C7 Corvette Automatic Transmission Reliability
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Cruising
Joined: Dec 2020
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C7 Corvette Automatic Transmission Reliability
I'm considering buying a low mileage used corvette to be used as a daily driver (putting approx. 10k miles per year). With the high traffic in the Baltimore Washington area combined with a bad left knee I was planning to buy something with an automatic transmission. That said I'm concerned about the reliability of the torque converter in the C7 and all of the pending class action law suites. Am I better off buying a 2014 C7 or a C6? Or are the issues with the torque converter overstated and can be remedies with regular synthetic fluid flushes.
Team Owner
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C6's 6-speed auto has no big reliability issues, so if you wanted that its good to go.
The C7 8-speed from 2015 onward has a possible TC shudder issue that occurs in V4 mode, then just gets worse from there. It doesnt occur for everyone. GM believes throwing in a fluid with a different viscosity will fix it, thus the triple flush and fluid replacement you'll see here via searching. I decided not to risk the investment made on the car and put in a Range AFM device to force it to stay in V8 mode all the time, this is all that the Range device actually does. The only other way to keep the car in V8 mode all the time is to keep it in M instead of D on the transmission selector, then you just use the paddles all the time to shift.
The C7 8-speed from 2015 onward has a possible TC shudder issue that occurs in V4 mode, then just gets worse from there. It doesnt occur for everyone. GM believes throwing in a fluid with a different viscosity will fix it, thus the triple flush and fluid replacement you'll see here via searching. I decided not to risk the investment made on the car and put in a Range AFM device to force it to stay in V8 mode all the time, this is all that the Range device actually does. The only other way to keep the car in V8 mode all the time is to keep it in M instead of D on the transmission selector, then you just use the paddles all the time to shift.
Last edited by vader86; Dec 11, 2020 at 04:50 PM.
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First of all welcome to Corvette Forum. 
In regard to the A8 automatic transmission (C7s 2015>2019); I don't believe it's something that necessarily requires worry considering the vast majority of owners (most figures I've read/heard kicked around is 95%.) haven't had issues with their A8 transmission. In addition, the GM triple-flush process has proven successful for most cases in resolving issues for those who do. There's also the Range device that keeps from going into V4 mode that also helps.
Personally, I'm a manual fan and most all the Corvettes I've owned over the years have been manuals however I couldn't find a manual C7 Grandsport convertible in the color combo I wanted when searching so I settled for the auto and I'm very glad I did.
Of course A8 owners with problems come to forums such as this to complain and report, however the vast majority who did not have a problem and are satisfied do not.
Also the fearmongers and manual fanatics love to bash the A8 transmission as well.
In regard to the A8 automatic transmission (C7s 2015>2019); I don't believe it's something that necessarily requires worry considering the vast majority of owners (most figures I've read/heard kicked around is 95%.) haven't had issues with their A8 transmission. In addition, the GM triple-flush process has proven successful for most cases in resolving issues for those who do. There's also the Range device that keeps from going into V4 mode that also helps.
Personally, I'm a manual fan and most all the Corvettes I've owned over the years have been manuals however I couldn't find a manual C7 Grandsport convertible in the color combo I wanted when searching so I settled for the auto and I'm very glad I did.
Of course A8 owners with problems come to forums such as this to complain and report, however the vast majority who did not have a problem and are satisfied do not.
Also the fearmongers and manual fanatics love to bash the A8 transmission as well.
Last edited by Kevin A Jones; Dec 11, 2020 at 06:24 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2013
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From: FL
Have a 2015 Z51 A8 and early triple flush in warranty and recent triple flush with latest fluid and 500 miles later it is better but doing LubeGard additive hopefully. Do not be scared of the A8 as the triple flush helped hope the additive will work but if not customizing with a After Market TC at $3500 or so but get a CAI and Dyno Tune at least if you want to feel the differences
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