With the new C8 Corvette now in the hands of owners, we’re learning all about what it’s like in the real world, including annoying things like a glare on the windshield from light-colored dash panels. Now, one YouTuber has posted his critiques with regard to the new mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette and build quality.
Coming to us from YouTube channel Daily Downshift, the video is just over five minutes long, but goes over a number of imperfections on the host’s new C8 Corvette. Right off the bat, we see that the vehicle in question has some misaligned panels up front, specifically where the bumper, fender and headlamp meet. As the host points out, there’s a huge gap near the headlamp, which narrows towards the outer edge of the panel. What’s more, the headlamp is also misaligned. To prove his point, the owner goes to the panels on the other side of his vehicle, which line up much more nicely.
Another sizable panel gap is found in the rear, where the engine cover is also definitely misaligned.
From there, the host moves into the cabin, where he points out a small cosmetic imperfection for the passenger’s side seatbelt. Not a huge deal, but still something worth pointing out. A more troubling imperfection is found on the back of the infotainment screen, which has a big “X” cut into the black plastic.
Granted, these sorts of issues don’t hurt the C8 Corvette’s incredible driving experience, nor do they have a huge impact overall. Rather, they are simply small annoyances that can grate on someone who just plunked down over $60,000 for a brand-new sports car. Once seen, things like panel gaps can never be unseen.
Do you consider these to be big issues, dear reader? Would you ask your dealer to fix it if you noticed similar issues on your C8 Corvette? Let us know in the comments, and make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more mid-engine Corvette news, Corvette C8 news, Corvette news, Chevrolet news, and 24/7 GM news coverage.
Comments
You know what they say, never buy the first year of anything.
Geoff,
Agree with you, but I truly find it hard to believe that a C8 would leave the plant with a front fender/bumper headlight misalignment like that. It’s very possible that could have happened in transit, at the port, or even dealership. Fact is that many cars get damaged after they leave the factory. Even the seatbelt could have gotten caught in the door somewhere along the way. Rear hatch and scratch is a different story.
Could be that the “X” was to designate the part for replacement prior to leaving the production line.
This just goes to show, NEVER buy the first year of ANY new vehicle. Look back at the 1968 Stingray. Absolute junk! Had one. Never again. Chevy dealer got tired of me. Finally dumped it. Bought a Super Sort Chevelle. Still have it. No more first year vehicles. Wait a year for them to iron out the problems. By the way, how many folks think the the C8 lasts only a couple years, them Chevy goes back to a front engine design again? Just sayin’
The misalignment of the front fender happened after production as you can see an unpainted area exposed. Most of the other stuff, who knows? I’m sure GM will fix everything on the first service. Not a big deal when you’re buying a preety much supercar for 60k.
Suck it up Nestor you bought the first year model.
A) if it was a build issue at the factor; it should not have left the factory. B) if it happened in transport; it should not have left the Dealership. In either situation, it demonstrates a total lack of quality control and/or Dealer prep.
I would want the car perfect- it’s brand new!! Mine is gonna push 90 k and whenever it gets here that’s my expectation
Yes,I agree! When the new vehicles are delivered to the dealership the dept in charge of detailing ,getting it ready for the salesmen to handover your new vehicle , HEADS WOULD ROLL!! I’ve bought many new cars an before I picked up the new car the salesmen was doing his job ,he was going over the car – nett picking it! AN he also checked the order sheet that we both signed when I ordered it making sure everything was correct! That’s when the DEALERSHIP took pride in the quality they sold, after all it is their responsibility to do things like that before delivered! I know my salesmen called me an told me that I couldn’t get the car until it Suited him, now that’s a salesman! WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THAT PRIDE ?!
Bob, it’s gone the way of what we used to call, “PRIDE in Workmanship”. It’s hard to find people to really care about what they do now days. Been in the printing business all my adult life. Same in that line of work. What used to be called QUALITY, is now passe’. Good enough, is good enough. Let the next guy down the line worry about it. Please bring back the work ethic of yesterday. No more”Wham Bam, thank you Mam” Just sayin’
DEALER should have caught this misalignment…and corrected BEFORE DELIVERYthe ….rear of screen?? Idont know…BUT WHO WOULD OF THOUGHT OF THAT?
Those panel misalignments would would drive me nuts. Another thing to watch for when buying one. It would make me wonder if it was wrecked and repaired, and no one disclosed the damage.
I would definitely have the dealer fix all that stuff. You’re not buying a Taurus.
However, having worked for a dealer, I can tell you the panel misalignment is an oversight from assembly. An assembler got sloppy, and their QC guy missed it. This should have been caught before it left the factory.
The seatbelts likely happened after it left the factory, but can’t know for sure. The X scratch is likely a factory issue.
Off-topic: This isn’t an issue brought up in his video.
I have seen people complain that the headlights aren’t aligned properly when they buy a new car. Meaning the light doesn’t point straight, or at the correct angle to the ground. If this happens, it’s a dealer problem. The dealer has a “make-ready” department. A mechanic goes through the car when its first unloaded from the truck coming from the factory. They add the paper plates, the dealer badges, check the oil, and other fluids, and align the headlights. Some dealers do things differently, but generally these types of things are done at the dealer. I’ve seen Chevy trucks come in with one random GMC badge, and some vehicles come in with fluids missing. It seems weird that the factory would be so sloppy to miss things like that, but I tell you, it’s common.
It’s a lot less common on higher end vehicles, like the ZR1 or Z-06 because a lot more items are hand-assembled, and by more experienced people.
There is no way to defend GM building crap like this. To say it’s a 60k supercar, so it’s OK to build junk is rediculous!
I don’t believe anyone is defending GM. The reality is that a lot of stuff can happen to cars and trucks when they leave the factory. Of course there will always be things to improve upon based on the first year production of a totally new vehicle. That goes for any auto manufacturer. $15,000, or $60,000, one thing is certain, if any car at any price were to come out of the plant with quality
issues, it is unacceptable.
Again, when a new vehicle comes out, there are a hundred plus, issues that don’t get caught before they leave the factory. Lesson here, don’t buy the first year anything. Give them time to work out the problems. Had a co-worker buy first year Chevy Citation. Came in with all Pontiac emblems!! Go figure. Anyone who buys first year, has to expect a lot of problems. Some minor, some major. Buyer beware! Just sayin’
While the first year idea is partially true these issues here are not first year issues.
Panel gaps are checked on the like as they have gauges that they use to check the fit.
I suspect the front bumper may have hit something. Note these are new cars and transport drivers are still learning. I would wager the nose nerfed a ramp unloading. I worked near a dealer years ago and would see many a car nerf a ramp. Note these cars are so low parts are in the trunk for the nose already.
Anyways it is an easy fix.
The rear hat is an easy fix and was a line error.
The screen? Did the dealer unwrap it or someone at the factory unwrap it with a blade?
The fact is these issues all could be for a number of reasons from any year. It is not like a know failure of a steering rack etc.
Heck the St Louis cars were much worse. 9 of ten needed paint and body work once at the dealer. Some Bloomington Gold cars even reproduce panel joint errors to be accurate to as factory made.
To be honest this guy just got excited and picked up a car with out looking at it.
When I bought my truck I had in writing every and any spot that I had issue with. They were all taken care of. I am pickier than most but I wanted it right for what I paid.
People too often get new car fever and mis much at pick up.
have similar issues with my c7, quality controll must have been on break.
I wouldnt care if its first production year or not, that shouldnt have left the factory or dealer lot like that.
Had a 2016 Sonic bought new with all discounts for $11K. Had crappy panel fit, no big deal, $11K Sonic, expected the quality issues for what it was. But, $60K+ Corvette, that’s a whole different ball game. Corvette with Sonic quality! They need to do a better job. Sure issues like this will be fixed at the factory very soon.
If they are happy for you to take delivery of a new car in that condition I wonder about the parts you can’t see. What about the engine and transmission. When the engineers develop them they work perfectly but when put into production we don’t know what defects get through. When you see this low standard of workmanship it’s as if they don’t care about the customer, just how quickly they can get rid of them.
It cost to be the 1st Dbag boss on the block…
You have an 1st year all-new car, tools and machines with an unfamiliar setup for what the disgruntled workers fresh from a strike are use to build for years. Under today’s circumstances I wouldn’t buy one until well into next year.
Your warranty is bumper to bumper. It is three years long if it is the same as mine. The sooner you take it to the dealer to have the problems noted, the better. Take excellent cell phone photos or camera photos of any of the damage that you can which will date the damage because dates are left behind in the cell record. Make shure you make a back up of the photos in you company’s cloud or other hard drive, thumb drive, etc. That way you all the dated information right down to the second that you took the photo. Bring the car to the closest or the specific dealer that sold you the car. Look up the dealers in your area and get a Yelp score, if you do not know the reputation of the dealer. A dealer struggling financially may well be less willing to help you out even if Chevrolet is picking up a warranty tab. On a new car like this, this is a waiting game. If you go back and look at the several on line comments by Tadge S. and others, quality of the fit (panels and headlamps) and finish (Paint and metals that are not scratched at the factory or in any of the delivery or dealer prep or in Dealer installed parts, particularly before you took deliver of the C8. Do it now! AF
Who’s winning who’s losing? The dealership fix it because its under warranty, but when? He’s got you by the you know what! So he calls you an the service department has an opening in 2-3 weeks because of what needs done! Now you ask him how long do you think you’ll need it to fix everything ,an he can’t answer your question ,he tells you its warranty work an that he has to wait for a GM reap! But 1 problem your payments don’t stop a new car an its in the service dept getting FIXED an possibly getting painted like it was in a wreak, new car making payments on a car you can’t in joy!
THAT CAR PASSED IN THE RESEARCH AN DEVELOPMENT AN WAS GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT TO GO TO PRODUCTION!!! THE PROBLEM I SEE IS ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE !!
If you see bits and pieces misaligned on your ‘new’ car; do you actually take delivery of it or confront management because God only knows what else is wrong.
My 2016 ATS-V ($72k) has same panel gap issue in the right rear bumper. Had no luck getting it repaired at first oil change.
NW CADDY the dealership ,the owner would have a tiger by the tail because I would be Pissed!! After talking to him I would remind him what kind of car this is an that GM will hear a one sided story about it an that I’m going to talk to the BBB! Then inform consumers report! I would get justice believe me!! That’s B.ull S..t!
This issue just keeps growing. Seems a lot more buyers have had similar problems with a new vehicle. As I said before, too be the first “Kid” with the new toy, it’s gonna cost you. Not just in $, but it just won’t be right. One has to wait. If not till the second year of production, at least near the end of the first year! Not one of the very first cars off the line. New car, new build style, new everything. Plus, the people on the line get a kick out of seeing what they can get away with. Then, “it wasn’t me” syndrome kicks in. Just wait for awhile. Just sayin’
did anyone else notice he has acne on his right cheek and not on the left, he has no bottom eyelashes, and his mouth opens more on the right than the left side? Also, his paint job has faded…. His mother should really issue a recall!
Bunch of crap blaming this on first year syndrome…these are cosmetic QC problems and should have been flagged to the repair area, period. The fact that was released for delivery basically says people aren’t doing their jobs and need to be replaced…
Hi Alonzo, I have been buying GM products since 1969, I have also bought Fords in between, I have always seen defects in the first and even second year models. Another thing you must remember the C8 was a little late in being released they could have been getting as many as they could out to customers before being closed down due to the virus. You must remember they are somewhat assembled by human! All humans make mistakes! Even you! I am sure this is not the first car to come out with misaligned parts.
I never buy the first year models!
I agree first year or not QC must do their job! After reading all this about first year I’m sick inside I sold my beautiful C7 and have so excited / frustrated with this build process- first the strike and now covid-19- in the big scheme it’s a car ! But I’m hoping they correct any defects without being run around!
This, Fred, is an extremely thoughtful comment. Quality Control is a must and the bad gaps in fender and headlight found in one customer’s orange C8 is inexcusable; first the car should have been pulled by the builder for correction when he couldn’t put together a car with proper fender and trunk gaps. Secondly, the inspectors or quality control people would have had a hard time not seeing the problem on this car and should have pulled this car. “Good enough,” or, “Good enough for government work,” should not be the case in a world class sports car. After all, one does not normally see this kind of things in a Porsche factory, no matter where the line is. AF
Most likely that orange C8 never left the plant with a front fender/bumper gap misalignment like that. Extreemly unlikely. That’s not to say that quality control needs to be tightened up a bit at the plant. There is a very good chance that issue happened while the vehicle was in transit. As mentioned before, many cars and trucks get damaged at the port or during transit. When they are fixed, the work can be shoddy.
And how does Orange peel, speckled paint and panel gaps that can’t even be adjusted apply to transit damage? Not to mention, a Corvette should not be shipped by common carrier trucks. It’s an insult to the very mind set of a consumer.
Why should a C8 be any different than other generations? QC has always been a problem.
I don’t know how the Japanese cars can be built to relative great fit and Finnish but it’s been that way for decades. It will never change. Warranty fixes for fit and Finnish?
Wow… that’s what nightmares are made of.
Japanese automobiles are a far cry from what they use to be. Quality has slipped considerably over the years. American automobiles have come along way, and are taking home many of the quality awards. Many domestic automobiles have closed the gap, leading in engineering, quality and reliability. GM has been beating some Japanese auto companies for years now. Chevrolet, Buick, has received more quality and customer satisfaction awards than Honda, Nissan, other imports.. etc..I know plenty of people that have had their fare share of issues with the Japanese cars they owned…and not small issues either. The days your referring too are long gone.
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