IllustrationSTRONG SMELL OF FUEL INSIDE VEHICLE ALL THE TIME, ESPECIALLY WHEN TANK IS FULL. VISIBLE FUEL ON TOP OF LEFT FUEL TANK, AND STAINS OF FUEL RUNNING DOWN SIDES OF LEFT FUEL TANK AND INTO SHEETMETAL PAN THAT SUPPORTS TANK.
2008 Chevrolet Corvette
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Corvette years
Owner complaints for the 2008 Chevrolet Corvette are substantially higher than the model-year median of 29.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Corvette years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
810–25K
12825–50K
11350–75K
5475–100K
28100–150K
10150K+
414 reports with mileage · 126 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 356 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
540 reportsTHERE IS EVIDENCE THAT FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK, AND THE CAR SMELLS OF GASOLINE VERY STRONGLY. CAR SMELLS WHILE SITTING AND WHILE RUNNING.
LLOW BEAM LIGHTS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING ON WAY HOME ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN THE DARK. HIGH BEAMS WORK, PARKING LIGHTS WORK. AFTER COOL DOWN RELAY ALLOWS LOW BEAM TO COME BACK ON. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.
WHEN GAS TANK IS FULL IT SMELLS. GAS. ODOR REALLY BAD. INSIDE MY GARAGE
I FILLED THE CAR UP WITH FUEL , PARKED IT IN THE GARAGE. NEXT DAY I COME OUT TO START IT, AND A VERY VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. NO VISIBLE LEAKS ON FLOOR OR VEHICLE FROM WHAT I COULD SEE, BUT EVEN IN THE CABIN IT SMELT HORRIBLE. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT BEING A FIRE HAZARD AND POSSIBLE RESULT IN DEAT…
Read full complaint
I FILLED THE CAR UP WITH FUEL , PARKED IT IN THE GARAGE. NEXT DAY I COME OUT TO START IT, AND A VERY VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. NO VISIBLE LEAKS ON FLOOR OR VEHICLE FROM WHAT I COULD SEE, BUT EVEN IN THE CABIN IT SMELT HORRIBLE. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT BEING A FIRE HAZARD AND POSSIBLE RESULT IN DEATH. I KNOW FOR SURE THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IN REGARDS TO THIS AMONGST C6 CORVETTES BUT MINE HAS EXPIRED SINCE MY VEHICLE IS A 2008, AND IT ONLY COVERS 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES. ALTHOUGH I ONLY HAVE 46K MILES. I WENT ON THE CORVETTEFORUMS AND TO MY SURPRISE THERE HAVE BEEN THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME EXACT SYMPTOMS AND ISSUE.
AFTER FILLING TANK WITH GASOLINE THERE IS A LEAK. THE FUMES FROM THE LEAK ARE VERY STRONG IN MY GARAGE, REQUIRING ME TO VENTILATE THE AREA TO PREVENT AN EXPLOSION. I DO NOT OVERFILL. THE AUTO-TURNOFF AT THE PUMP WON'T ALLOW THAT. APPARENTLY THE LEAK IS WHERE THE TWO TANKS ARE CONNECTED.
AIR BAG READINESS LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY ON DASH. JUST PURCHASED VEHICLE. CAR IS VERY LOW MILES SHOWROOM CONDITION. THIS ISSUE HAPPENED WHEN TURNING VEHICLE ON. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THESE CARS FOR AT LEAST 10 YEARS AND GM CHOOSES NOT TO RECTIFY PROBLEM. IT CAN MAKE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
PARKED CAR IN THE GARAGE AFTER A SHORT DRIVE. I CAME BACK INTO THE GARAGE ABOUT 2 HOURS LATER AND THERE WAS A VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. I WHEELED OUT MY POWER WASHER AND LAW MOWER BUT THE ODOR REMAINED. I LEFT EVERYTHING OUT OF THE GARAGE BUT THE 2008 CORVETTE Z06 FOR THREE DAYS AND THE ODOR SEEMED TO BE WORSE. AFTER INSPECT…
Read full complaint
PARKED CAR IN THE GARAGE AFTER A SHORT DRIVE. I CAME BACK INTO THE GARAGE ABOUT 2 HOURS LATER AND THERE WAS A VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. I WHEELED OUT MY POWER WASHER AND LAW MOWER BUT THE ODOR REMAINED. I LEFT EVERYTHING OUT OF THE GARAGE BUT THE 2008 CORVETTE Z06 FOR THREE DAYS AND THE ODOR SEEMED TO BE WORSE. AFTER INSPECTING THE 2008 CORVETTE Z06, THE FUMES WERE COMING FROM THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR. THE FUMES ARE SO STRONG THAT I CANNOT TRUST ANY IGNITION SOURCE IN THE GARAGE, SO I MOVED THE CAR OUTSIDE BUT PUSHING THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE. THE 2008 CORVETTE Z06 WAS PARKED IN MY PERSONAL GARAGE THE ENTIRE TIME UNTIL I PUSHED IT OUT INTO MY DRIVEWAY. *TR
MY CAR FOR SEVERAL MONTHS HAD BEEN EMITTING A VERY STRONG GAS SMELL THAT I NOTICED WHEN IT WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. WHEN I TOOK IN MY CAR FOR A REGULAR OIL, LUBE AND FILTER THEY DETECTED THAT THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE FUEL TANK THAT WAS WET ON THE TOP AND LEAKING ALL DOWN THE SIDE. WHEN THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME …
Read full complaint
MY CAR FOR SEVERAL MONTHS HAD BEEN EMITTING A VERY STRONG GAS SMELL THAT I NOTICED WHEN IT WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. WHEN I TOOK IN MY CAR FOR A REGULAR OIL, LUBE AND FILTER THEY DETECTED THAT THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE FUEL TANK THAT WAS WET ON THE TOP AND LEAKING ALL DOWN THE SIDE. WHEN THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME THEY SAID THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE BOTH FUEL TANKS AND BOTH FUEL PUMPS WITH LEVEL SENSORS A GAVE ME A QUOTE OF 3,468.89. I INQUIRED IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR MODEL OR COVERED UNDER AN EMISSIONS WARRANTY. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT A RECALL OR UNDER AN EMISSIONS WARRANTY. I INCURRED THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT OF BOTH FUEL TANKS AND BOTH FUEL PUMPS. LAST WEEK A FRIEND OF MINE HAD MENTIONED THAT THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER SOME SAFETY/EMISSIONS WARRANTY OR RECALL. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH FOUND THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL C6 CORVETTE OWNERS AND PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO GET REIMBURSED FOR THE COSTS INCURRED DUE TO MANUFACTURING ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ MY COMPLAINT AND CONSIDERING REIMBURSEMENT THROUGH GM FOR THE GAS TANK AND FUEL PUMP LEAKS. THANK YOU. *TR
ALL EXHAUST VALVES OUT OF SPECIFICATION AT 9,500 MILES; 6 OF 8 INTAKE VALVE GUIDES OUT OF SPECIFICATION; SPENT $1,200 FOR CYLINDER HEAD REMOVAL AND REINSTALL; VALVE JOB, NEW VALVE GUIDES AND ASSEMBLY. *TR
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.