delaminating
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 1,212
Likes: 938
From: Georgetown, Tx
All...
Some owners leather have not had problems. But I believe over time they will.
When I bought my 2014-3LT sixteen months ago, the leather was perfect; so I thought. Over time a small bulge has appeared on the dash and the seam around the defrost vent is beginning to rise out of place. Today, most people would not notice it, but every C7 guy will. The delamination will worsen with time. C6s', C7s' and C8s' all have a common problem with the 3LT leather.
Some owners leather have not had problems. But I believe over time they will.
When I bought my 2014-3LT sixteen months ago, the leather was perfect; so I thought. Over time a small bulge has appeared on the dash and the seam around the defrost vent is beginning to rise out of place. Today, most people would not notice it, but every C7 guy will. The delamination will worsen with time. C6s', C7s' and C8s' all have a common problem with the 3LT leather.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 581
From: Conway South Carolina
All...
Some owners leather have not had problems. But I believe over time they will.
When I bought my 2014-3LT sixteen months ago, the leather was perfect; so I thought. Over time a small bulge has appeared on the dash and the seam around the defrost vent is beginning to rise out of place. Today, most people would not notice it, but every C7 guy will. The delamination will worsen with time. C6s', C7s' and C8s' all have a common problem with the 3LT leather.
Some owners leather have not had problems. But I believe over time they will.
When I bought my 2014-3LT sixteen months ago, the leather was perfect; so I thought. Over time a small bulge has appeared on the dash and the seam around the defrost vent is beginning to rise out of place. Today, most people would not notice it, but every C7 guy will. The delamination will worsen with time. C6s', C7s' and C8s' all have a common problem with the 3LT leather.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 1,202
Likes: 569
From: MSP
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 3,458
Likes: 1,998
From: Columbus Ohio
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,420
Likes: 359
I took a wet towel and a hot iron and ironed it out on my last vette and it seemed to hold but I sold it about 2 years ago. I now have another 2014 3LT and it's dash is perfect but if it stays or not who knows. I know there is still a chance of it coming lose but since it's a 2014 and still perfect shaped I may be one of the lucky ones. but if it lets go, I will just have to deal with it
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 581
From: Conway South Carolina
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 214
Likes: 114
From: Powell TN
3LT Dash
Mine is a 2015 3LT Coupe with Kalahari interior. I keep watch on my dash pretty carefully, garaged in East TN. I take her out semi-regularly and sometimes she sits outside unprotected on hot summer days at car shows, etc. I only use a microfiber towel dampened with plain water to clean and never use a shade. So far so good!
Everything I have read seems to lean in the direction of glue failure and may be directly related to technician technique used on the day your dash was covered, that is, production variability. It doesn't seem to be limited to certain model years, in fact, there are now complaints about some 3LT C8 dashes with delamination similar to C7 complaints. Why this problem seems limited to 3LT/3LZ dashes, I have no idea. Anyone?
Save the wave,
Everything I have read seems to lean in the direction of glue failure and may be directly related to technician technique used on the day your dash was covered, that is, production variability. It doesn't seem to be limited to certain model years, in fact, there are now complaints about some 3LT C8 dashes with delamination similar to C7 complaints. Why this problem seems limited to 3LT/3LZ dashes, I have no idea. Anyone?
Save the wave,
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,075
Likes: 24,732
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
As stated above, the 3LT/3LZ dash delamination problem affects all years of the C7, but that does not mean all cars will have their dash delaminate. It does mean that if the leather comes loose, it can be an expensive repair.
I have a 2LT car and the dash is perfect. If the 3LT trim level is what you really want, just go into the purchase knowing that it is a problem that could happen over time.
I have a 2LT car and the dash is perfect. If the 3LT trim level is what you really want, just go into the purchase knowing that it is a problem that could happen over time.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 581
From: Conway South Carolina
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,798
Likes: 314
From: Santa Fe Tx
My opinion is there are 4 groups of dash problems:
1. Will never have a problem.
2. The glue lets loose and bubbles appear( my 2017 gs 3LT had this)
3. Bad leather which creates bigger issues than bubbles
4. Future problems???
I suspect GM purchased the leather &/or Glue from a chinese manufacturer. They assembled the dashes here but when you buy crap supplies the end product is phucked up.
My fix was a local shop taking windshield out, and re-gluing the existing leather. That was a little over a year ago and fix is ok!
I have not found much stuff that was made in china that was of good quality. Even screws and bolts are crap. I suspect everything built in china has been fully reviewed by chinese government to cut corners. They are not concerned with quality because once they start supplying stuff the european and American companies are hooked. The recent supply chain crap opened a lot of eyes and we will see a lot more built in America with American manufactured parts.
1. Will never have a problem.
2. The glue lets loose and bubbles appear( my 2017 gs 3LT had this)
3. Bad leather which creates bigger issues than bubbles
4. Future problems???
I suspect GM purchased the leather &/or Glue from a chinese manufacturer. They assembled the dashes here but when you buy crap supplies the end product is phucked up.
My fix was a local shop taking windshield out, and re-gluing the existing leather. That was a little over a year ago and fix is ok!
I have not found much stuff that was made in china that was of good quality. Even screws and bolts are crap. I suspect everything built in china has been fully reviewed by chinese government to cut corners. They are not concerned with quality because once they start supplying stuff the european and American companies are hooked. The recent supply chain crap opened a lot of eyes and we will see a lot more built in America with American manufactured parts.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,525
Likes: 495
From: Southern California
QUOTE: “Everything I have read seems to lean in the direction of glue failure and may be directly related to technician technique used on the day your dash was covered, that is, production variability. It doesn't seem to be limited to certain model years, in fact, there are now complaints about some 3LT C8 dashes with delamination similar to C7 complaints. Why this problem seems limited to 3LT/3LZ dashes, I have no idea. Anyone?”
The C7 3LT dash is leather the 2LT dash is vinyl.
The C7 3LT dash is leather the 2LT dash is vinyl.