IllustrationDEFECTIVE FUEL TANK. MOST OWNERS HAVE REPORTED CRACKS IN THE FUEL TANK THAT RESULT IN GAS LEAKAGE AND STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE WHEN THE AUTOMOBILE IS PARKED AFTER FUELING. FIRST NOTICED 3 WEEKS AGO AFTER PURCHASING GASOLINE AND RETURNING TO COVERED GARAGE FOR STORAGE. GASOLINE CAN BE SMELLED INSIDE THE RESIDENCE.
2012 Chevrolet Corvette
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette do not stand out strongly from 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
190–25K
1225–50K
550–75K
175–100K
2100–150K
0150K+
39 reports with mileage · 17 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 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
56 reportsFUEL TANK LEAK.
FUEL SMELL,REPLACED FUEL CAP, THAT HELP A LITTLE,SMELL AROUND FUEL DOOR,CAN'T KEEP CAR IN GARAGE AFRAID TO RE FUEL AND DRIVE HELP
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE MAIN HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS A SEALED UNIT AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED. THE SEALS IN BOTH UNITS IN MY CAR ARE DEFECTIVE AND THAT ALLOWS MOISTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATES TO COLLECT INSIDE THE UNIT AND FOG UP THE MAIN LENSES THAT THE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS PROJECT THROUGH. I CANNOT BE TAKEN APART AND R…
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THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE MAIN HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS A SEALED UNIT AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED. THE SEALS IN BOTH UNITS IN MY CAR ARE DEFECTIVE AND THAT ALLOWS MOISTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATES TO COLLECT INSIDE THE UNIT AND FOG UP THE MAIN LENSES THAT THE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS PROJECT THROUGH. I CANNOT BE TAKEN APART AND REPAIRED. EACH ASSEMBLY PART COSTS OVER $1,200 PLUS LABOR. TO FIX BOTH SIDES IS $3,000. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. NOT ONLY DOES IT DIFFUSE THE LIGHT AT NIGHT AND NOT FOCUS CORRECTLY DOWN THE HIGHWAY, IT ALSO CAUSES HIGH DEGREE OF GLARE FOR DRIVES APPROACHING MY CAR HEAD ON. I DO NOT WANT TO INCREASE CHANCES OF A HEAD ON COLLISION OR CRASH DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY AT NIGHT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME AS WELL AS APPROACHING DRIVERS. I CALLED CHEVROLET TO REPORT AND THEY REFUSE TO HELP IN ANY WAY. I ALSO ASKED ABOUT ASSISTANCE WITH PAYING THE REPAIR BILL BUT THEY WOULD NOT. ON INTERNET, THERE ARE MANY MESSAGE BOARDS DISCUSSING THE SAME ISSUES WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S VEHICLES. THE SAFETY BOARD SHOULD CREATE A SAFETY RECALL AND HAVE THE MANUFACTURER REPLACE AT THEIR EXPENSE THESE DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES.
THE WIRE TO THE STARTER MELTS OUT CAUSING THE ENTIRE CHARGING SYSTEM TO STOP WORKING AN DRAINS THE BATTERY CAUSING THE MOTOR TO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING . THEN NO POWER STEERING OR BREAKS
FUEL SMELL COMING FROM DRIVERS SIDE FUEL TANK. NOTICE FUEL LEAK FROM HIGH SPOT OF TANK AND FUEL RESIDUE ON SIDE OF TANK. NUMEROUS OWNER COMPLAINTS.
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE RED SEAT BELT LIGHT WILL INTERMITTENTLY FLASH. JUST MOVING MY BUM FROM JUST GETTING COMFY, THE LIGHT WILL COME ON STEADY, THEN FLASH, THEN BE ACCOMPANIED BY FOUR CHIMES, THEN, GO OFF. A FEW MILES DOWN ROAD, AT LEGAL SPEEDS, (DOESN'T MATTER THE SPEED) THE LIGHT WILL COME ON STEADY AGAIN, THEN FLASH…
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WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE RED SEAT BELT LIGHT WILL INTERMITTENTLY FLASH. JUST MOVING MY BUM FROM JUST GETTING COMFY, THE LIGHT WILL COME ON STEADY, THEN FLASH, THEN BE ACCOMPANIED BY FOUR CHIMES, THEN, GO OFF. A FEW MILES DOWN ROAD, AT LEGAL SPEEDS, (DOESN'T MATTER THE SPEED) THE LIGHT WILL COME ON STEADY AGAIN, THEN FLASH, THEN CHIMES, THEN IT GOES OUT -- FOR AWHILE. REPEAT THIS AFTER A FEW MILES AND YOU WANT TO DRIVE IT OVER A CLIFF...
WHEN I FILL THE GAS TANK OF MY 2012 CORVETTE THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS IN MY GARAGE. I HAVE READ ON SEVERAL FORUMS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE CORVETTES HAVING A LEAK AT THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK. THIS LEAKING GAS CAN GET ONTO THE EXHAUST AND CAUSE A FIRE.
STATIONARY VEHICLE WAS FILLING ENCLOSED GARAGE WITH GAS FUMES. SOURCE OF PROBLEM WAS FRACTURED HIGH PRESSURE 90 DEGREE FITTING IN FUEL PUMP ATOP LEFT FUEL TANK. ENTIRE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. PHOTO ATTACHED SHOWING FRACTURE IN FITTING AND SHOWING THE FUEL PUMP PART NUMBER. CONTACTED CHEVROLET. NO RESOLUTION.
WE RECENTLY PURCHASED THE CAR (TWO WEEKS AGO) AND THE CAR SMELLS UP THE GARAGE OF HEAVY GAS FUMES. WE TRIED REPLACING THE GAS CAP BUT IT STILL HAPPENS. SEEMS TO BE AT ITS STRONGEST AFTER GASSING UP THE CAR. GAS FUMES CAN ALSO BE SMELLED WHEN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP IS DOWN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I AM SERIOUSLY CONCERNED THAT MY GAR…
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WE RECENTLY PURCHASED THE CAR (TWO WEEKS AGO) AND THE CAR SMELLS UP THE GARAGE OF HEAVY GAS FUMES. WE TRIED REPLACING THE GAS CAP BUT IT STILL HAPPENS. SEEMS TO BE AT ITS STRONGEST AFTER GASSING UP THE CAR. GAS FUMES CAN ALSO BE SMELLED WHEN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP IS DOWN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I AM SERIOUSLY CONCERNED THAT MY GARAGE IS GOING TO BLOW UP SINCE THE WATER HEATER IS JUST A COUPLE OF FEET FROM THE CAR OR THAT THE CAR WILL CATCH ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING INTO THIS AND SEEMS MANY CORVETTE OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. I'M FEELING SO DISCOURAGED FOR BUYING A CORVETTE, OUR DREAM CAR. IS THERE AN RECALLS FOR THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM?
Official recalls
111V491000 · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge And Attachments
Oct 3, 2011
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 CHEVROLET CORVETTE COUPE VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 24, 2011, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1, 2011, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER 206, "DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS". THE REAR HATCH HINGES MAY NOT MEET THE LOAD REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN THE SAFETY STANDARD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE REAR HATCH COULD SEPARATE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH REAR HATCH HINGES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 14, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.
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.