Best and worst Corvette C7 years — which to avoid

While the seventh generation of the Corvette seems like a worthy successor to the C6 reliability-wise, the model still experienced some complaints by owners and even issues that led to recalls. If you are in the market for a C7 yourself, it’s always good to know the best years to buy and worst Corvette C7 years to avoid, so you can avoid those unpleasant issues.

Our team went an extra step to rank the Corvette C7 years to avoid by considering recorded driver complaints and NHTSA records, as we’ll elaborate in more detail. We also scanned through the archives on Corvette C7 recalls so you won’t have to, and this guide presents our findings.

Why you can trust REREV’s advice on which car model years to avoid: Our car experts look at official data, ask real drivers what they think, and talk to experienced mechanics to make sure our list is useful. This reliable info can make buying a car easier for you. Want to know how we do it? Find out more about our research methodology.

How we rated the best and worst Corvette C7 years

Simply saying that there’s a “worst” year for a model like the C7 is a bold statement and our team knows it. However, we’ve put our trust into sources that simply don’t lie, so our mission to look for the worst-rated Corvette C7 years reliability-wise started by scanning the archives of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

We’ve reached out to experienced experts and agencies with information derived from real C7 owners and trusted service and recall records. Perhaps even more important is the list of real driver experiences and C7 consumer reviews that we’ve assembled via trusted sources including Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book.

Last but not least, we reached out to some previous owners on Corvette C7 common issues on popular Corvette forums asking for a comment. So, we’ve compiled all the bits of information to present you with factual and double-checked reliability and problem reports.

Most common Corvette C7 problems

Most issues that plague the C7 begin to manifest after 100,000 miles. Of course, this mostly goes for the worst-rated years we’ll address, but first, let’s take a look at the Car Complaints user experiences to help determine the most common C7 issues:

1. Engine overheating

One major problem the Corvette C7s face is overheating. Drivers were often plunged into using the Limp mode because of the engine overheating under the hood.

Chevrolet tried to resolve the issue by redesigning the hood and installing a different supercharger cover which did not work. They then upgraded the radiators and adjusted the eight-speed automatic transmission. They also extended the warranty packages for the vehicles most affected.

If you are buying a 2015 to 2018 C7 Z06, check for the cooling system upgrades the vehicle has received. Also, consider supplementing its transmission coolers and oil.

2. Warped wheels and brakes

It is normal for car wheels to be stained or dirty since they work next to the tires, which are always on the ground. But unlike other cars, Corvette C7s distinguish themselves for having severe wheel problems.

After some time, most Corvette C7 wheels warp or crack to an extent where it becomes a problem to drive. The problem was most prevalent for the Z06 and Grand Sport models, whose wheels developed cracks after being hit by potholes many times, less than the number of times it takes the average wheel to crack. The issue was severe such that Corvette C7 drivers filed two class-action lawsuits against Chevrolet.

Problems with the wheels and brakes were partially resolved during the 2020 Corvette C7 recall where the issue has been resolved by GM.

3. Transmission issues

Some Corvette C7 drivers complained of experiencing jerky and stiff shifts, which often caused their cars to surge in traffic or vibrate excessively. These transmission systems got terrible so quickly that many drivers needed new transmissions just a few days after noticing the problem.

In response to the problem, Chevrolet issued a technical service bulletin to help drivers deal with the issue appropriately. The solution they proffered involved flushing the original fluid, replacing torque converters if they were damaged, and topping the transmission with Mobil 1 synthetic high-performance fluid which was new at the time. Drivers were satisfied with this solution as there were improvements in the shift quality after the fix, and the shuddering had gone completely.

4. Black touchscreen

The touchscreen of the Corvette C7 is exciting and well-advanced. But sometimes, the screen fails and becomes completely black, with flickering displays occasionally.

The cause of the issue is not often with the screen but with the wiring. The cables of the HMI module, which the infotainment system is connected to, sometimes get loose, disabling the infotainment and audio. Plugging these wires back in would bring the screen back on.

In other cases, the ECU connector could be broken, a problem your mechanic can quickly fix. Other issues can cause your Corvette C7 screen to go black, which Chevrolet lists in its TSB issue #PI1149A. It is only in rare cases that the screen itself is the problem.

5. Blown engine

If you are actively looking for a Corvette C7 to buy, it is best to avoid the early C7 models, especially those of 2015 and 2016. These vehicles are known to have the worst engine and powertrain problems, with most of them getting a blown engine before their warranties expire.

The prevalence of blown engines in these early models is linked to some quality control and machining issues Chevrolet had at the time. To help with the situation, Chevrolet advised drivers to follow a break-in schedule, giving the engine a better chance. We’ve encountered numerous blown engine reports filed by drivers who owned earlier C7 models.

Thankfully, later C7 models do not have this problem. But if you buy any early C7 model, check if the car has been broken in properly, so you do not have to battle blown engines later.

Worst Corvette C7 years to avoid

While the C7 contains many reliable models, there are also some model years to avoid. We’ve explored those based on driver reports and reviews on trusted platforms like Consumer Reports and NHTSA, and these are the worst-rated years:

• 2015
• 2017
• 2019

It’s not just enough to know about these, which is why we’ll help you avoid them by going through each of those years and their common problems.

Corvette C7 (2015 model year)

The significant complaints most 2015 Corvette drivers had centered on the transmission. The worst part about the problem is that it started as low as 7,500 miles.

The drivers had to replace the torque inverter, which was the cause of the jerking and hesitating were symptoms the inverter was damaged. Drivers whose vehicles were under 50,000 miles on the odometer had the torque inverter changed for free as it was covered under their warranty.

Another problem that was pronounced on the 2015 Corvette was with the tires. The factory-installed tires had a default that caused the car’s front end to shake when making a sharp turn. Drivers reported that the shaking was so intense that you could feel the strong vibration of the steering wheel and the entire front suspension of the car.

Corvette C7 (2017 model year)

The 2017 model year was the worst one for the C7 model since it received more than 270 complaints from owners. The major problem the 2017 Corvette faced was with its wheels. The wheels often cracked, causing flat tires and vibrations when used at highway speeds, and mainly occurred after an average of 18,300 miles.

In addition to the wheel issue, the power steering assist on the 2017 model was prone to fail suddenly, requiring drivers to use all their strength to turn the vehicle. Replacing the wheels costs about $850, while Chevrolet issued a power steering assist recall to sort the latter one.

Corvette C7 (2019 model year)

Finally, we have the 2019 model year which received around 150 complaints, mostly related to warped wheels, engine overheating, and still some steering problems. As for this model year, Chevy also issued an airbag recall that concerned switching faulty airbags prone to deployment failure.

So, in cases of accidents, there was an increased chance that the airbags wouldn’t deploy at all, and it’s a vital thing to check while buying this one. Still, since not all of the models went through the recall, this model year is best avoided.

What are the best Corvette C7 years to buy?

When looking for a Corvette C7 to buy, there are some model years that proved to be way more reliable than previously mentioned ones. So, here’s a list of the best-rated C7 years in terms of reliability ratings and driver reports that we’ve scoured:

• 2014 Corvette C7
• 2016 Corvette C7
• 2018 Corvette C7

Of course, these also received certain complaints, but also a lot of praise, so we’ll take a closer look to see what stands out about each of them.

2014 Corvette C7

The 2014 Corvette C7 received a lot of praise and has a remarkable reliability score since it didn’t face many of the issues reported for the worst-rated years. It’s the second-best option out there to buy, following up to the 2018 model year which is unprecedented in terms of reliability.

As for the NHTSA filings, the 2014 C7 Corvette only received less than 30 complaints, which is an excellent score overall. Some minor issues were reported concerning drivetrain issues, suspension, and engine overheating, but they mostly count in single digits so they weren’t confirmed by the majority of owners.

2016 Corvette C7

Coming right after the 2014 model in terms of reliability, the 2016 C7 still received a bit over 100 complaints which places it on the fine line between the best and worst C7 years. However, bad-rated models still received double the amount of negative impressions, so this one is a reasonable buy.

2018 Corvette C7

Finally, we’ve got the 2018 C7 which was by far the best-rated Corvette model in this generation. It only received around 50 complaints and the only major issue reported to NHTSA by former drivers was the matter of the cooling system.

However, it’s a common theme among C7 models due to capable engines so it also has to do with your driving style and the engine’s maintenance level. As for other complaints, there were some minor issues with the wheels and hubs, and the rest seems pretty decent with no extra issue reports.

Is the Corvette C7 worth buying?

The Corvette C7 in general was a success. It has an incredible interior design and delivers outstanding performance, all for a fair price.

Even so, there are certain Corvette C7 years to avoid, so hopefully our guide on the best and worst years for this model helped figure it out at least by a bit. In the end, the worst-rated years were 2017 and 2019, so make sure to steer away from those two if you plan on buying this model.

If you’re looking at the Porsche 996 years to avoid or thinking about the Corvette C5 years to avoid and C6 years to avoid, here’s what you need to know. We found out which years were hits and which ones missed the mark. It’s all broken down in easy terms, so you can quickly see how these cars did over the years