The Lemon Index
200720096th generation (C6)
Better than average · most complaints: electrical
21 owner complaints, first 3 years 18–19 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
Engines & versions
What breaks most on the 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
- Fuel pump78 complaintsmostly at 38,000–74,000 miles (61,000–119,000 km)
- Headlights27 complaintsmostly at 33,000–70,000 miles (53,000–113,000 km)
- Engine failure16 complaintsmostly at 15,000–34,000 miles (24,000–55,000 km)
Specific parts named in the 589 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Chevrolet Corvette (all dates). Miles = the odometer owners typed in (middle half); cost = the repair bills owners wrote in those same complaints, in U.S. dollars. Owners' reports, not confirmed defects.
When problems show up
Most problems on this year showed up between 1,700 and 16,000 miles (2,700–25,000 km) (the middle half of the 20 complaints, of all 21 filed so far, that listed a mileage).
- At 60K, 100K and 150K miles (97K, 161K and 241K km) Past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most.
This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not the odds that one car will have it.
Questions to ask the seller
- Do all the lights, screens and power features work? Has the battery, alternator or any wiring been replaced?
- Is the stability-control light off on a test drive?
- Any fuel smell, stalling or hard starts? On a hybrid or EV, any reduced-power warning or battery work?
- Chevy sent dealers 1029 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Loss of high speed gmlan communications, intermittent no crank, ip gage fluctuation,…”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Chevy's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 21 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 1K to 15K miles (3K to 25K km) on the car (20 of all 21 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
Left rear brake was applied when driving over 60 mph causing car to slow down and slide to the left. Active handling on showed on dash of my 2008 Corvette.
2008 Chevrolet Corvette owner · NHTSA complaint 10383883
More owner reports
The key less entry and ignition sometimes will not let the car start it has happened several times a week they have replaced the keys , and reprogrammed it three times and the last time replaced the sensor in the dash board.
NHTSA complaint 10264402
My 08 Corvette has left me stranded 3 times, once on the freeway. The car quits pulling,service brakes and fuel sys. Lights come on. Thankfully I had time to get to the side of the road,but,it could be very dangerous.
NHTSA complaint 10395823
Fixes owners look up most.
From 198 YouTube videos · 51.2M views · 2005–2013 Chevrolet Corvette
What owners say one repair costs on YouTube
Most-watched topics
- Windows, doors & mirrors178K views
C6 Corvette power window indexing (how to reset the windows)Gearhead Daily · 105K views · 2 videos - Transmission & shifter160K views
How To Fix C6 Corvette Stuck In Park Automatic Shifter Won’t Shift! Easy DIYSal's Garage · 92K views · 2 videos - No-start: theft light, key & ignition128K views
C6 Corvette Won't Start Issues & Some Of The Fixes For ThemA Skilled Life! · 70K views · 2 videos - Oil changes & service95K views
Corvette C6 Oil ChangeCorvette · 95K views
Before you buy, watch
The Ultimate C6 Corvette Buyer's Guide!Cars, Costs and Technology · 652K views
2005-2013 Chevy Corvette C6 ULTIMATE Buyers GuideHakosan · 390K views
C6 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Which years are the best? (2005-2013)C&S Corvettes · 381K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2008 is the same generation.
Costs are the middle (median) of the dollar amounts people say out loud in these videos, so one wild number can't swing it. They aren't verified bills or sales; real prices depend on year, miles, condition and where you live. Tap Hear it to jump to the moment.
Problems Chevy told dealers about
Chevy sent dealers 1029 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Loss of high speed gmlan communications, intermittent no crank, ip gage fluctuation,…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 0
No safety recalls on record.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Every Chevrolet Corvette recall, all years · All Chevrolet recalls
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front — · side — · rollover —
Fuel cost and engines
About $3,950–$4,200 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 6.2L 8-cyl, 7.0L 8-cyl.
Every Chevrolet Corvette year. 2008 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Show 3 older years (1997–1999, YouTube reviews only, no complaint data)
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 22 Chevrolet Corvette years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2008 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/chevrolet-corvette/?y=2008" title="Chevrolet Corvette reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="629" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/chevrolet-corvette/2008/">Lemon Index</a> (2008 Chevrolet Corvette reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2008 Chevrolet Corvette reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew about three-quarters as many complaints as the average car filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 78; 100 is average, lower is better). 2008 is one of the better years of a model that draws 1.5× the average car's complaints. The Chevrolet Corvette year with the fewest complaints per car sold since 2010 is 2021.
What are the most common 2008 Chevrolet Corvette problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (33%), stability control (24%) and fuel system, gasoline (10%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2008 Chevrolet Corvette have?
None: NHTSA has no safety recalls on record for it.
What gas mileage does the 2008 Chevrolet Corvette get?
18 to 19 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2008 Chevrolet Corvette problems show up?
Most problems on this year showed up between 1,700 and 16,000 miles (2,700–25,000 km) (the middle half of the 20 complaints, of all 21 filed so far, that listed a mileage). At 60K, 100K and 150K miles, a 2008 is past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most. This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not a prediction for one car.
Does the 2008 Chevrolet Corvette have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2008 Chevrolet Corvette cost in fuel a year?
About $3,950 to $4,200 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2008 Chevrolet Corvette have?
6.2L 8-cyl, 7.0L 8-cyl.
Is there a better Chevrolet Corvette year than the 2008?
Not nearby: the 2008 drew the fewest complaints per car sold of the Chevrolet Corvette years within 3 model years of it. Across every year, 2021 drew the fewest.
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works