'll drop the Corvette and sell trucks and fleet vehicles only.