The Lemon Index
201520177th generation (C7)
50 owner complaints, first 3 years 16–21 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2016 Ford Mustang 952016 Chevrolet Camaro 962016 Dodge Challenger 57
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
Engines & versions
When problems show up
Most problems on this year showed up between 3,000 and 25,000 miles (4,800–40,000 km) (the middle half of the 47 complaints, of all 50 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
- Were recalls 17V437000 (airbags) and 16V651000 (airbags) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Any fuel smell, stalling or hard starts? On a hybrid or EV, any reduced-power warning or battery work?
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- Chevy sent dealers 1463 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Information on Transmission Adaptive Functions and Correcting Low Mileage Harsh Shifts, Slips,…”?
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 50 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 3K to 24K miles (5K to 40K km) on the car (47 of all 50 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
Second 2016 Corvette, first one gm took back. Now second Corvette with same issue. Gas leaking from under car!
2016 Chevrolet Corvette owner · NHTSA complaint 10885557
More owner reports
Automatic locking fuel door made heavy whirring noises. Fuel door/cap is locked and no refueling is possible. Vehicle is parked. No driving problem until fuel is exhausted then a useless vehicle.
NHTSA complaint 11153324
Bad smell of gas in gararge when car is parked in there.
NHTSA complaint 11016303
Fixes owners look up most.
From 199 YouTube videos · 84.9M views · 2014–2019 Chevrolet Corvette
What owners say one repair costs on YouTube
Most-watched topics
- Lifters, AFM & cam phasers94K views
All about the C7 Corvette AFM and why its a problemC&S Corvettes · 94K views
Before you buy, watch
The Ultimate C7 Corvette Buyer's Guide!Cars, Costs and Technology · 276K views
Daily Driving a C7 Corvette for 3 Months! (Review, Problems, Etc.)Trawick Garage · 152K views
Should you BUY a sale priced 2019 C7 Corvette Grand Sport or WAIT for the C8?Raiti's Rides · 134K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2016 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 1463 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Information on Transmission Adaptive Functions and Correcting Low Mileage Harsh Shifts, Slips,…
- Ome customers may comment on a malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) illuminated
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 2
- Airbags · recall issued 2017
While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition.
- Airbags · recall issued 2016
In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test.
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 test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Corvette C RWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
| Chevrolet Corvette 2 DR RWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Fuel cost and engines
About $3,600–$4,700 (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.
Every Chevrolet Corvette year. 2016 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 2016 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/chevrolet-corvette/?y=2016" 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/2016/">Lemon Index</a> (2016 Chevrolet Corvette reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Corvette reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew about one and a half times the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 161; 100 is average, lower is better). The Chevrolet Corvette year with the fewest complaints per car sold since 2010 is 2021.
What are the most common 2016 Chevrolet Corvette problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are wheels (54%), fuel system (22%) and transmission & drivetrain (10%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Corvette have?
2 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Chevrolet Corvette get?
16 to 21 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2016 Chevrolet Corvette problems show up?
Most problems on this year showed up between 3,000 and 25,000 miles (4,800–40,000 km) (the middle half of the 47 complaints, of all 50 filed so far, that listed a mileage). At 60K, 100K and 150K miles, a 2016 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 2016 Chevrolet Corvette have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 10% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2016 Chevrolet Corvette cost in fuel a year?
About $3,600 to $4,700 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2016 Chevrolet Corvette have?
6.2L 8-cyl.
What Chevrolet Corvette year is better than the 2016?
Nearby, the 2015 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (about three-quarters as many complaints as the average car). 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