C7 Reliability
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,145
Likes: 43
From: El Cajon (San Diego) California
First model years will have some minor issues. It appears they have been resolved by GM. I have 6000 miles on mine and absolutely no issues. It is a fabulous car for the money. All the reviews have been correct.
Last edited by 5150 BRD; Aug 24, 2014 at 03:41 PM. Reason: grammar
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,877
Likes: 531
I have owned many brands. The most problematic was a 2007 BMW 750Li. I won't buy another BMW. My family now owns a 2013 Lexus ES350, a 2013 Toyota Avalon, a 2012 Toyota Highlander, and a C7 Vette. The Toyota products have been bulletproof. No issues with the C7. Incredible car! You shouldn't hesitate to purchase one.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 6,956
Likes: 4,813
From: Camden SC
Like many have already stated, my C7 has been near flawless. The only issue I have had to date was a minor stress crack (about 1.5") in the driver's door that was immediately repaired under the warranty. Other than that one thing, the car has been perfect.
As a matter of record, the worst car I have owned in recent memory was a 2008 Jaguar XK convertible. The electrical issues with the car were both astounding and unrepairable. Car would only start up about 40% of the time (dead batteries). I went through four batteries in a year and a half, along with burned relays, LCD panels that would refuse to light, a spooky convertible top that would go half way up or down, then stop on its own. The car was an absolute nightmare. I finally traded the car on a C6 in 2012 (that is how I caught the Corvette bug). I have now been completely happy with both 'Vettes I have owned and am a 'Vette guy for life.. Oh, BTW, I did a CarFax check on that XK several months after I traded it in. The car had been through three other owners since me in a very short period of time. I guess those guys must have run into the same issues I did...
As a matter of record, the worst car I have owned in recent memory was a 2008 Jaguar XK convertible. The electrical issues with the car were both astounding and unrepairable. Car would only start up about 40% of the time (dead batteries). I went through four batteries in a year and a half, along with burned relays, LCD panels that would refuse to light, a spooky convertible top that would go half way up or down, then stop on its own. The car was an absolute nightmare. I finally traded the car on a C6 in 2012 (that is how I caught the Corvette bug). I have now been completely happy with both 'Vettes I have owned and am a 'Vette guy for life.. Oh, BTW, I did a CarFax check on that XK several months after I traded it in. The car had been through three other owners since me in a very short period of time. I guess those guys must have run into the same issues I did...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 6,433
Likes: 3,624
From: Commerce Texas
I can't address C7 reliability but I can address overall Corvette dependability - 600K miles in five Corvettes and _but_ one major problem - a failure of an Optispark unit at 148,000 miles on a C4 - that's it.... otherwise, drive 'em, service 'em... enjoy them.
Best sports car bang for the buck on the planet....
Best sports car bang for the buck on the planet....
Racer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 270
Likes: 21
Reliability BMW really ! I had a 525, they bought it back because of warranty issues and gave me a 530....Water pump went out at 45,000 miles, trans let go at 80,000. I sold the
$50,000 BMW after 2 years of problems for $14,000....What a great car ! BMW stands for
Buy My Warranty
$50,000 BMW after 2 years of problems for $14,000....What a great car ! BMW stands for
Buy My Warranty
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Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,070
Likes: 162
From: Coralville Iowa
I've owned 3 BMWs - trust me, the Corvette will likely be FAR more reliable. Did I read correctly you had a total of 8 years of experience over 4 BMWs? That rates as a big "so what" in my book - that's nothing!
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,674
Likes: 142
From: Aubrey Texas
i have had two that spend alot of time in the shop. but i look around and mines is the one one, so i dont consider that a issue with all of them. you will have some bad apples in 35k built. gm is has a good product and seems to stand behind it.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 576
Likes: 3
Reliability BMW really ! I had a 525, they bought it back because of warranty issues and gave me a 530....Water pump went out at 45,000 miles, trans let go at 80,000. I sold the
$50,000 BMW after 2 years of problems for $14,000....What a great car ! BMW stands for
Buy My Warranty
$50,000 BMW after 2 years of problems for $14,000....What a great car ! BMW stands for
Buy My Warranty
I never had any issues in any of my cars and M cars are far more complicated than anything GM has built (minus the new Z06). Just take a look at the 7 heat exchanger turbo design in the new M3 for example. These cars are engineering marvels. That being said, they do break down (I just have been very lucky?) and they are expensive to repair, which is why you dump them before warranty runs out.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,070
Likes: 162
From: Coralville Iowa
Yeah, I'd never keep a BMW beyond 50,000 miles and NEVER buy one used. You buy them new (and usually lease them) and get rid of them right around warranty/maintenance expiration.
I never had any issues in any of my cars and M cars are far more complicated than anything GM has built (minus the new Z06). Just take a look at the 7 heat exchanger turbo design in the new M3 for example. These cars are engineering marvels. That being said, they do break down (I just have been very lucky?) and they are expensive to repair, which is why you dump them before warranty runs out.
I never had any issues in any of my cars and M cars are far more complicated than anything GM has built (minus the new Z06). Just take a look at the 7 heat exchanger turbo design in the new M3 for example. These cars are engineering marvels. That being said, they do break down (I just have been very lucky?) and they are expensive to repair, which is why you dump them before warranty runs out.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,029
Likes: 2,719
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Everyone has different experiences.
We've owned three new Corvettes (2001, 2006, 2009) but no C7 yet.
The 'vettes were/are the most unreliable cars we've ever owned, and each new one was worse than the previous. Just a continual toothache of things that break, and each of them left us stuck at a dealer at least once during a long road trip. If you want the details, Search in C6 General under my name for "One Year Report Card", Two...", up through "Five ..." which I posted a couple of months ago.
We have about two years/25k miles left on our GMPP (which has saved us a ton of money); when it expires then we may become "former Corvette owners."
Or maybe the C7 will turn out to be better. Hope springs eternal.
We've owned three new Corvettes (2001, 2006, 2009) but no C7 yet.
The 'vettes were/are the most unreliable cars we've ever owned, and each new one was worse than the previous. Just a continual toothache of things that break, and each of them left us stuck at a dealer at least once during a long road trip. If you want the details, Search in C6 General under my name for "One Year Report Card", Two...", up through "Five ..." which I posted a couple of months ago.
We have about two years/25k miles left on our GMPP (which has saved us a ton of money); when it expires then we may become "former Corvette owners."
Or maybe the C7 will turn out to be better. Hope springs eternal.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,446
Likes: 123
From: No Longer in CA! NV
Sorry your experience has been such... You are an exception. The Stingray is our fifth... Two C5's, C6 Z51, C6 GS (my current car) and the wife's new Stingray now. The C5's were sold just shy of 100k miles, the C6 had 75k, and my GS now has close to 35k in less than two years.
The first C5 was used, with 12k miles when I bought it, and the only problem it had was the AC compressor at maybe 60k. Second C5 lasted my wife 9 years without any issues. Z51 also had no issues. GS has only had one issue, recently, where the fan wiring connector melted. It is a common problem for supercharged cars (had an A&A blower installed at the beginning of the year) running the modified fan control settings.
Something definitely wrong with your experience - that is extremely unlucky.
The first C5 was used, with 12k miles when I bought it, and the only problem it had was the AC compressor at maybe 60k. Second C5 lasted my wife 9 years without any issues. Z51 also had no issues. GS has only had one issue, recently, where the fan wiring connector melted. It is a common problem for supercharged cars (had an A&A blower installed at the beginning of the year) running the modified fan control settings.
Something definitely wrong with your experience - that is extremely unlucky.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 87
Likes: 1
From: CT
I purchased two GM cars this year for the first time. A 2014 Impala for the wife and, of course, a 2014 Vette for me. No problems with either vehicles. I think GM is paying attention to quality now that the world market forces them to. If you do the correct maintenance, I believe these cars will hold up well.
On a side note, our local BMW dealer was showing a new 3 series car at a charity event. The sticker said 65% German content, 5% North American and 30% other (undoubtedly China) content. What the Germans charge for cars, you would think they would be 100% German. Met an Indian man who had factories in China ten years ago, and he was making 3 parts for the 911 at that time (more by now for sure). So, quality is something that companies most adhere to, no matter country of origin or manufacturer.
On a side note, our local BMW dealer was showing a new 3 series car at a charity event. The sticker said 65% German content, 5% North American and 30% other (undoubtedly China) content. What the Germans charge for cars, you would think they would be 100% German. Met an Indian man who had factories in China ten years ago, and he was making 3 parts for the 911 at that time (more by now for sure). So, quality is something that companies most adhere to, no matter country of origin or manufacturer.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 8,071
Likes: 317
From: Central Florida
Wow looks like you escaped the 335i twin-turbo HPFP fiasco where the engine would go into Limp mode randomly due to the fuel pump failure. i have a '09 335i with the N54 twin turbo and so far i've taken the car in for:
1) 1 replacement of the HPFP
2) passenger side door lock failure
3) short in the electrical system that caused all the turn lights to fail
4) VANOS solenoids in the intake failing (this was a head scratcher)
Don't get me wrong, i love this car and it's insane torque curve and it will be a sad day when i part with it. but I don't think the german makes are as reliable as the Japanese brands (Lexus, Acura). Those cars are bulletproof in terms of reliability. not fun to drive but very very dependable.
1) 1 replacement of the HPFP
2) passenger side door lock failure
3) short in the electrical system that caused all the turn lights to fail
4) VANOS solenoids in the intake failing (this was a head scratcher)
Don't get me wrong, i love this car and it's insane torque curve and it will be a sad day when i part with it. but I don't think the german makes are as reliable as the Japanese brands (Lexus, Acura). Those cars are bulletproof in terms of reliability. not fun to drive but very very dependable.
Same issues, matter fact yesterday my 335i cut the Reduce Engine Power Warning light, spilled out the code, bringing it to the BMW Dealer tomorrow.
I have found the BMW to be a nice car, but VERY VERY expensive to maintain and fix. I will NEVER buy a BMW again, I think I will still to good old Chevrolet, much better luck with reliability and cost per mile.
I hope to pay off the 335i soon and buy a new Chevy SUV to replace it.
Racer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 339
Likes: 40
Everyone has different experiences.
We've owned three new Corvettes (2001, 2006, 2009) but no C7 yet.
The 'vettes were/are the most unreliable cars we've ever owned, and each new one was worse than the previous. Just a continual toothache of things that break, and each of them left us stuck at a dealer at least once during a long road trip. If you want the details, Search in C6 General under my name for "One Year Report Card", Two...", up through "Five ..." which I posted a couple of months ago.
We have about two years/25k miles left on our GMPP (which has saved us a ton of money); when it expires then we may become "former Corvette owners."
Or maybe the C7 will turn out to be better. Hope springs eternal.
We've owned three new Corvettes (2001, 2006, 2009) but no C7 yet.
The 'vettes were/are the most unreliable cars we've ever owned, and each new one was worse than the previous. Just a continual toothache of things that break, and each of them left us stuck at a dealer at least once during a long road trip. If you want the details, Search in C6 General under my name for "One Year Report Card", Two...", up through "Five ..." which I posted a couple of months ago.
We have about two years/25k miles left on our GMPP (which has saved us a ton of money); when it expires then we may become "former Corvette owners."
Or maybe the C7 will turn out to be better. Hope springs eternal.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,029
Likes: 2,719
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
As posted, "Hope springs eternal."
I keep thinking that since so many people post here about how reliable their Corvette has been, our next one is bound to be a winner.
But it hasn't worked out that way.
I love the handling, acceleration, comfort; and trunk space for long trips. It would be hard to find that combination in any car regardless of price, but I may be forced to start looking.
If you read my Report Card threads, you'll notice that I'm not burning pistons or blowing transmissions. We don't abuse the car.
Instead, the continual parade of problems is just ordinary stuff that shouldn't break on any modern automobile. Our 2009 Corvette has had more problems in each of its five years with us, than our two Japanese grocery getters have had in their 12 yrs/65k miles combined.
If you think I'm making this up, read through my Report Card threads. Pick a couple of the problems I listed, and PM me- I'll send you a scan of the repair order showing the problem. Fortunately, our local dealer works hard to fix things.
I keep thinking that since so many people post here about how reliable their Corvette has been, our next one is bound to be a winner.
But it hasn't worked out that way.
I love the handling, acceleration, comfort; and trunk space for long trips. It would be hard to find that combination in any car regardless of price, but I may be forced to start looking.
If you read my Report Card threads, you'll notice that I'm not burning pistons or blowing transmissions. We don't abuse the car.
Instead, the continual parade of problems is just ordinary stuff that shouldn't break on any modern automobile. Our 2009 Corvette has had more problems in each of its five years with us, than our two Japanese grocery getters have had in their 12 yrs/65k miles combined.
If you think I'm making this up, read through my Report Card threads. Pick a couple of the problems I listed, and PM me- I'll send you a scan of the repair order showing the problem. Fortunately, our local dealer works hard to fix things.