2023 Corvette Loses Trunk Key Lock Cylinder
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The 2023 Corvette will not feature a rear trunk key lock cylinder, GM Authority has learned.
On the 2020 to 2022 model-year Corvette, there were two physical key lock cylinders that owners could use to access the cabin of the vehicle or the trunk if the keyfob stopped working, or the power release doors/trunk stopped working. The cabin access lock cylinder was located on the driver-side door, while the trunk lock cylinder was located on the rear of the vehicle behind the license plate.
For the 2023 model year, the Corvette has ditched the rear trunk key lock cylinder and will only have a physical lock on the driver’s side door. This means that if the rear trunk hatch becomes seized, a hole will have to be drilled in the back of the vehicle to open it. According to a GM document, a body shop will have to drill a three-inch hole in the rear of the car, which will allow the technician to lift the rear panel up and access the fasteners that hold the trunk latch to the vehicle. GM of course suggests trying the interior trunk release switch, exterior touch pad trunk release and keyfob trunk release before resorting to cutting into the vehicle to access the seized trunk.
Production of the 2023 Corvette Stingray is underway now at the GM Bowling Green plant in Kentucky. As GM Authority covered prior, production officially began on May 23rd, 2022, after being pushed back from the previously scheduled start date of May 16th. Order books for the 2023 Corvette Stingray opened on April 7th. The start of production for the 2023 Corvette Stingray 70th Anniversary Edition is currently set for mid-summer, while the start of production for the 2023 Corvette Z06 is still yet to be determined.
As a reminder, the C8 Corvette rides on the Y2 platform, with the C8 Corvette Stingray featuring the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 LT2 gasoline engine, rated at 490 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. The new-for-2023 C8 Corvette Z06 boasts the new naturally aspirated 5.5L V8 LT6 engine, rated at 670 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Both of these eight-cylinder engines connect to a Tremec-designed and GM-built eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
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Now how much does a trunk lock cylinder cost GM on an $80,000 car? And how loud will be a C8 owner when they can’t get their damn trunk opened…especially if the roof panel is inside?
Come on, GM, you can do better.
Wow, this is beyond stupid! Why?
Yes, please drill a 3” hole in my $80k car because GM decided to eliminate a $10 lock! How did that pass the [email protected] test?!
The presumption is that if this happens, GM will cover it, but even then, I don’t want a “fixed” car
I suspect that it’s very unlikely that GM will even talk to you about it – much less cover the cost.
One of the dumbest things GM has ever done.
The C7 had the access keyhole, so that when opening the rear, you could pull a cable to operate the door (I think, C7 owners correct me).
On the C8, there is no jack, battery, in the back. No urgent need to get in there.
The drivers door of a C8 has the keyhole to get into interior, from the interior you can cable release the frunk (drivers footwell), in the frunk is the battery. I am thinking the presumption is that if you can get to the battery, you can activate
the release for the rear.
One post here mentions being able to get your roof panel out so you can seal up car, and that is a legitimate reason for this:
I am thinking a manual cable release from the cabin (behind the seats) around the rear, that would match the logic of the frunk release, allow opening manually from the cabin. In other words, go ahead and take away the key operated rear, no need for it, if the manual cable goes a few feet from rear to drivers side behind seat.
I have had my back bumper off twice, and looking at the pictures of the missing rear manual release, I am curious
if the idea is to open the hole where the key used to go, then use a special tool to release.
The language we are reading says cut a hole in the hood, access the fasteners for the latch, but just how it is built.
It would be easier to release the latch through the hole you make behind the plate.
Ever had to release your front hooded , front engine, car when the cable broke ? I have, you just need to get to the latch and release it.
Stupid, stupid, STUPID !
Instead of routing a manual cable release, just leave the key lock where it is and quit creating problems for owners.
OMG! The sky is falling! You already have a couple of viable options of getting your rear deck open. Curious to see how many cases of rear deck opening failure have occurred. As is typical, these hand-ringers are ring-side C8 wannabee’s.
All of the “viable options” you’re referencing are electric. If the lock/latch electrical solenoid fails – battery power or not – all options are rendered inoperable.
What are those 2 options to get the rear deck open if seized?
I am taking my 2023 in for this issue
Plenty of snark here. No need for me to add my two cents in … ( Awwwww screw it, does the 2023 Corvette come with a cordless drill and drill bit? )
Saturn SKY owner here (Corvette frame, Cadillac drivetrain, 2.0T…. and no trunk lock cylinder).
Hasn’t ever been a problem. Still, unless you’re restyling the bumper, I don’t see why to do it.
I think GM put it there in case the mechanism had a design flaw, and they haven’t seen any.
That is just absolutely absurd!
I think saving weight is a good idea, it makes the car faster.
When the dealer showed me the keylock behind the license plate my first thought was – what a BAD IDEA.
So really, it is all a matter of perspective.
The problem with that line of thinking is… You can NOT go fast if you cannot get in the vehicle… Just sayin’
I’m about to order a C8 Convertible Corvette ($99,675) and I’m just now hearing about this?
Really?
First, I still have to put up with a premium garbage, and second, I need to worry about the trunk?
Explain to me how this is a selling point?
Did you have any Corvette owners on this panel when you came up with this brilliant idea?
Or is everyone here correct, and it’s the bean counters, who drive a Prius making these kind of decisions?
Assuming that Foregone Conclusion above is correct that the failure rate of the electric actuation system has a failure rate of 0.00001% (a 99.99999% reliability), on par with safety critical components. This is the only single point failure component in the rear hatch open function chain I am aware of. The battery doesn’t count as power-free access to the battery is provided and applying auxiliary power or replacing the battery to power the system to energize the trunk release is provided.
We should note that the glove box has a similar situation, an electrical latch with no alternative manual release. A screw driver and some time is required to get around that without power. I keep the manuals and emergency equipment in the frunk for that reason.
My experience is limited, with only 9 months and 7,500 miles on my 2021, but the electric latches have worked 100% of the time. I’ve tested all the manual latches except the frunk* and they have all worked as advertised.
* I should go check that one too, being important if the battery is depleted, probably should check them all annually just to be sure. In my view the rear hatch is the least important.
I have been putting up with this “premium garbage” rather happily. This has been the most exciting ground based machine I have ever touched. It seems equally at home diving around race course corners as experienced with the Ron Fellows owner’s class as it is cruising across the country on the freeways and backroads in quiet, air conditioned comfort experienced on my drive home to Seattle from Bowling Green last fall.
I had a 2021c8 waiting on my 23 I wrecked first one in front couldn’t get battery power to get in trunk luckily I had key for lock behind plate gm do better
I would prefer Corvette’s simply have normal locks and doorpulls…I’ve always thought the electronic door buttons/releases were gimmicky in the c6 thru c8, and it doesn’t save weight because of the redundant physical pulls added for emergencies. Regardless of my opinions, this is a non-discussion with most other cars.
A 3” inch drilled out hole in the back of the C8 Stingray is about the only way to make it look worse…too bad drilling holes into the tail lights isn’t the solution…
I would prefer Corvette’s simply have normal locks and doorpulls…I’ve always thought the electronic door buttons/releases were gimmicky in the c6 thru c8, and it doesn’t save weight because of the redundant physical pulls added for emergencies. Regardless of my opinions, this is a non-discussion with most other cars.
A 3” inch drilled out hole in the back of the C8 Stingray is about the only way to make it look worse…too bad drilling holes into the tail lights isn’t the solution…
Makes me laugh …. the comments…. as if there is ANYTHING practical about the new C8 !!!!. Nothing based in real world use, so….
Aww Claude! Car and Driver begs to disagree, from their 2022 review: “Storage areas behind the engine and in front of the cabin offer enough cargo space for a weekend away, and its attainable price, exceptional performance, and surprising practicality make it a 10 Best winner and earn it a spot on our Editors’ Choice list.”
I traveled across the country with a passenger, including two carry-on roller bags, a couple of laptop bags, a duffle, and some odds and ends including camera gear and a drone. Amazing GT vehicle and still remarkable on a track. You can have your cake….
Because gm…
If the actuator fails electrically or mechanically. You must drill the 3″ hole right through the little stingray on the trunk lid. OH MY!
Lest anyone thinks that this is so massively stupid that it’s gotta be a bad April Fools joke – Think again.
I just checked the 2023 Owners Manual, and all references to the rear trunk/hatch lock tumbler have been removed. So yes…. it is massively stupid.