Just went out to check on my 2026 2LT HTC. Lock doors and fuel door locks right up.

 

Jerryu
What you posted is why I suggest a aftermarket device to cover the fuel nozzle hole.
Less intrusive to do the same job.

I looked at mine, and I believe a wine bottle stopper-like device with a key or digital lock would be the way to go to retrofit a lock.

To be honest, it would probably not have to be functional, just look the part if a bad guy opens the fuel door.

I have had my C8 for a week. I'm already planning the 2020-2023 trunk key retrofit, now this pops up.
I'm beginning to have second thoughts about GMs committing to building a world class sports car.
Perhaps my long time allegiance to Ford was correct.

 

Not much help, but I can confirm that my 2020 fuel door locks.

 

To be fair, Ford has had its share of faults over the years. That's why I've been a GM man since the early seventies.

 

Same here, started in the '60s! My 1st car was a '41 Ford coupe that came with Henry's economy 136 cid flathead called a V8 60 for 60 hp! Came standard with a 4.44:1 dif to help get up hills! With gas only $0.25/gallon there was still was an Eco Business Coupe. (Just checked the inflated cost today of $0.25 gas in 1959 is $2.78 in 2026!)

I installed the engine of choice in 1959 in the '41 Ford, a GM Olds. Had bored for '56 pistons to 324 cid. Big for the day and could get at a very low cost in a Junkyard! Had a '56 Chevy and several Corvairs. My 1st new car was a 1967 Chevy! Many different cars before my 1st Vette a 1988 Corvette. On my 7th an E-Ray and my planned 8th is a 2027 GSX.

 

Every automaker has made bonehead moves.

(My favorite is Mercedes quest to be green, they made a biodegradable wiring harness.
Of course, under the extreme conditions under the hood, it started to goods grade.
I bought a later SL where that was not an issue).

But GM is trying hard to make the C8 a no excuses, world class car, and they keep doing stupid, inexcusable stuff like it's a rent car-spec Malibu.

I wish team Corvette would spend less time worrying about lap times at the Nurburgring, and more time on daily driveability and longevity issues.

 

Same here. My first car was a '73 Ford Grand Torino Sport (see Starsky and Hutch). 400 cubic inches and a whopping 150ish HP. My college roommates threatened to paint a white stripe on it (yes, it was red). I was bigger and meaner than them. I said, "go ahead, I'm going to beat the snot out of the first one of you sons of bitches that even smiles. They didn't paint it.

I really wanted to make it faster, but I noticed that all go fast parts were available for the Chevy small and big blocks first. Anything else was an afterthought. That was the last ford that I have owned.

 

The 1975 Corvette base engine was rated at 165hp.
And it cost nearly twice as much as your Torino.

Neither of which has any bearing on why GM is downgrading the equipment on a $80,000 Corvette. They increase prices every year, but put less equipment in.

They're now acting like the guys who put the aluminum engine in the Vega, later put a V-8 in cars you couldn't access the spark plugs, sold bad diesels, the 4-6-8 engine, etc, etc.

​​​​​​

 

2026 Stingray. If the car is locked, the fuel door is locked. With my key fob in pocket, the fuel door remains locked (as expected). If I open the door manually (key fob in pocket) to unlock the car, the fuel door becomes unlocked.

 

Just checked. My 2026 2LZ Eray built in April '26 does not lock.

 

In earlier C8 models (2020–2025) and early 2026 models, the fuel door was designed to lock and unlock in conjunction with the car's power door locks.

 

While earlier 2026 models or previous years had locking fuel doors, later 2026 builds (e.g., April 2026) are reported to have the automatic locking mechanism removed.

 

You're absolutely right. Incidentally, that was my first new Corvette that I bought at the ripe age of 21. I didn't know anything about that catalytic converter crap. I just bought it based on its looks.

 

What is this key retrofit? My wife has a 2023 and don’t know of any key.

 

Wanted to see if Google AI would pick-up on the stated Chevy Strategy of the mid 1950s! Could get a Duntov Cam with solid lifters for ~$25 from the local Chevy dealer!

Google AI Overview
Yes, Chevrolet heavily manufactured, sold, and encouraged the use of high-performance parts to promote their brand, particularly beginning in the mid-1950s. This strategic move fostered a "win on Sunday, sell on Monday" culture, aimed directly at young enthusiasts, hot rodders, and racers.
Key historical examples include:

• The 1955 Small-Block V8: Following the introduction of the 265 c.i. V8, Chevy embraced the hot-rodding culture, making their cars popular on the street and track.
• "Power Pack" Options: By 1956, Chevrolet offered high-performance "Power Pack" versions of their engines, featuring improved components and higher horsepower, available directly at dealerships.
• The "Chevy Power" Catalog: Chevrolet established specialized parts lines—which eventually became GM Performance Parts—to provide over-the-counter high-performance parts (camshafts, heads, carburetors) to racers.
• Dealer Support & Special Models: In the 1960s, Chevrolet encouraged dealers to market high-performance packages, such as the 409 in the Impala SS or the Z/28 Camaro.
• Factory-Backed Racing: Chevrolet utilized dealer transfers to support racing teams and, through figures like Vince Piggins, ensured parts were readily available to turn cars into competitive race machines.

"Aftermarket" vs. Factory Performance
Chevrolet's strategy was more often to sell their own OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) performance parts over the counter, rather than outsourcing them. This allowed them to control the quality and branding while dominating the aftermarket-style "speed equipment" market themselves.
This strategy proved highly effective, as the widespread availability of Chevy performance parts in the 1960s made Chevrolet a leader in the muscle car era, ensuring the brand's association with speed and performance for decades.

Just "A Remember" that was Chevy's plan, from when I built my 1st car in 1958/1959 while in high school! A
41 Ford Coupe Hot Rod I stuffed in and engine of choice of the day, because it was cheap, available in junk yards, a GM Olds. I had it bored for '56 pistons to 324 cid, big for the day!

Even in 2000 (when I retired and had time to build what I had thought about for years) I built my ProStreet '34 Sedan with a Chevy Big Block. Was the economical way to get a high performance engine of choice. Came in a wood crate with some 30 boxes of parts. Short Block came assembled by Mercury Marine who used it (with different heads/manifold etc) for inboard boat engines. The 8.2 Liter block had, forged crank, rods, pistons. The large 3/8 pushrods, rocker arms lifters came in separate boxes. The CNC ported heads and intake manifold came with this top hp version, model ZZ502 for 502 hp. The aluminum heads and CNC matched port manifold hand a cast-in "Chevy" but were supplied by Edelbrock. The heads had large oval ports with 2 1/4" intake valves. Both intake and exhaust valves are stainless steel. The ZZ602 than rinds on 93 octane is sold but only the higher cost fully assembled version.

Picked it up from the local Chevy dealer who matched the ~$5000 price of a company offering in a Car Magazine.
Assembled in my garage! Used my $100 Harbor Freight engine lift to remove from my Pick-Up. Brought it with locally procured race prepared TH400 to the local company building the mostly fiberglass body on a ProStock California based TCI tubbed 4 bar link rear suspension Chassis.

 

Retrofitting a GM trunk key system for cars built without a manual trunk entry system.
A nice backup and better than the GM "official" emergency trunk entry method.

 

You can look into the air intake below the fuel filler door and see the fuel filler assembly. You can manually operate the locking level through the same air intake. look in the air intake and operate the door locks, you will see the lever move. Manually moving the lever toward you should lock the fuel door. If the lever is present you have a locking fuel filler door. Some times the locking pin gets damaged and no longer aligns with the hole on the fuel door. This happens when the door is forced open or closed on the pin if the vehicle lock system is engaged. If the door is closed on the extended pin it may bend it out of position. With the door open either manually move the lever into the locking position or use the fob. With the locking pin now visible look to see if its bent. If it is just bend it to align with the fuel door by straightening it out, its plastic so be careful but its also pliable so bending it to the correct position is possible. Also while looking into the air inlet, check the wire harness connector and make sure its secure to the housing actuator. Nothing has to be removed to see or access the fuel housing assembly unless you are trying to remove it. You may need a flashlight though.

 

I decided to wait 2 days after I discovered this "feature" in the 2026+ in order to see if I am overreacting. I was set to trade in my 2021 for a 26 or 27 and got a great offer from Chev. But I am rethinking. OK I can drive around with the fuel door unlocked even though my other cars (Honda, Lexus, MB) and motorcycles (Honda), dating from 1978, have locking gas caps. Maybe no one vandalizes any more. But now I am thinking what else did Corvette delete? Perhaps there was a technical bulletin but when I went to dealership no one mentioned features removed. As to aftermarket. No. All of us should complain to GM to put the lock back in. What customer asked for the feature to be removed? I do not see any posts on any forums. There has been 1 post on the Porsche forum about the lock getting stuck but an easy fix. If GM cannot figure out how to make a functional fuel door lock, go over to Honda and ask how.

 

My first car, 1975 Honda Civic, had a locking fuel door. But it didn't really. My key would unlock it, but so would just about anything, it wasn't actually keyed. 😂

The fuel door lock is definitely in my 2026 purchased at the start of the year, and in the pdf manual I downloaded at the time (26Corvette_enUS_18519895A). It's definitely not in the current 2026 Corvette Owner's Manual (26Corvette_enUS_18519895B). The only thing I can imagine is maybe supplier issues forced it and it was a matter of shipping cars or not, and they could rectify it in 2027 (hopefully).

(Not my vehicle, though it was orange; you can see the "locking" fuel door...)

 

You are correct sir...

https://www.corvetteblogger.com/2026...26-model-year/