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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Should I cancel my order for a 2023(4?)?? This certainly makes me pause to think that GM couldn’t have come up with a manual release alternative. What else have they short-cutted for costs? I certainly wouldn’t want some “mechanic” drilling a hole ANYWHERE in my $100,000 treasure.
Time to at least make the 2021 lock kit available for all future Corvettes
Will somebody please read the 2023 manual and let us know whether this is true or not
See my post above. I have reviewed the 2023 owners manual and it’s NOT in there.
JRF
OK that’s great you don’t see it in there but is there anything on the 23 manual that explains how to open your trunk behind the license plate is that still there? Thank you
The ’20, ’21, and ’22 manuals all cover the tumbler lock behind the license plate in good detail. But that’s all been omitted from the ’23 manual. There is nothing in the ’23 manual that addresses getting access to the rear trunk if the electronic options fail.
I have a 2021, so this stupid omission doesn’t effect me – at least not until I get a ’23 or ’24 Z06. But if I did have a 2023+ without an emergency backup to get into the rear trunk from the outside – here’s what I would do…
1. Get a length of high test monofilament fishing line.
2. Tie it to the emergency release handle on the INSIDE of the trunk.
3. Punch a tiny hole in the trunk’s rear wall liner.
4. Route the fishing line underneath the liner to the right rear wheel well.
5. Drill a tiny hole through the inside fender well, then punch a tiny hole through the composite wheel well liner into the wheel well.
6. Continue routing the fishing line into the wheel well, tie a loop in the end, and tuck it under one of the edges/corners of the wheel well liner.
If it ever becomes necessary to gain access to the rear trunk if the electronic options have failed – just tug on the fishing line in the wheel well to unlatch the trunk lid using the inside emergency release.
You’d probably have to pull the trunk liner down temporarily to gain access for routing. If you were concerned about the hole drilled in the wheel well, you could put a dab of caulk over the hole after running the fishing line. It wouldn’t be enough to prevent a tug on the line from releasing the latch, but would keep any water out.
Just my two cents, but you can bet there will be a bunch of aftermarket kits available to address this issue. All way overpriced – of course.
In any event, and as stupid as this change is…. it would not be a deal breaker for me. The car is just too awesome otherwise.
I’ve not spent any time exploring this option seriously, but it might be easier to just buy the ‘20-‘22 parts and retrofit the tumbler…while they deleted the tumbler, I doubt they redesigned-away or deleted the installation points on the Stingray…TBD for Z06.
On the other hand…I’ve owned quite a few cars, and haven’t ever had a seized release…I’ve seen it, but all cases weren’t failure, they were apparently from misalignment/prior accident damage.
New $100,000 car… Owners manual Page one. “Some assembly required”
Sounds about right. Increase prices by leaps and bounds and then decontent the little things thye hope no one will notice. GM at it’s finest!
GM can we make this an option. I think we would all be much happier…
Well,
I have a 2023 C* and am unable to access my trunk ….so, yes it does happen …don’t worry it is covered under warranty …..so, let me get this straight, 100K for a car you have to wait for over a year to get and the trunk access ceases to work after 400 miles and their idea of a backup plan is a 3 inch hole in the deck lid???? REALLY ??? do they plan on replacing the decklid after they drilled into it to open it ….. do they plan to install a backup option the 2nd time around? Who pays for the PPF and ceramic coating the second time around …… This is why people buy Porsche instead.
Dennis, sorry to here about your misfortune and hope it is resolved to your satisfaction. Report back on the process and resolution.
Well,
I have a 2023 C8 and am unable to access my trunk ….so, yes it does happen …don’t worry it is covered under warranty …..so, let me get this straight, 100K for a car you have to wait for over a year to get and the trunk access ceases to work after 400 miles and their idea of a backup plan is a 3 inch hole in the deck lid???? REALLY ??? do they plan on replacing the decklid after they drilled into it to open it ….. do they plan to install a backup option the 2nd time around? Who pays for the PPF and ceramic coating the second time around …… This is why people buy Porsche instead.
No big deal on trunk lock being removed on my 2023 2lt convert. Very simple fix if you look at child release handle in the trunk, all you need is 20 lb. test fishing line and some common sense and the problem is Solved .!! I did it release for trunk works great. Fishing line will not be seen. I had outside people try to find it, no luck seeing fishing line. Pull line works like a charm .Keep pick for fishing line in glove box when needed. Good luck all new vet owners.
If they’re that cheap , just make it The Tumblr turn key lock instead of drilling a hole an option same thing with an extra quart of transmission fluid instead of going through all that hassle
Anyone that has had this issue corrected with the rear latch no opening tell us what the problem was to fix it.