Corvette C7 Wheel Lawsuit Dismissal Is A Major Snub To Owners: Opinion
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Just last month, GM Authority reported that a judge had dismissed a lawsuit filed against General Motors in which it was alleged the automaker had fit various seventh-generation Corvette models with faulty wheels. Although the case dismissal means the automaker will avoid ponying up replacement Corvette C7 wheels and reimbursement costs, it’s also a major snub to owners.
First, a little background. It’s been well-documented that the lightweight aluminum alloy wheels equipped on C7-generation Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport and Z06 models can bend, warp, or crack. The Corvette C7 wheel issue is a common topic in online car communities and forums, and multiple lawsuits have been filed against General Motors alleging a defect.
Corvette chief engineer Tadge Juechter has even acknowledged that the Corvette C7 wheels could be damaged by potholes and crack or warp over time. And although General Motors has every right to defend itself from the allegations, it could come at the cost of customer loyalty and trust.
For starters, the C7 Corvette is not a cheap vehicle, especially the Grand Sport and Z06 models. One would assume that these high-end sports cars come with equally high-end components to justify the price, and the sort of damage alleged by numerous owners and lawsuits doesn’t line up with that thinking.
Further more, the wheels themselves are quite expensive. Replacements can cost over $900 per wheel, and given the replacement Corvette C7 wheel could have exactly the same defect, its longevity is anything but assured.
Intentional or not, the message to customers is clear – GM is more concerned with short-sighted loss mitigation than it is with long-term customer loyalty.
This is a major issue. Chevrolet Corvette owners are some of the most loyal GM customers out there, often owning multiple GM vehicles, but for a C7 owner that suddenly must replace bent or cracked wheels on their new sports car, it begs the question – does GM’s handling of the Corvette C7 wheel issue instill confidence in future purchases from General Motors? The answer is likely “no.”
Hopefully, this issue does not continue into the future. The up-and-coming Corvette C8 Z06, for example, will offer carbon fiber wheels that will drastically reduce unsprung weight. But with the ongoing Corvette C7 wheel issue, will C8 buyers spring for the expensive composite option? Will impacted C7 owners consider the C8 at all?
The real question is this – is GM’s defense on this issue worth the hit to customer loyalty? It remains to be seen.
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The very same GM that clearly knew there was a serious issue with, I believe, the ignition switch. Fires and death ensued for years before GM acknowledged the problem. Cost them a fortune then.
If you bought a GM product, what do you expect? You didn’t buy a Porsche, because that was “overpriced”.
I’m so tired of boomers buying GM products and then complaining about the quality of their “American” cars.
You get what you pay for, how many times does the world have to tell you that?
Now go replace your own wheels on your busted GM product. No one cares…..Stop whining…..
lmao what are you talking about. So you have to spend >$100,000 to get a “decent” car now? People aren’t buying Corvettes because 911s are overpriced, it’s because Corvettes are and always have been performance bargains and not everyone is a millionaire who can throw $200k on a 911 Turbo as nice as it’d be. A C7GS or C7Z is half the price of a base model 911 and is equally as fast or faster on a track as the 991.1 GT3RS. It’s lower slung and feels more sporty. Maintenance is significantly easier. Parts are cheaper and easier to find. The aftermarket is debatably the largest for any sports car outside of a Mustang or Miata, and there’s more performance shops specializing in the Chevy small block than there are Porsche dealers in the US.
I’ve witnessed issues with all of the brands out there from friends with BMWs that have leaking and creaking door seals/hinges, Fords with horrible galvanization on metal body panels, to Nissan who apparently can’t make a reliable electrical system to save their life. And don’t forget about Porsche with their IMS bearing and conrod failures, the former of which they did nothing to help customers with. Think before you speak!
Seems like loyalty is a one way street when it comes to those who can afford escalades, Corvette’s. GM likes customer loyalty but once damage or breakdowns occur on a part on these high end vehicles, loyalty is only on the customer side, not the manufacturers. No matter the part, no matter the defect or how it occurred, these parts should be replaced no questions asked on such vehicles. It’s called customer service and satisfaction. C’mon GM.
LOL, I ordered a brand new Vette in ’79. Ordered it with every available option. To this day, it was the worst car I’ve ever owned. It was so bad and GM and the dealer were so indifferent, I’ve not owned a GM car since. In fact it was 26 years before I bought another domestic car. I’ve had great luck with all of the German cars I’ve owned since then.
Jim – Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda. The Bail out happened, as Mark studiously points out. It was, “Government Mortors,” for a long time. My son believes I’m a trader for buying the C8. Each time I see it, drive it, clean it or park it somewhere in the community, I am happy that I am out and out enjoying what is likely the best car I’ve ever owned. However, I only have about 2,000 miles on it. Early problems were straightened out by Chevrolet and since then, it’s been going like gang busters. However, this is the first GM car I’ve owned in my 75 years on the planet. As for German cars, I have a 2012 991 Carrera which drives and corners like a champ, one I put those Michelin 4S tires on the car. The only problem I had with the car was the electric seats, Porsche’s fault. I brought the car for an annual oil/filter change. A mechanic sat on the driver’s seat with a srrew driver in his pocket, which severed the heating element beneath the seating surface. The dealer refused to rectify the situation and I spent several years writing to Porsche to no avail. Porsche not only did not stand behind its car, its servicing dealer refused to own up to its responsibility. Eventually I put out about 2300.00 for a new hearing element (had to be ordered from Germany) and all the labor connected with it. The seat heating and everything else on the car now works. The point is, a whole lot of manufacturers and their dealer network do not stand behind their products. Even when the engineering is great, sometimes their customer service just sucks. You have to vote with your feet/wallet. AF
Cracked wheels is a good excuse to buy some good aftermarket forged wheels.
At least C7s aren’t having issues with spun rod bearings or spinning harmonic balancers like some of these German cars.
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The wheels look ugly and weak, I don’t have to be an engineer to see that.