Even if the 3LT trim package made sense to me (which it doesn't) I wouldn't buy it just because of this issue.

I’m not sure if there is a difference in materials between that part of the Vette in a 2LT and 3LT dash.

I had the full 2014 Kalahari colored dash, which I thought looked great. As GM did with every color but Spice Red, they reduced that in 2016 to the current “patch work quilt” look, as I refer to it. I did a lot of searching to find out just what parts of my 2014 were Napa Leather, Mulan “leather” (chopped scraps of leather mixed with the same “stuff” as vinyl) or plain Vinyl. All GM said “in writing” was it was Napa leather on the “seating surface” of a 3LT and “other soft touch materials.”

Recently that was reinforced in a post by someone who was working for GM and said they evaluated what materials should be used where. He said after testing the seat bolsters were more durable with vinyl! No doubT, that is why GM marketing clearly says Napa leather on “the seating surface.” In another post, a person who was interviewing folks at Bowling Green, said they admitted Mulan leather was a mixture of finely ground pieces of leather scrapes (~40% Max) that is made similar to vinyl with the leather used as a filler versus other synthetic “stuff” in vinyl! It’s a “coined name” like Chrysler’s “Corinthian Leather” of old!

BTW, my Kalahari 2014 dash had that color material where some folks show it shrinking around the opening. When I sold it after 3 1/2 years it looked fine, as good as new. Our summers are very hot and at times I parked in the hot sun with the windows closed. I don’t use a sun shade etc. But in fairness I am retired with a part time internet business so unlike when I was working full time, the car does not sit in the sun all day! In fact when it did when working full time I used a small cap car cover on my ‘88, ‘93 and my 2008 Vettes that covered all windows. Never had a dash “material” problem.

Can’t see how any warranty can be expected to cover a warn seat or a dash that could have been sitting in the hot sun. Guess for enough money you can insure any mishap as we have for accidents etc.

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what about cars that have been garaged their whole lives and not left out in the hot sun? i have this dash problem, paid $2400 for an extended warranty and was told it is not covered. i’m the second owner and didn’t notice the problem until after i bought the car. the car was already out of original warranty and only had 8500 miles on it. took it to a shop and they wanted $6,000 to fix it. i’ve owned six other corvettes and have never had this issue. my car also has a problem with the rear hatch not popping up enough to get fingers under it to lift it up. took it to the dealer and they told me the warranty wouldn’t cover it because a bracket needed to be replaced and the warranty doesn’t cover brackets. the rear latching system is so problematic that GM abandoned it in 2016 model year and went back to the c6 system. yet owners of 14s and 15s are screwed once out of original warranty. having owned six other corvettes, i’m totally aware of the PIA issues that seem to be a part of these vehicles. but i have had more of my share with this premier edition i now have and i’ve only had the car for ten months of fairly light driving. there is only 12k miles on it.

what about cars that have been garaged their whole lives and not left out in the hot sun? i have this dash problem, paid $2400 for an extended warranty and was told it is not covered. i’m the second owner and didn’t notice the problem until after i bought the car. the car was already out of original warranty and only had 8500 miles on it. took it to a shop and they wanted $6,000 to fix it.

typical of GMs quality. This problem with the 3LT interiors was very common on the C6 as well.

Yep, would not expect a major heat issue I n Chicago! Sold my 3LT C6 after 6 years in Eastern SC and dash looked new. For several years drove it ever day to work but often installed a small cap car cover (when it was not going to rain but common in the summer here to have an afternoon storm so no cap and windows were closed.)

Also traveled quite a bit so it was parked at the airport (as were my ‘88 and ‘93 Vettes.) But all with a ful car cover. Advantage of living in a small town! Would never think of leaving my 260Z in a NY airport when I lived in CT. Similar issue when I lived in OH and was traveling out of the Cleveland Airport about once a week. Only would bring my rag top Jeep and even that was parked with gals who ran a shuttle service to the airport and I would tip to be sure it was there when I got back!

As mentioned I had zero dash (or other issues) with my September 2013 built C7 Z51. Looked new when I sold it 3 1/2 years later. Also parked it at the airport a number of times but always with a full car cover.

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dont get so frustrated.... and don’t bash this amazing machine we have. I came from a bmw e92 m3, don’t even get me started on that nightmare. We’re in the green and I’ve been blessed with my stingray, even with the problems I’ve had it’s nothing compared to the Germans and the parts and repairs on these cars are simpler and much easier. My cars had 3 owners I’m at 34k miles and it is the 497th stingray made so it was the first ones and it’s doing just fine

dont get so frustrated.... and don’t bash this amazing machine we have. I came from a bmw e92 m3, don’t even get me started on that nightmare. We’re in the green and I’ve been blessed with my stingray, even with the problems I’ve had it’s nothing compared to the Germans and the parts and repairs on these cars are simpler and much easier. My cars had 3 owners I’m at 34k miles and it is the 497th stingray made so it was the first ones and it’s doing just fine[/QUOTE]

been driving corvettes for 27 years so my love for the car goes without saying. my problem is GM makes mistakes just like every other manufacturer such as the rear hatch release issue and using materials on the dash that can’t hold to even normal use. **** happens, i get that. what i don’t like is when they refuse to make good on known issues such as the rear hatch mchanism for owners that have problems. as for the dash leather, why use materials that are prone to failure under normal driving conditions? you simply can’t assume an abuse situation in every case.

my c6 was a 3lt so i didn’t have any dash issue. what i did have with my c6 was the leaking fuel pump problem. and got a notice from gm recently that the same problem is happening with early c7s. you would think they would have corrected the problem BEFORE the c7 was introduced considering NTSA forced GM to issue a recall on the c6 gas leak problem.

They gave me a “goodwill” partial help on the bill. I think we paid a couple of hundred of dollars and they paid $300. They only had to replace one section—the whole section being replaced would have cost over $1800.

Have you ever considered using a Dash Cover? There are many out there and I have used them for years. They are great if your car spends a lot of time sitting in the sun. They eliminate UV rays and cut down on the intense heat of the sun beating down on the dash and heating up the adhesive. I will buy one when I take delivery on a 3LT in a couple of months. They are easily removed and cost less than $100.