AI Damage2008 Chevrolet Corvette Z06: common problems
Owners of the 2008 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 filed 48 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and fuel/propulsion system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 48
- involving a crash
- 6
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 52% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel/propulsion system 27% of all complaints
- 3 Electronic stability control 6% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 4% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel system 4% of all complaints
- 6 Wheels 4% of all complaints
- 7 Equipment 2% of all complaints
- 8 Exterior lighting 2% of all complaints
- Engine: 25 complaints (52% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 13 complaints (27% of all).
- Electronic stability control: 3 complaints (6% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (4% of all).
- Fuel system: 2 complaints (4% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 48 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 25 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 3 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact was knocked unconsciousness and the passenger was fatally injured. The contact was injured and transported to a hospital via ambulance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was totaled and towed.
On 3-23-11 while merging onto the expressway, the right rear wheel of my 2008 corvette z-06 broke off at the lug nuts. Because I was accelerating at the time, all the power went to the left rear causing my car to turn violently to the right and smash into the concrete retaining wall.
I was driving my 2008 corvette z06 that has 12500 miles on it. I was merging onto I-94 at little mack when my right rear wheel broke off at the lug nuts. When the wheel broke off the car violently turned to the right and slammed into the concrete retaining wall.
While driving on a private road, the electronic stability control malfunctioned causing the car to first veer to the right and then immediately to the left, impacting a guard rail.
I was driving my 2008 chevrolet corvette z06 at about 90mph in straight line when the active handling system engaged for no reason and hooked me hard right, crashing into a concrete barrier.
After researching and reading other incidents, I believe the active handling on my 2008 corvette z06 caused me to crash. Researching this, I found the steering wheel positioning sensor malfunctions and locks up one of the front brakes. The car is at the body shop as of now.
The contact stated that while driving out of his driveway, the "Service Active Handling System" warning light was illuminated. Neither the dealer nor an independent mechanic was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure.
Severe gas smell left in a closed area after corvette use. When the car is driven and then parked in a garage, the garage smells severely of fuel. If aired out, the smell dissipates. If not, the odor is overwhelming. Upon review, it appears the smell is coming front the drivers side left-hand fuel tank.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 5,450 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 15% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Corvette Z06 has 37 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 48, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Electronic stability control. ABS/ESC sensors, steering angle, codes after suspension repair.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Chevrolet Corvette Z06?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, fuel/propulsion system, electronic stability control. Total complaints: 48. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (21%), smoke, burning smell, fire (21%), engine failure or replacement (17%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2008 Chevrolet Corvette Z06?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2008 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2008 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.