C6 common issues
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 98
Likes: 11
From: Greenfield, WI
C6 common issues
We are considering getting a C6 Corvette to keep my C2 company. There is a 2011 Grand Sport 3LT convertible for sale near us with 50k miles and an automatic transmission. What are the "generally known" common issues with this model that I should ask the seller whether they've already been addressed so I can maybe use those as a bargaining chip. Thanks in advance for any and all advice!
Racer
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 274
Likes: 43
From: Vestavia Hills, AL
Harmonic Balancer wobble, gear shifter grommets (attachd to the shifting cable) disintegrating causing the shifter not to shift (fairly easy fix), starter getting fried from the heat against the manifold or LT headers
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,291
Likes: 1,283
From: Phoenix, AZ to Quakertown, PA.
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Cracked plastic fuel line fitting on top of drivers side fuel tank. Covered for ten years or 120k miles. My 09 did this and my sons 13 GS just went thru this. Yours may have been done already.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ty-recall.html. Here is the sticky at top of C6 general discussion page.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ty-recall.html. Here is the sticky at top of C6 general discussion page.
Instructor
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 122
Likes: 48
From: Maui
@wood78221 has it pretty well covered. The only other one I can think of is some problems with the telescoping steering column. Also, just last night I watched a good YouTube about damage to the radiator mounting cage from people scraping the nose. Basically, the cage breaks up into the frame at the attachment points and it's kind of a welding PITA to fix. The key is getting under the car to check the bottom of the cage (basically, the part that hits when you ground out).
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 647
Likes: 22
From: Norwalk CT and Boynton Beach FL
Automatic transmissions get STUCK IN PARK and can easily leave you stranded. Need to remove console and CUT OFF the plastic hook (pawl) so it never locks in park again. Plastic grommet in shifter cable disintegrates over time and once it breaks (and they all do) it will leave you stranded somewhere. Can break at either end -- at shift lever or at transmission attachment. Replace shifter cable if the car is more than 10 years old. For convertibles (I have one) the motor which pulls down the tourneau is made with PLASTIC gears which break leaving you with a top which is partially up or partially down -- don't get caught in the rain. The power window regulator, again, is made with many plastic parts and plastic deteriorates over time ---- even if the car has low mileage (I just have 11,500 on mine). Plastic, plastic everywhere. Now I'm dealing with a problem --- car sometimes will not crank over --- and I'm sure it's a faulty switch (must have foot on break, car must be in park, failing relay, etc.) Lots of cheap chinese electronic parts in the car. I also have a C5 and it has it's problems too. Be prepared to be a weekend mechanic. Good Luck
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,614
Likes: 163
From: Davis CA
The connector for the radiator fan is not robust enough. It can burn out and cause the fan to stop working. It comes from the list of things I am doing to my car as functional preventative measures. Mine is a manual.
Slave cylinder
Coolant T - replace plastic with steel
Radiator upgrade - (maybe optional on street only car)
Radiator fan connector upgrade
Tow hooks front and rear (maybe optional on street only car)
Rear wheel bearing nuts
Remaining to be done - harmonic balancer
Slave cylinder
Coolant T - replace plastic with steel
Radiator upgrade - (maybe optional on street only car)
Radiator fan connector upgrade
Tow hooks front and rear (maybe optional on street only car)
Rear wheel bearing nuts
Remaining to be done - harmonic balancer
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 647
Likes: 22
From: Norwalk CT and Boynton Beach FL
Oh yes --- rear wheel bearing nuts come loose. I was hearing some kind of klunk which to me sounded like worn universal joints. Nuts on rear axles seemed tight to me.
Dealer took care of this for me. Make sure you have the upper tier AAA membership which will tow you 100 miles.
Dealer took care of this for me. Make sure you have the upper tier AAA membership which will tow you 100 miles.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 255
Likes: 41
From: Lake Charles LA
Oh yes --- rear wheel bearing nuts come loose. I was hearing some kind of klunk which to me sounded like worn universal joints. Nuts on rear axles seemed tight to me.
Dealer took care of this for me. Make sure you have the upper tier AAA membership which will tow you 100 miles.
Dealer took care of this for me. Make sure you have the upper tier AAA membership which will tow you 100 miles.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 21
Likes: 4
The connector for the radiator fan is not robust enough. It can burn out and cause the fan to stop working. It comes from the list of things I am doing to my car as functional preventative measures. Mine is a manual.
Slave cylinder
Coolant T - replace plastic with steel
Radiator upgrade - (maybe optional on street only car)
Radiator fan connector upgrade
Tow hooks front and rear (maybe optional on street only car)
Rear wheel bearing nuts
Remaining to be done - harmonic balancer
Slave cylinder
Coolant T - replace plastic with steel
Radiator upgrade - (maybe optional on street only car)
Radiator fan connector upgrade
Tow hooks front and rear (maybe optional on street only car)
Rear wheel bearing nuts
Remaining to be done - harmonic balancer
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 21
Likes: 4
Sounds like I might have to bite the bullet and wait another few months to grab a lower mileage c7 instead since the c6 seems to be pretty damn problematic with no real fixes for some of these issues. Still have yet to find a full fix for the melting connector issue. Some people splice the wires then have issues later further down, some people put on stronger connectors and then have the same reoccurring issue later, and some go with the dewitt radiator double fan combo but reports seem limited on this option and not enough really recommend it so seems to not have a fix?
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 647
Likes: 22
From: Norwalk CT and Boynton Beach FL
Sounds like I might have to bite the bullet and wait another few months to grab a lower mileage c7 instead since the c6 seems to be pretty damn problematic with no real fixes for some of these issues. Still have yet to find a full fix for the melting connector issue. Some people splice the wires then have issues later further down, some people put on stronger connectors and then have the same reoccurring issue later, and some go with the dewitt radiator double fan combo but reports seem limited on this option and not enough really recommend it so seems to not have a fix?
Can't imagine it's a problem in a Chevy Cobalt.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 377
Likes: 105
From: Boulder, CO
In my opinion, the problem with ALL Corvettes is the use of cheap chinese grommets, connectors and electrical parts. To keep the MSRP down, they use cheaper parts ... but so frustrated with the cheap, lousy parts everywhere. I believe it is the same for all GM cars. If it's over 10 years old, you're going to start having issues even if the car only has 5,000 miles on it. Spend a couple of hours and go thru the FORUM the see the various problems the owners are trying to solve. Do this for C7's also. I have no experience with C7's but do your research. Good Luck. By the way my friend bought a new Aston Martin and is having issues --- but with a new car all repairs are covered under warrantee
The company has for many decades had to deal with:
(a) Ever increasing government regulations and requirements
(b) A population increasingly taught to dislike American-made cars, and
(c) Hostile and ever more demanding labor unions
Rick Wagoner did an amazing job, AFAIK. I would not be surprised to learn that Mary Bara is simply following Wagoner's plans.
My 2021 Silverado Trail Boss is excellent, and yet is the most affordable in its class, by far.
I think that GM has been the best-run company in the world, with all of these enemies and ever-better products.
And I really like my 07 Base Corvette. I also enjoy working on it myself.
