I understand your trepidation. My advice is to just go out and enjoy your car when it arrives. I say this because I went though the same thing when I bought my C7 with the new A8 transmission. If you read all of the negative posts about it you would think the sky is falling. There are people still posting about it today in the C7 section. I was nervous as hell just driving it. That is, until one day I just said screw it and stopped worrying about it. Never had an issue with it. My 2018 Chevrolet Colorado has the same transmission and no problems with it either.

The overwhelming majority of posts you see on a forum like this are people with problems. You typically don't see people starting threads (at least not the norm) stating hey, my transmission is great today. So yes, I stand by my low percentage of people with problems - even though I had an issue with my C8 DCT. It threw a code and the check engine light came on. The dealer first tried to do the DCT flush which unfortunately did not resolve the issue. So they then had to replace one of the valve bodies inside of the transmission. With the valve body replacement, they also replaced the internal filter, the external filter as well as all of the transmission fluid. This cleared all of the codes and so far so good. 🤞

I had this service completed at a very reputable Chevrolet dealership that specializes in Corvettes. They have one of the best Corvette techs in California and they are Corvette fanatics. They told me that in their experience, it doesn't take much to plug up a sensor or solenoid, even microscopic particles can cause these types of issues and codes. If the flush can't dislodge the particles, they have to end up replacing the valve body. The whole process didn't take long, maybe 3-4 hours while I waited for the vehicle. Just a little longer than an oil change.

This issue didn't sour me at all about the car or transmission. Both are awesome. It was a minor inconvenience and hopefully GM/Tremec is learning more about these types of issues and will make changes down the road to the valve bodies to make the sensors/solenoids less susceptible to microscopic particles. Again, just go out and enjoy your car when it arrives.

 

We currently have 2 Audis, both with DCTs. Have not heard of any DCT issues with them. Maybe GM/Tremec should poach some VW engineers. Sounds like more/better filtering is required.
p.s. This last gen of Audis has an issue with plastic water pumps I think that leak.

 

I am starting to really enjoy how well My dual clutch works and it really smooths out after a few thousand miles as the clutch plates seem to wear in. I do wonder why Porsche has a separate oil bath just for clutch part of the transmission. Perhaps the DCT has too much stuff in one oil bath to ever really solve the Sensor/debris problem - if in fact that is why transmissions are being replaced?? I have asked the question before and no seems to know why the difference in design?

 

There are plenty or articles on Audi/VW DCT issues. Here are just a couple.

https://www.eco-torque.co.uk/post/vw...arbox-problems
https://axleaddict.com/auto-repair/6...mission-Faults

Plus there are countless threads on the Audi forums regarding DCT issues.

 

There is no “I am more right than you” in forums like this that are usually anecdotal based (and sometimes opinion based) points of view. There are “the glass is empty and broken on the floor” folks and there are “the glass is empty because I drank it all” folks.

My advice: order another round of glasses full and figure out how to get along. But don’t drive.

 

As a previous owner of two Corvettes and a current owner of two Mazdas and a Lexus, not to mention a subscriber of Consumer Reports for over 30 years, I can say without a doubt that those who think most cars are similar to GM vehicles have never owned any Toyota/Lexus and Mazdas. Make no mistake that they are nowhere near the same when it comes to reliability. If I were to get a C8, I'd surely either lease one or make sure I did not keep it past its warranty. One of my neighbors has a 2019 C7 and even though it is the last of a 7-year run, it still has plenty of issues that are not uncommon with C7s.
Now regarding owner satisfaction: Teslas owners are extremely happy, especially if they got rid of their old Mercedes, yet among EVs, Teslas are ranked near the bottom as far as quality and reliability. Above-average acceleration tends to do that to drivers. It erases all other downsides.
I mentioned before that I rented a 2022 C8 and loved its performance but there's that little voice inside me that says "Don't forget GM's lack of quality!"

 

Whether you realize or not you just stated what is entirely true and has nothing to do with lack of quality. "Human Nature" Dave, is what happens when someone goes out and spends a ton of money on a so called "superior quality reliable vehicle" and it has all sorts of issues but they'll never mention them simply because they would have to admit they made a mistake. I can't tell you how many people , including myself, bought European, Asian or upscale American vehicles and had all sorts of problems...but they sure bitch if it's a Ford, Chevy or Dodge. Sure you'd expect better quality and reliability the more you spend but if that were true take note of how many 15 to 30 year old "superior vehicles" are driving around. But to quote Jay Leno when describing his Corvette ZO6, "It's a Chevy and you can fix it with a hammer."

​​​​​​​

 

Get a Toyota Corolla now that is a reliable appliance which will give you trouble free reliability with low maintenance and cost.

 

With the quote I highlighted in your post above I wonder how do you even live life? You might as well just hide in a corner somewhere so as not to worry about getting hurt. You only live once. Sometimes you just need to take a leap of faith.

I have owned three different Corvettes. A C6, a C7 and now a C8. My C6 needed an oil pan gasket replaced, which was no big deal. My C7 was flawless with the exception of the "sky is falling" attitude by some with regards to the A8 transmission. If you were to believe all of the chatter about how bad it is, no one ever would have bought one. Never had an issue with mine, nor my 2018 Chev Colorado truck with the same transmission (and BTW, no problems with the truck at all). My C8 did throw a transmission code and I did have to have the transmission valve body replaced to correct the issue. Not a big deal, only took 3-4 hours to replace while I waited at the dealership for it. Really just a minor inconvenience. So far so good. Now I wish I could say the same for my 2020 Honda Pilot. It has been in the shop no less than 4 times for the infamous crackling radio issue. The car was out of service for a total of about 2 weeks and I had to get a rental car (paid by the dealer) twice. They were finally able to fix it, but with great inconvenience on my part. It has spent far and above more time in the dealership than my four Chevrolet's combined.

As far as accolades go, the C8 has gotten many. You state you have subscribed to Consumer Reports for over 30 years. Then you should know that they have given the 2023 a "recommend" rating. They gave it the following ratings:

Owner satisfaction rating – 5/5
Road test rating – 97/100
Predicated reliability rating – 3/5
Overall score – 87

Their overall score of 87 ranks the 2023 Corvette first in CR’s sports/sporty cars over $40,000 segment. This places the C8 above the likes of the 2023 Toyota Supra, the 2023 Porsche 718 Boxster, and the BMW 2 series. Besides the Consumer reports ratings, Car and Driver rated it as one of the 10 best for the 4th straight year. It was also the 2022 JD Power quality award winner beating out the likes of the Porsche 718 Cayman, Lexus LC, Porsche 911 and the Toyota GR Supra.

If you only listen to all of the naysayers you are missing out. You can spend your whole life worrying about this and that and end up missing out on a whole lot of fun. As I mentioned above, you only live once. Take a leap of faith and try it. The worse that could happen is you don't enjoy it, sell it, and move on.

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2022/11...sumer-reports/
https://www.corvetteblogger.com/2022...straight-year/
https://www.jdpower.com/cars/ratings...ium-sporty-car

 

Ah, but I am a super-moderator in a well-used Lexus forum, and can assure you that there are FAR fewer issues (especially drivability-related ones) with Lexus vehicles up until the 20 year mark.

 

...or a Lexus LC500. I guarantee you that it will have zero to very few issues for many years. Just don't track it; it was not made for that kind of driving.

 

I've owned a 68 for 22 years and a 2001 for 13 years. I've also owned a Monte Carlo that had more a few issues. By the way, CR gave the 2020 Corvette a reliabilty rating 13 out of 100. If you really think the 2023s will be like Lexus, Mazda, and Toyota, don't hold your breath.

Regarding living life, I've driven the following vehicles:
2019 McLaren 570S
2020 Porsche 911 4S Cabby
2018 Jaguar F-Type
2015 BMW i8
2018 Vanderhall Venice
2014 C7
2018 Lexus LC500
2022 C8

I used to have a motorcycle and while wearing just shorts and sunglasses in mid-Summer, ran into a hailstorm at 70 MPH.
I've been to Asia 7 times, so yes, I live with uncertainty and a sense of adventure, but I have also learned to back away from issues that become very bothersome and with few lessons-learned.

Will I have fun with a faster sportscar, one of these days? Absolutely, but I don't want to be like the owner of that C8 Z06 with major engine problems.

 

…. but I am not interested in the two of you continuing to debate each other.

 

 

I never track my cars.
I have been driving a 2005 Corvette coupe for the last 17 years now at 97,000+ miles.
Of late/recent the only issues I have had are the "Service Fuel System", air bag light came on and off, harmonic balancer replaced out of warranty, driver side power window switch replaced.
Under warranty I had the oil pan gasket replaced, Fuel door replaced, Auto transmission console replaced as it keep reading "Shift to Park", factory head unit replaced with reconditioned unit when I first bought car because of horrible FM reception.

 

Jeez, I quoted him one time! I don't think that equates to a continuing debate. He's the one that quoted other people 3 posts in a row, and he doesn't even own a C8!!!

 

If you dont own a C8 you have no dog in this fight.

 

Moderators typically steer off-track comments back to the topic at hand. However, the lack of reliability as evidenced by all the issues presented here is certainly what this topic is all about. I guess if the topic were labrador retrievers and I had lab mixes for 20 years, I'd certainly have knowledge of at least some of the topics at hand. And having been a Quality Manager and manufacturing engineer, I am baffled at some of the failures that have continue to crop up. You're correct in that I cannot complain to GM because I don't have a C8 but my hope is that some of you do complain. Hopefully, at least one quality engineer or manager is monitoring this forum and dealership data.

 

You are correct that we need to get back on track with this thread. This thread is about C8 problems and how we can help each other out when someone has an issue. I have tried to do that numerous times whether than be DCT issues or issues with the computer cache, and have been thanked numerous times for doing so. I'm not so sure what you have done to help C8 owners with their issues.

I don't know what you think we should complain to GM about. GM already listens and makes changes when they see issues warranting changes. They already redesigned the transmission pan and gasket due to leaks. It has been reported that they also made some changes to the casting process due to the porosity issues. They asked their dealers to send all DCT filters back to GM for testing so they could see what type of particulates were circulating within the DCT resulting in plugging issues in the valve bodies. They have made changes to the front lift hydraulic reservoir cap due to leakage. They made changes to the A/C evaporator drain system/tunnel design due to water intrusion into the floor of the car. I could go on but I think I have made my point.

The overwhelming majority of C8 owners love their cars as is supported by JD Power and even the 2023 recommendations by Consumer Reports. On a forum such as this you are going to hear more often from those with problems vs. those without.

So let's get back on track and use this thread to report problems and allow respondents to help those with issues. But note that just because people post here with issues does not mean that it is a car to stay away from. It's a remarkable car.

 

Against all my better judgments and superstitions I am going to write from a personal experience and perspective. I hope the forum moderators and karma / sansei deities forgive me. The knocking sound you here is me, my knuckles and a wooden desk close at hand.

Creds: I bought and still own a 2020 C8, Z51, HTC. Gasp? A first year, destined to be snake bitten, doomed automobile? Yes! And I love it! I changed the tires to 4 season compound and I drive it whenever the roads are clean, no matter the temperature. I have gently tracked it (after tutelage at Spring Mountain) and EVERYONE should do it. It is a sports car folks. Drive it like a sports car. I have over cared for it with DCT filter changes, fluid changes and oil changes. The HTC works fine all the time. The front lift dutifully raises whenever I approach my ridiculous driveway and the DCT seems to love shifting when I ask it to, and when I leave it to figure it out for itself. The IP display does seem to get confused occasionally. It seems to be worse just before it tells me a SW update is pending. No coincidence? Overall, the SW maturation is mildly entertaining, and not a serious inconvenience. A few clicks with my right thumb seems to reorient the SW to display my preferences. My mileage, including a few track days is over 9000 and well over 21MPG. Still, I am considering purchasing an extended warranty before I hit that 3 year, 36,000 mile mark. (Superstitious knocking heard in the background.)

The C8 is the 5th Corvette between me and my wife and we both think it is the best. Currently we are garaging and driving a C5, a C7 and the 2020 C8. Yes, I really miss the C6 and the other C7. Both triple black verts with MT / Z51 or GS. 🙁

I love to have the 2001 C5 around because I can actually “wrench” on it. The EBCM (or is it ECBM) bit the dust a few years back and I went through the whole solder touch up, and salvage module process. Bought a salvage unit and fixed it! No more error codes! Then the multi-switch died. Reconditioned it! Then bought a replacement because I knew it would die again. It did. Fixed it! Hello, all the lighting modes work and it passed state inspection!

Drove it today, just because the weather was good and it has a peddle that keeps my left foot busy and right hand happy. Zoom, zoom. Oh, by the way…the driver door lock / unlock module, relay, solenoid has died. Looking forward to opening up the door panel and replacing it in the spring.

Last cred: Career as an electronic (software) module supplier to GM, Rolls Royce, Ford (Lincoln and Premier Auto Group brands) Ferrari, Lexus, MB / Daimler, Maserati, BMW, Infiniti, Audi, Acura and Porsche. Education and profession: Engineer. Claim to fame: Ground zero for the conception of telematics.

A couple of reactions to the recent posts on this thread.

Yes, GM quality is watching this forum. As is GM marketing. So are Ford, Ferrari, BMW, Bugatti, Porsche, you get my point. They are also monitoring Facebook, Twitter and whatever else is out there.

Informed opinion: GM is also monitoring every C8 ever built over its cellular (telematics) link, whether any of us pays for OnStar or not. This is the age of analytics and artificial intelligence. They know the data, the codes, the operational parameters across all vehicles, not from just the disgruntled voices on this forum. How many times have you or I redlined our C8? Ask GM, they are counting.

Point of view: Automobiles are complex combinations of physical components, sensors and software subjected to millions of combinations of environmental and user induced stresses. If there is one brand or maker that has not had a major design, manufacturing or safety recall, I would be surprised. Debating “who’s best” or “who’s worse” has no value given the purpose of this thread.

Purpose of the thread? In my humble opinion, the majority of original posters on this forum are experiencing a suspicious symptom, odd behavior or non-functional feature on their C8. Their “stress quotient” may be extremely high if the C8 is their “dream car” or “meh” if the C8 is just another trophy. In either case, I imagine they are hoping to see informed responses from the cohort of C8 owners. Providing a response based on first hand experience and knowledge of the issue has true value. A bit of commiseration never hurts. Taking the thread off track by debating the quality of the car or the maker adds no value. Given that the OP has already purchased the C8, casting aspersions regarding the wisdom of purchasing the automobile is offensive. Maybe there is another forum for those points of view.

I shall now retire to my bunker in anticipation of the “who the heck do you think you are” incoming mortars I am sure will be aimed in my direction. Peace out.