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After i bought my car, I saw that there are some issues with the leather dash. I did some research and it also looks like its not just a corvette thing. But a-lot of vehicles with leather dash's that get baked in the sun have problems. Im in Southern Ontario, and and I am going to use a dash visor when ever it sits outside. Anyone using any sort of treatment on the dash. Or is it best to just leave the treatments alone.
I now the Owners Manual says damp cloth.
I have never had a 3LT dash but I have been reading this forum a long time. The 3LT dash issues are not related to hot/cold, sun/shade. It seems members of all circumstances report the problem no matter how well or little they try to prevent it. It comes down to luck of the draw. Sorry not much more help but that is the general consensus on here.
At least as Corvettes go LIR is right, it's a 3LT materials and execution issue, not a heat/sun issue.
Did you not notice it prior to purchase? Too bad you didn't visit here prior to purchase you could have been warned as to what defects to look for.
My dash is good so far. I am just trying to do all I can to prevent it. But it sounds like its hit or miss.
What's interesting, is almost all makes that have leather dash boards have this problem. I still think the heat from the sun doesn't help it.
Last edited by Harleymike; Dec 15, 2022 at 08:04 PM.
I have a heavy duty sunscreen for if it is outside. It seems to keep the interior cooler. I also have the gadget to lower and raise your windows with the FOB. It also lets you roll down the window an inch.
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I agree that it is not a sun/heat/cold issue. The adhesive used seems to let go and the leather buckles up. I personally would not use anything on the dash but what the owner's manual recommends, but others state there are products that work just fine.
So this is a snapshot of my 3LT leather dash that I photographed yesterday. I purchased the Stingray a little over a year ago and at the time the leather was just beginning to delaminate. The delamination at the time was so small I didn't notice the problem for a month or so after purchase.
This vette's life has been in the garage except when in use. The previous owner kept it from baking in the Texas sun and I do the same.
Treatments; I only use a damp, distilled water with microfiber towel to gently wipe the dust away.
I've been keeping an eye on this for nearly a year. It is getting worse. So I'll be doing the glue treatment that was posted recently.
After watching this leather slowly give way I realize there is nothing the owner can do to prevent it.
I hope I'm wrong with this observation, but I certainly believe all original 3LT dash panels will delaminate. It's just a matter of time.
So this is a snapshot of my 3LT leather dash that I photographed yesterday. I purchased the Stingray a little over a year ago and at the time the leather was just beginning to delaminate. The delamination at the time was so small I didn't notice the problem for a month or so after purchase.
This vette's life has been in the garage except when in use. The previous owner kept it from baking in the Texas sun and I do the same.
Treatments; I only use a damp, distilled water with microfiber towel to gently wipe the dust away.
I've been keeping an eye on this for nearly a year. It is getting worse. So I'll be doing the glue treatment that was posted recently.
After watching this leather slowly give way I realize there is nothing the owner can do to prevent it.
I hope I'm wrong with this observation, but I certainly believe all original 3LT dash panels will delaminate. It's just a matter of time.
Bummer. Does the new glue treatment work permanently or is this an ongoing issue for ownership of the car.
A thread posted earlier this month shows an adhesive (Tear Mender) used by a forum member on his 3LT dash. The same stuff was recommended in a 3LT dash repair video from a few months earlier.
I don't know how well this stuff will work, but perhaps a product that's been on the market for many years will bond better than what was provided by GM. The failure rate of the GM adhesive is horrible.
After i bought my car, I saw that there are some issues with the leather dash. I did some research and it also looks like its not just a corvette thing. But a-lot of vehicles with leather dash's that get baked in the sun have problems. Im in Southern Ontario, and and I am going to use a dash visor when ever it sits outside. Anyone using any sort of treatment on the dash. Or is it best to just leave the treatments alone.
I now the Owners Manual says damp cloth.
Thanks for any advise.
I can tell you that the sun might have an impact accelerating the delam but my car has always been garaged when not driven and is almost 7 years old, lives in the hot south, used heavy duty sunscreen on the windshield when outside and have the front windshield ceramic tinted and still got this issue. Also, only cleaned the dash with water. I fixed mine with a needle and glue and so far it is still holding.
I did some research and it also looks like its not just a corvette thing.
If you search "leather dash failure" you will, to no one's surprise, find information about failures with leather dashes. It's important to keep context here. The corvette has an unusually high rate of failure with the leather dash. It's a $70k car pretending to be a $150k car -- they cut costs somewhere, and skimping on fit+finish is a just a fantastic way to save money.
There was a recent post about someone's fix to this that's proving to be successful. Personally, I'd go with that. Fix the problem when it happens, don't worry about it until then, and don't weigh yourself down with rituals and carrying around a bunch of crap to set up every time you park it in hopes that you'll prevent something. Life's too short for that.
If you search "leather dash failure" you will, to no one's surprise, find information about failures with leather dashes. It's important to keep context here. The corvette has an unusually high rate of failure with the leather dash. It's a $70k car pretending to be a $150k car -- they cut costs somewhere, and skimping on fit+finish is a just a fantastic way to save money.
There was a recent post about someone's fix to this that's proving to be successful. Personally, I'd go with that. Fix the problem when it happens, don't worry about it until then, and don't weigh yourself down with rituals and carrying around a bunch of crap to set up every time you park it in hopes that you'll prevent something. Life's too short for that.
Very well said. Absolutely. I always say that too. Life is too short.
Yup I'm just doing some research and what ever happens happens. Cant change it.
I just need it to get to spring here. Its. going to be a long winter. LOL
If you search "leather dash failure" you will, to no one's surprise, find information about failures with leather dashes. It's important to keep context here. The corvette has an unusually high rate of failure with the leather dash. It's a $70k car pretending to be a $150k car -- they cut costs somewhere, and skimping on fit+finish is a just a fantastic way to save money.
There was a recent post about someone's fix to this that's proving to be successful. Personally, I'd go with that. Fix the problem when it happens, don't worry about it until then, and don't weigh yourself down with rituals and carrying around a bunch of crap to set up every time you park it in hopes that you'll prevent something. Life's too short for that.
What's amazing is that it not only does the Corvette pretend to be a $150k car, Corvettes successfully competes against $150k sportscars in the marketplace.
What's amazing is that it not only does the Corvette pretend to be a $150k car, Corvettes successfully competes against $150k sportscars in the marketplace.
depends what you call competing, but yes. they definitely punch above their price tag.
Correction, make that C6 generation through the C8s as there's been threads over on the C8 forum reporting the issue. Always 3LTs.
I have not been paying much attention to the C8s'. I thought GM solved this problem by the end of the C7 cycle. Now I find this problem carries through THREE generations of the Corvette.
I'm very disappointed in the claims of improved Quality Control GM has been throwing around over the last few years. You may not easily see the quality improvements in the console, door cards, etc. But it is extremely difficult to look beyond the eye sore of a 'big-***' bubble on the dash panel.
Get your act together, GM!!!
I have not been paying much attention to the C8s'. I thought GM solved this problem by the end of the C7 cycle. Now I find this problem carries through THREE generations of the Corvette.
I'm very disappointed in the claims of improved Quality Control GM has been throwing around over the last few years. You may not easily see the quality improvements in the console, door cards, etc. But it is extremely difficult to look beyond the eye sore of a 'big-***' bubble on the dash panel.
Get your act together, GM!!!
Yep, very disappointing. I was considering getting the 3LT for my C8 as I liked the 'dipped' (full color) interior. But then thought why spend extra thousands for a risk of this happening no matter how small the risk.
Like you say, it's not a defect that you can just ignore as it's IN YOUR FACE whenever you are driving.
3lt dash
