CHEVROLET CORVETTE · model year

2008 CHEVROLET CORVETTE

620 NHTSA complaints, 14 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2008CHEVROLETCORVETTE carries 620 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 14 crashes, 3 fires, 6 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2008 CORVETTE is fuel/propulsion system with 354 filings, followed by exterior lighting (45) and electrical system (36). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2008 CORVETTE, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

620
Complaints
14
Crashes
3
Fires
6
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

620 filings

Crashes Reported

14 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM354
EXTERIOR LIGHTING45
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM36
POWER TRAIN29
AIR BAGS24
ENGINE20
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE18
UNKNOWN OR OTHER18
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)16
SERVICE BRAKES13
STEERING12
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL6
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS4
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES2
SUSPENSION:REAR2

Recent Complaints

20260205FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

My recently purchased 2008 was taken to the local chevy dealer for gas fumes in the garage. The technician reported "The smell is coming from the sending unit on the driver side. There was fuel dripping down the side of the tank and the tank was wet. So the sending unit needs to be replaced" The car has only 16,427 miles on it and has been garage kept. I believe that leaking fuel is a very serious safety issue and that the now expired special service bulletin 150682 should have been a mandatory recall.

20251211FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Fuel sending unit in gas tank behind the drivers side is leaking gas making it impossible to park the car in the garage. There is a great possibility of fire due to this issue. No, I have not taken it to the dealer as of today but I am going to schedule it. No. No.

20251209TIRES

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Corvette equipped with Firestone Tires, Tire Line: Firehawk Wide Oval, Tire Size: P245/40/R18, DOT Number: (N/A). The vehicle was recently purchased, and three weeks later, the tire pressure warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Discount Tire. The employees at that tire specialty store refused to service the tires. The contact was informed that the tires were over fifteen years old. The contact stated that the manufactured date was 4410. The vehicle was not serviced. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the tires met their standards for selling the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 52,800.

Mileage: 52,800

20251121FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

cracked fuel pump housing causing vapors to vent out possibly causing a fire if stored extended periods of time indoors, and if crack is big enough fuel will drip down the back of the fuel tank onto the exhaust and possibly starting a vehicle fire

20251115FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Transmission gets stuck in park position and I am unable to shift it into any other gear. Unable to move the car if it's in a dangerous location.

20251021FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Bought this vehicle recently and filled it up with fuel and fumes overtook the cabin area and some leaked out the top of the tank down through the tank support. From the research I have done, this is a common problem that Chevy has ignored. The parts are too expensive to just replace everything with new.

20251003FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

There is a strong smell of gas in the passenger compartment and a very strong smell of gas gas on the drivers side near the rear tire. The Chevy dealer has confirmed the the gas smell is due to a know defect where the fuel pump develops cracks in the housing because of the poor quality plastic used. The dealer estimates that it will cost between $3,000 to $4,000 to repair. This is a very dangerous problem. I'm afraid with the very strong smell of gas that an electric spark might cause the car to explode or when it's stored inside cause a vehicle and structure fire. Why has the NHTSA not made GM do a recall for this defect. It is a very serious problem. Owners of any C6 corvette are sitting on a time bomb and their life is in danger. GM has already admitted that it is a design defect but has only issued a service bulletin. Do something before people die.

20250904FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

This car has suffered a known defect that causes fuel to leak out of the tank when the tank is more than 1/2 full. Unfortunately, the leak in my vehicle occurred outside the window that GM arbitrarily set up. (10 years after vehicle put in service or 120,000 miles whichever comes first. My vehicle is a 2008 with 94,000 miles and the problem occurred recently and after GM's window. Therefore, GM will not fix this leaking fuel tank and correct a potentially life-threatening issue. The problem is that this is a serious safety issue with strong fumes inside the cars cabin and strong fumes outside the vehicle with leaking fuel on the tank. The fumes and the leaking fuel are both extreme fire issues. This is a known issue and a known condition that could cause fire and loss of life. NHTSA needs to issue an immediate safety recall to have GM fix all of these leaking fuel tanks.

20250613FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Gas smells when tank is over half full it’s the plastic fuel system on to of tank is starting to crack and I was reading they have been recalled before but has gone off and this is danger and might cause a fire with the saddle bags across the back and only 30,700 miles on car

20250420FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I just bought a 2008 Chevy Corvette convertible and parked in the garage. The next morning the garage has distinct smell of gas throughout the garage. If my heater to the house would have kicked on the house would have blown up. This is a safety issue which should be addressed by Chevy. After researching the issue, it seems to be a common issue, which should be a recall. Even after moving it outside, when I get in the car it smells of gas.

20250420ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I just bought a 2008 Chevy Corvette convertible and parked in the garage. The next morning the garage has distinct smell of gas throughout the garage. If my heater to the house would have kicked on the house would have blown up. This is a safety issue which should be addressed by Chevy. After researching the issue, it seems to be a common issue, which should be a recall. Even after moving it outside, when I get in the car it smells of gas.

20250323FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

After refilling my car with gas and parking it in my garage, I noticed that fuel was actively LEAKING from the bottom of my car!@#! Within a few minutes, fuel was pooling under my car on the garage floor. I immediately moved it outside and ran the car for an hour to use up enough fuel so that it was no longer actively leaking. Unfortunately, there still remains an extremely strong fuel smell, even inside the car when driving. With this fuel smell there are strong vapors in my garage. I have to park the car outside all the time, otherwise my garage will be filled with gas vapors immediately (kind of like an air-fuel bomb). The dealer tells me that it will cost $3000-4000 to fix it. This is a HUGE safety issue and should be covered under a factory recall!!!!

20250322UNKNOWN OR OTHER

SERVICE ACTIVE HNDLG message on the DIC. Not able to put in drive due to this message. Read a lot of forums. There are recalls on up to 2007 but the 2008 Corvettes are having the same issues.

20250309FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Hello NHTSA, Fuel leaks from drivers side fuel tank. I see fuel tracks down side of tank, so conclude fuel is leaking from top of tank or from fuel pump. Fuel components are plastic, and now 17 years old, so they are probably cracked from age. I have strong smell of fuel in my garage, and puddle of fuel under drivers side tank. This is a safety fire hazard gas can leak down to the exhaust system. ' Searching Corvette forums - this is a known issue many years. Searching nhtsa - there are a number of complaints logged by other C6 Corvette owners with the identical issue. GM must fix or at least share to fix this issue. The defect is caused by GM making the conscious decision to swap more durable metal parts for less durable plastic parts in the fuel pump/tank assembly. Please put pressure on GM to reach out to current Corvette owners and their dealership network to get this issue corrected and at a minimum share the cost with Corvette Owners. Let's not allow this issue

20250207POWER TRAIN

Just purchased 2008 Corvette with 46,000 miles. Not able to shift out of park

20250207FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Just bought 2008 corvette with 46,000 miles. Very strong smell of fuel in car and in garage after fill up. This issue is definitely a safety issue

20250118UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Developed fuel leak above left side tank coming from known faulty fuel pump connector elbow at top of tank. Extreme gas fumes prevent parking in garage for fear of vapors igniting causing an explosion. Can not rule out possibility of drips or spray hitting hot exhaust. Will be seeking repair asap as this is not safe to drive or park in enclosed environment.

20250117FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

After refilling my car with gas, there was a strong fuel smell. As the fuel level dropped, the smell of gas went away. With this fuel smell there were strong vapors in my garage. I had to open the garage doors and let the garage air out before starting any of my vehicles I have in the garage. It got to the point I had to part the Corvette outside. I finally took it to a mechanic (Christain Brothers Automotive Huntsville Alabama), they found the fuel boost pump (driver's side) was cracked on top. I did not have the tools or capability to change the boost pump.

20250109FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

The other day from my garage i smelled a overtaking smell of gas coming from my 2008 Corvette with only 22,300 miles on it. I thought it was coming from my gas cap , so i replace the cap. Replacing the gas cap didn't help there was still a overwhelming gas smell coming from the left side of the car. I also notice when the gas tank drops below a 1/2 tank the smell seams to go away. I found out there are hundreds of complaints about this issue and that there was a special coverage adjustment issued covering this problem with the Primary Tank Module Flange Fuel and Vapor Leaks for a limited time and miles. I believe such a serious safety issue there should have been a recall to fix this problem by GM regardless of time and mileage. I have taken the car to Chevrolet dealer which has confirmed the problem.

20241219FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Fuel pump module leaking fuel causing fuel to drip onto the exhaust pipe. Potential fire hazard to occupants and occupants of area it is parked near. Yes the dealer and repair shop have confirmed it has cracked when it should not. It has only been inspected by the repair shop due to immediate safety concern. The symptoms were a very strong fuel odor and a puddle of fuel on the ground in the beginning of November.

Compare 2008CHEVROLETCORVETTE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2008 CHEVROLET CORVETTE have?
The 2008 CHEVROLET CORVETTE has 620 NHTSA complaints, 14 crashes, 3 fires, 6 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 CHEVROLET CORVETTE?
The most-complained component for the 2008 CHEVROLET CORVETTE is FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM with 354 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include EXTERIOR LIGHTING and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2008 CHEVROLET CORVETTE safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.