The 2020 Corvette looks and drives like a true world-beating performance icon, with neck-snapping specs and head-turning styling from front to back. Unfortunately, there are a few issues popping up that could sour the experience for some, including the news that a misaligned front fender could cause paint chips.
As outlined in a new post at GM Techlink, some 2020 Corvettes exhibit a small paint chip just below the headlamp where the fender panel lines up with the front fascia. The misalignment can occur on one, or both sides of the vehicle.
To fix this issue, the fender and fascia joint fit must be realigned such that the panels are repositioned inboard and downward, which will make the two panels flush and hide the paint chip.
The fix is outlined in Bulletin #20-NA-124, and involves removal of the front tire and wheel, the front wheelhouse liner, and the front wheel opening molding.
As it turns out, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard about panel gap issues on the 2020 Corvette. Back in April, we covered a video posted by the YouTube channel Daily Downshift, which outlined a number of imperfections on a recently acquired mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette, including the panel gap issues covered above. That particular vehicle also had a sizable panel gap near the rear of the vehicle, where the engine cover was also clearly misaligned.
While these issues aren’t the most impactful imperfections we’ve ever seen, they are still undoubtedly troubling for those buyers that spend big money to get their hands on the new 2020 Corvette. Fixing it also doesn’t sound like too big of a job, but still, for those buyers that demand perfection, misaligned panels and panel gaps are definitely quite annoying to see.
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Source: GM Techlink
Comments
This is why I do not buy the first year of any new model. Give the manufacturer time to work the bugs out.
Perfect example of why not to buy a first year of any make or model. MFG will always have some kinks to work out. Looking forward to the Z06!
The Z06 will have a completely new FPC engine and I wouldn’t buy on the 1st or second year. An engine is much more significant than some panel gaps. On the GT 350, Ford had a very high failure rate on the FPC engine and excessive oil consumption and it took two model years to solve it. Looks like that model and engine will now expire.
As a retired autoworker, who was a door fitter, it’s all set when they make the parts. Can’t move stuff the way you used to, net hole is used. And as others here have said, you might want to give them time to work the bugs out. Seen it year after year. We did what we were told.
By the company or the UAW?
Just like the C7, why the hell those morons at GM can’t fix this problem is ridiculous! They’ll just keep on making them and sheeple will keep on buying them.
Big deal get over it!
If this vehicle was built 40 years ago the panels would be considered near perfect and normal.
Yes and the quality of American cars was garbage 40 years ago. No wonder the japs and Germans took over most of their market share.
AS a seasoned American, I don’t have the luxury to wait a few years. I want it now so I can have some fun before the good lord calls me up to join my lovely wife. Although it seems it may take a few years before I actually get it with all the delays. I can’t prove it, but I think my wife has something to do with me not having it in my possession yet.
Richard,
I don’t know if you realize how funny your comments are. My wife threatens me that if she goes before me, she will continue to make my life hell for the rest of my life…🤣
Didn’t you get the memo GM doesn’t want you to have the car! You’re too old for their desired customers!
Panel gap and overall quality is not as big of a deal as it was few years back. Tesla has poor fit and finish and overall it seems to have very little affect on the perception of the brand or demand for the cars.
As a purchaser of a new American built Tesla, yeah its got some minor panel gaps as I am sure most cars do, just get a life it just doesn’t matter, no car is ever perfect
There has been YouTube videos saying how the pain chips very easily and they didn’t know whether it had to do with how the paint was applied or that they should have ordered a sealer on the painted surface.
My good old ‘39 Chev. Had gaps and it ran like a top. It did eat cam gears though. It took 15 years to get that right. Hang on!
The dealer’s body shop should be fixing this issue for free
Most of the time avoiding a first year car is a good idea. The 1974 Porsche was a first year car with a lot of problems because the fuel crisis and the impact bumpers both came at the same time and manufacturers struggled to deal with the issues. In the case of the C8, having gone over all the problems that people are having, it appears that those problems that one avoids by not buying a first year car, has led to a number of people not getting one of the great gasoline cars of all time. By the way, how often can a first year car or color be first-year? If you said once, you are correct. Additionally, most problems encountered may be easily fixed if GM will jump on those problems. I do not regret yet, buying my first year c8, mid-engine Corvette Stingray. On top of that, it is likely that I will never need to acquire the more powerful versions of the car. The primary difficulty is pulling the car behind my Vette out, first; then park it; then go to my Vette and finally pull it out of the garage. When I return home, I must reverse the process. What a pain. (It’s totally worth it!) AFA
Built custom cars for year decades with finished products cost decades ago more than the Vette’s cost today so don’t see a reason for anyone to complain, Muscle cars of the 60’s and 70’s were not perfect by a long ways from the factory. I know and was buying new ones back then. If the dealer can’t fix my new Vette when it arrives either myself or my friend will be able to. Check out a 300K import to see if they are perfect.