2016 Chevrolet CORVETTE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
103 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
14,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 72 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Wheels is the most frequently named component, appearing in 55 of 103 complaints (53.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 12.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 7.8% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 5.8% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 2.9% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 1.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Wheels | 55 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 14 |
| Power Train | 10 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Engine | 6 |
| Steering | 4 |
| Wheels:Rim | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
Wheels: 55; Fuel/Propulsion System: 14; Power Train: 10; Electrical System: 6; Engine: 6; Steering: 4; Wheels:Rim: 4; Unknown Or Other: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 53 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 18 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 53; 25,000 to 49,999: 18; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (53). 31 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 23 |
| 2020 | 16 |
| 2021 | 14 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 8 |
2016: 7; 2017: 8; 2018: 12; 2019: 23; 2020: 16; 2021: 14; 2022: 6; 2023: 7; 2024: 2; 2025: 8
Pattern summary
Wheels leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11011442 · 2017-07-29 (July 29, 2017)
SINCE 2014 C7 MODELS OF CORVETTE HAVE TORQUE TUBE FAILURES. ITS A COUPLING AT THE END OF THE DRIVESHAFT ATTACHING TO THE DIFFERENTIAL. CHEVY TRIED A FIX IN MODEL 2015 THAT FAILED. IT CONTINUES TO FAIL AND THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO DO THE REPAIR. MY 2016 JUST FAILED BUT THERE ARE CARS THAT FAIL MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE THE PART HAVE NOT BEEN REDESIGNED. PART FAILURE RESULTS IN DAMAGE TO THE DIFFERENTIAL, DRIVE SHAFT AND TRANSMISSION. REPAIR EXCEEDS $6000 AND CHEVY WILL NOT REPAIR IF OUT OF WARRANTY. PLEASE SEE GOOGLE AND OTHER CORVETTE F…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11011442 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11144655 · 2018-11-01 (November 1, 2018)
KNOWN ISSUES WITH A SUB STANDARD TORGUE COVERTER CAUSING A SHUDDER AND JERKY MOTION THE CAR STARTS DEMONSTRATING ACCOMPANIED BY FLUCTUATING ENGINE RPMS. THIS CORVETTE IS EQUIPPED WITH A 8I90 8 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. ITS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, HOWEVER IT DISPLAYS THIS PROBLEM WHETHER THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED OR NOT. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO HAVE AFFECTED ABOUT 20,000 CORVETTES UNTIL ABOUT THE END OF OCTOBER 2016 PRODUCTION DATES. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THA THIS IS A WIDE S…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11144655 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10906134 · 2016-09-13 (September 13, 2016)
FUEL LEAK IN THE AREA OF THE FUEL TANKS
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10906134 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10924778 · 2016-11-07 (November 7, 2016)
GAS SMELL AFTER FILLING TANK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10924778 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11024830 · 2017-09-21 (September 21, 2017)
MY 2016 CORVETTE STARTED HAVING HIGH FREQUENCY VIBRATIONS IN STEERING WHEEL AND INTERIOR PANELS WITH UNDER 7900 MILES OF SERVICE. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND FOUND FRONT WHEELS TO BE BENT AND COULD NOT BALANCE THE WHEELS PROPERLY. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME TO TAKE MY CORVETTE TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP THAT HAD BETTER EQUIPMENT THAN THEM. THE SECOND DEALERSHIP INSPECTED MY CORVETTE AND INFORMED ME THAT ALL FOUR WHEELS ARE BENT AND CANNOT BALANCE THEM PROPERLY. NEITHER DEALERSHIP WILL REPLACE THE WHEELS UND…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 11024830 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11110774 · 2018-07-11 (July 11, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOST POWER AND THE "POWER STEERING NEEDS SERVICE" MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WITH GRABIAK CHEVROLET (8282 US-22, NEW ALEXANDRIA, PA 15670, [phone removed]). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 900. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 11110774 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11546359 · 2023-09-25 (September 25, 2023)
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that while driving from a stop, after engaging the clutch, the vehicle started to shudder and vibrate and nearly stalled. The contact pulled over into a parking lot. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that the valve spring had fractured in half within cylinder #5. Further diagnostic test determined that the failure had caused damage to the engine, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11546359 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11702924 · 2025-12-04 (December 4, 2025)
Experiencing sudden loss of power steering while driving - unsafe condition. Experiencing sudden loss of electric power steering assist while driving. Loss of power steering persists until ignition recycling (stop, put car in park, turn ignition off, turn ignition back on), which seems to clear it. Problem re-occurs intermittently on subsequent drives. Issue has been experienced at multiple MPH (0 to 65 MPH) across more than a month of time. I believe my vehicle is experiencing the recall noted earlier this year (N182182760 in 2025) for p…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11702924 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11329756 · 2020-06-19 (June 19, 2020)
MY 2016 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 CONVERTIBLE JUST PASSED 18000 MILES. I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THE FAULTY BRAKE WEAR SENSORS REPLACED. I ALSO HAD A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT DONE AS THE INSIDE OF MY TIRES WERE WEARING. WHEN THEY GOT THE CAR UP THEY SHOWED ME CORDS ON MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE WERE SHOWING ON THE INSIDE WEAR AREA. SO I HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES, DEALERSHIP SAID 18000 MILES FROM FACTORY TIRES WAS GREAT. I THINK THAT IS AN INDICATION OF HOW I DRIVE THE VEHICLE, MEANING I DON'T BEAT IT UP NOR TRACK IT. ON MY WAY HOME I NOTIC…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,299 miles reported. Look up ODI 11329756 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11515883 · 2023-04-06 (April 6, 2023)
Attempted to start my Corvette. My Corvette was in the my garage Battery was dead. Called for a jump start. When mechanic arrived, I got into the driver's seat. When he applied electric power to the car battery, interior lights flickered, radio came on, tach needle and other needles cycled and my electric power adjustable seat went full forward and the electric power adjustable steering wheel went full down. This happened in seconds. The engine was not running. I thought I was going to be crushed by the steering wheel. I have a small …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11515883 at NHTSA ↗