Owners of some units of the 2020 through 2024 Chevy C8 Corvette convertible may notice that their vehicle leaks water around the side glass while in high-pressure car washes. General Motors has identified the issue and released a Service Bulletin to address it.
Tagged with number 24-NA-026, the bulletin states that certain units of the C8 Corvette convertible may leak water from approximately the middle rear of the side glass, which is noticeable while the vehicle is going through a touchless car wash or bring cleaned with high-pressure equipment. This may be caused by variations in the sealing between the roof panel seals.
In order to prevent future water leakage, technicians are instructed to inspect the Corvette convertible top while it is partially retracted. The existing weatherstrip should then be removed and a piece of semi-closed EPDM foam should be installed and the weatherstrip put back in place.
If a leak is found on both sides of the vehicle, then the procedure should be performed on the other side as well, although the bulletin notes that if no leak is present, then it should be left alone to prevent potential damage to the weatherstripping.
Once all repairs are performed, the Corvette convertible should be inspected to ensure the windows are sealed properly before being returned to the customer. The service is expected to take less than one hour to complete.
As a reminder, GM outlines proper washing procedures for the C8 Corvette convertible in the “Vehicle Care” section of the owner’s manual. Customers are advised against using high-pressure washers closer than 12 inches to the surface of the vehicle. Using power washers that exceed 1,200 psi (8,274 kPa) may cause damage or removal of paint and decals. Automatic car washes should not be used, as they may also cause damage to vehicle, wheels, ground effects and convertible top.
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Comments
I will definitely say, for that kind of money there should be no water leak. I have seen them get tested in Bowling Green. Did they not detect it there? If you are a Corvette owner and take your Corvette to a car wash, you should not be allowed to have one.
On the car wash:
LOL! Those were my first thoughts too!
Didn’t GM spend over $1 billion in development of the C8 Corvette. This is ridiculous. GM really needs to get it together.
100k and designed by children
Unqualified DEI hires.
…if c8 were available in 2000, a 100k version woulda only cost 66k.
All corvettes should be washed by hand. Period !!!
I have had 2 C8’s, both ceramic coated. Only hand wash. They look great
Who in their right mind brings their Corvette to a car wash regardless of the year of the Corvette.Hand wash only to preserve the paint and convertible tops.Its just like when you park your vette,always back in to the spot to prevent damage to the front spoilers and especially carbon fiber pieces!!!😊
being rude and opinionated does not make you right – I have used a touchless wash a couple times and the windows are perfect – the two inches of water in my back window were more of a concern
I have a 2022 Corvette HTC Z51. Yes, the water does puddle up along the back glass when washing the car, however I’ve NOT had any problem with my car. I just use my EGO 750 and blow it dry.
Is this an advertisement for EGO products or a chevy forum ?
It’s surprising to see so many comments insisting that Corvettes must be hand-washed. While I concur and acknowledge that most Corvettes and premium sports cars are indeed washed manually, it’s essential to emphasize that a Corvette convertible, especially one that costs upwards of six figures, should be completely leak-proof, no exceptions.
What does GM and Boeing have in common?
Nothing
Except poor quality control.
Service Bulletin should tell technician to retest vehicle to ensure the fix resolved the water leak, before returning vehicle to customer. Don’t just do repair and give the vehicle back, confirm the fix worked. Eliminates possibility of customer returning again, this time very frustrated.
This is pretty funny…my audi manual says to wash at wll..” our paint is tough”
Put that in your pipe and smoke it 🤪
Cool. This has nothing to do with the paint. Go on though.
It’s not that the window seal leaks, only when when using high pressure water. You take any convertible top, use high pressure and the seal around the glass will weep water.
Exactly.
I only wash my car at home and just for rincing off that side I noticed some drops running down the inside of the window when I hosed it off a couple months ago. I’m glad this article was in here. In addition, I also have had concerns about how the water builds up around the back window which is obviously another poor design flaw like placing the oil recovery tank on the front of the engine where they can’t get it out to replace it without pulling the motor. My 2022 leaked oil from the plastic oil reservoir tank and they pulled the engine out to access it for a replacement. But did not fix it properly and pulled the engine out again! I started a buy back claim during the first time the engine was pulled and they denied it! So I had to threaten legal action when engine was pulled out the second time so they authorized buy back and I replaced it with 2023 convertible and so far no oil leaks but do have the window leak and it did not happen at a car wash. I have had numerous Corvettes throughout my lifetime and different types of problems with C3, C4, C5 and C6. We never have had any problems with our C7 Z06 which we still own so I never thought I would have problems with the C-8. I had a C6 that had an oil pan leak at 11,000 miles that was fixed under warranty and they did not have to remove the engine to do it. I’ve worked on cars all of my life and I see some of the things that they are doing now as engineering nightmares. everyone has opinions and thoughts on things like this and I have plenty of my own! I am only sharing these because I think everyone should know about some of the short falls of the engineering. I love the way the car looks and it drives probably better than most of them in the past, but it doesn’t have any storage space to speak of so this will most likely be my last one lol. I respect everyone’s opinions and comments good or bad as I have plenty of my own opinions and comments some good and some bad.
Rinsing
You are being honest telling it like it is but expect a few thumbs down from those who think GM does nothing wrong.
Vette owner, the C8 was designed like a nuclear submarine, everything is built around the propulsion system.