RoadVitals

2009 Chevrolet Corvette Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
25
Latest Feb 16, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
17%
of 151 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 25 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineFuel system
Filed Feb 16, 2023

Fuel pump / Fuel tank Cracks due to bad plastic use by GM

NHTSA ID
11507721
Incident
Feb 16, 2023
EngineSteering
Filed Jun 18, 2020

I HAD A VALVE DROP AND THREW A ROD THRU MY ENGINE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. I LOST ENGINE POWER, POWER STEERING, AND SPILLED OIL AND OTHER CHEMICALS ONTO THE ROADWAY. A THICK CLOUD OF SMOKE BILLOWED FROM UNDERNEATH AND OUT THE BACK OF THE CAR MAKING IT UNSAFE FOR CARS TRAVELING BEHIND ME. THE DEALER WHO HAS SINCE INSPECTED MY CAR HAS STATED IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT THE "LIFTERS ARE WEAK". AFTER QUITE A BIT OF READING, IT APPEARS MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME CAR HAVE EXPERIENCED A MULTITUDE OF ISSUES WITH VALVES, LIFTERS, HEADS, ETC. GM IS AWARE OF FAULTY PARTS BUT I CANNOT FIND ANY NOTICE OF RECALLS. MAKE/MODEL: 2009 CORVETTE Z06; ENGINE: LS7. *TR

NHTSA ID
11329555
Incident
Jun 2, 2020
Mileage
56,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 31, 2020

VALVES WERE OUT OF SPEC IT CAME FROM THE FACTORY THIS WAY

NHTSA ID
11326711
Incident
Aug 22, 2012
Engine
Filed May 8, 2020

VALVE GUIDE MEASUREMENTS WERE OUT OF SPECIFICATIONS AT 5K MILES

NHTSA ID
11323888
Incident
Feb 16, 2015
Mileage
5,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 6, 2020

MY ENGINE EXPERIENCED VALVE GUIDE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING WHICH RESULTED IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND SPILLED OIL ALL OVER THE ROAD. THE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED. IF I HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID
11323493
Incident
Apr 6, 2018
Mileage
35,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 18, 2020

I EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE. THIS RESULTED IN A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AT AN UNEXPECTED TIME. THIS OCCURRED DURING A HIGH PERFORMANCE DRIVER EDUCATION EVENT AT AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY IN FONTANA, CA. THERE WAS NO WARNING BEFORE THE MOMENT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS THE HEAD OF ONE OF THE EXHAUST VALVES SEPARATED FROM THE VALVE STEM AND FELL INTO THE CYLINDER, DESTROYING THE CYLINDER HEAD, PISTON AND CYLINDER WALL. THE ENGINE MODEL IN MY 2009 CORVETTE IS THE LS7. A GOOGLE SEARCH ON 'LS7 DROPPED VALVES' WILL FILL MANY PAGES.

NHTSA ID
11318640
Incident
Sep 15, 2013
Mileage
30,133 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 26, 2018

VALVE GUIDES WORN - ALL- OUT OF SPECIFICATION AT 30K MILES, HEADS REMOVED AND VALVE GUIDES AND EXHAUST VALVES REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
11163594
Incident
Oct 1, 2018
Mileage
30,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Aug 7, 2018

FUEL LEAK

NHTSA ID
11118208
Incident
Aug 6, 2018
Mileage
34,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 14, 2018

HAD TO HAVE CYLINDER HEADS REBUILT BECAUSE MANUFACTURING ISSUE WITH VALVE GUIDS WEARING QUICKLY OUT OF SPEC AND IF NOT CORRECTED DESTROYING THE ENTIRE MOTOR. I GOT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WITH MISFIRE WHICH WAS CAUSED BY WORN GUIDES. SENT HEADS INTO BE REBUILT AND FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE WAY OUT OF SPEC. SOME AT .030 AND SPEC CUT OFF AT .006

NHTSA ID
11093588
Incident
Jan 1, 2018
Mileage
95,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 14, 2018

I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT EXCESSIVE VALVE TRAIN NOISE AND AFTER READING SEVERAL CORVETTE FORUM THREADS ABOUT IMPROPERLY MACHINED HEADS BY GM'S SUPPLIER LINAMAR, AND THAT NUMEROUS VEHICLES HAVE HAD VALVES DROP AND RUIN THE ENGINES, I TOOK MY CAR WITH 27000 MILES ON IT TO A CORVETTE SPECIALTY SHOP TO HAVE MY VALVE GUIDE CLEARANCE TESTED. I HAD (2) INTAKE VALVE GUIDES OUTSIDE OF SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS, (4) EXHAUST VALVE GUIDES OUTSIDE OF SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS, AND A COMBINATION OF (10) OTHER INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVE GUIDES AT OR NEAR THE MAXIMUM OUTSIDE OF SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS. THE CAR IS BEING REPAIRED WITH PROPER RE-MACHINING OF THE HEADS TO MAKE THE VALVE GUIDES CONCENTRIC, NEW INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVE GUIDES INSTALLED, AS WELL AS NEW SEALS, VALVES, SPRINGS, ETC. 88% OF THE CORVETTE FORUM MEMBERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR CYLINDER HEADS TESTED FOR EXCESSIVE VALVE GUIDE WEAR, WERE OUT OF SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS. SOURCE: HTTPS://WWW.CORVETTEFORUM.COM/FORUMS...-REGISTRY.HTML GM NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS ENGINE FAILURES AS A RESULT OF A DROPPED VALVE INTO A CYLINDER WHICH CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND FIRES. GM IS VERY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS HUGE SAFETY RISK TO DRIVERS, PASSENGERS, AND NEARBY VEHICLES IF THE ENGINE FAILS GOING DOWN THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID
11072973
Incident
Feb 14, 2018
Engine
Filed Feb 9, 2018

REGARDING THE CYLINDER HEADS, I AM ONE OF HUNDREDS THAT EXPERIENCED INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVES THAT WERE OUT OF SPECIFICATION DUE TO INADEQUATE CYLINDER HEAD DESIGN AND VALVE GUIDES. AS A RESULT, I NEEDED TO HAVE MY HEADS REPLACED WITH REBUILT HEADS AND NEW VALVE GUIDES. THE UPLOADED DOCUMENT HIGHLIGHTS THE MEASUREMENTS ON THE VALVES AS BEING OUT OF SPECIFICATION AFTER THEY WERE TESTED UPON REMOVAL FROM MY VEHICLE. ON AN ENGINE WITH ONLY 11,000 MILES AT THE TIME, THIS IS ALARMING. HUNDREDS OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WHEN A VALVE DROPS, IT FALLS INTO THE ENGINE HAVING THE EFFECT OF POTENTIALLY IMMEDIATELY SEIZING IT UP WHICH WOULD THEN CAUSE THE CAR TO LOCK THE REAR WHEELS AND LOSE CONTROL

NHTSA ID
11071992
Incident
Jul 19, 2017
Mileage
11,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 29, 2017

ALTHOUGH MY CAR IS A 2009 IT ONLY HAS 300 MILES ON IT. THE ZO6 MODEL WHICH HAS THE "LS7 ENGINE HAS A KNOWN VALVE ISSUE WITH BOTH INTAKE AND EXHAUST BEING OUT OF SPEC AND WEARING RAPIDLY. I HAD A "WIGGLE TEST" DONE ON ALL MY VALVES. MORE THAN HALF OF THE 16 VALVES WERE OUT OF SPEC. IF THE ISSUE IS NOT CORRECT A VALVE WILL DROP AND A NEW ENGINE WILL BE REQUIRED.

NHTSA ID
11051354
Incident
Nov 29, 2017
Mileage
300 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 27, 2017

ENGINE VALVE TRAIN SUBJECT TO COMPLETE FAILURE DUE TO IMPROPER MANUFACTURE CAUSING A TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE AN POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL AT SPEED.

NHTSA ID
10968674
Incident
Oct 25, 2016
Engine
Filed Feb 16, 2017

I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT EXCESSIVE VALVE TRAIN NOISE AND AFTER READING SEVERAL CORVETTE FORUM THREADS AND SPEAKING TO NUMEROUS CHEVROLET MECHANICS ABOUT IMPROPERLY MACHINED HEADS BY GM'S SUPPLIER LINAMAR, AND THAT NUMEROUS VEHICLES HAVE HAD VALVES DROP AND RUIN THE ENGINES. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON COMPLETELY STOCK VEHICLES. PEOPLE WITH LESS THAN 20000 MILES HAVE LOST MOTORS. 88% OF THE CORVETTE FORUM MEMBERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR CYLINDER HEADS TESTED FOR EXCESSIVE VALVE GUIDE WEAR, WERE OUT OF SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS. SOURCE: HTTP://WWW.CORVETTEFORUM.COM/FORUMS/...-REGISTRY.HTML GM NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS ENGINE FAILURES AS A RESULT OF A DROPPED VALVE INTO A CYLINDER WHICH CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND FIRES. GM IS VERY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS HUGE SAFETY RISK TO DRIVERS, PASSENGERS, AND NEARBY VEHICLES IF THE ENGINE FAILS GOING DOWN THE ROAD. IF THE ENGINE FAILS DUE TO DROPPING A VALVE, THE ENGINE WILL IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF, WHICH CUTS OFF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKING. THIS IS A VERY HUGE SAFETY CONCERN.

NHTSA ID
10955020
Incident
Feb 16, 2017
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Sep 2, 2016

VALVE GUIDE ISSUE CAUSING FAILURE TO BRAKES, AND POWER STEERING, AS WELL AS ENGINE BLOWING

NHTSA ID
10903195
Incident
Sep 2, 2016
Mileage
7,500 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 28, 2016

I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT EXCESSIVE VALVE TRAIN NOISE AND AFTER READING SEVERAL CORVETTE FORUM THREADS ABOUT IMPROPERLY MACHINED HEADS BY GM'S SUPPLIER LINAMAR, AND THAT NUMEROUS VEHICLES HAVE HAD VALVES DROP AND RUIN THE ENGINES, I TOOK MY CAR WITH 37,000 MILES ON IT TO COURTESY CHEVROLET / CADILLAC TO HAVE MY VALVE GUIDE CLEARANCE TESTED. I HAD (3) INTAKE VALVE GUIDES OUTSIDE OF SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS, (7) EXHAUST VALVE GUIDES OUTSIDE OF SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS, AND A COMBINATION OF (11) OTHER INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVE GUIDES AT OR NEAR THE MAXIMUM OUTSIDE OF SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS. THE COST OF PROPER RE-MACHINING OF THE HEADS TO MAKE THE VALVE GUIDES CONCENTRIC, NEW INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVE GUIDES INSTALLED, AS WELL AS NEW SEALS, VALVES, SPRINGS, ETC. IS SOMETHING I SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD AT THE MOMENT WITH THE DOWNTURN OF THE OILFIELD INDUSTRY. PLEASE BEAR IN MIND, MY CAR HAD A REPLACEMENT LS7 ENGINE FROM A DROPPED EXHAUST VALVE BEFORE I OWNED IT, SO THIS HAS ALREADY HAPPENED TO MY CAR ONCE. IT OCCURRED AT 22XXX MILES, AND CAN HAVE THE GM DEALER PRINT A COPY OF THE RO LINE TO PROVE IT. THIS IS OCCURRING AT AN ALARMING RATE, BUT AFTER OUR WARRANTY PERIOD, WE THE CONSUMER ARE LEFT OUT TO DRY. 88% OF THE CORVETTE FORUM MEMBERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR CYLINDER HEADS TESTED FOR EXCESSIVE VALVE GUIDE WEAR, WERE OUT OF SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS. SOURCE: HTTP://WWW.CORVETTEFORUM.COM/FORUMS/...-REGISTRY.HTML GM NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS ENGINE FAILURES AS A RESULT OF A DROPPED VALVE INTO A CYLINDER WHICH CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND FIRES. GM IS VERY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS HUGE SAFETY RISK TO DRIVERS, PASSENGERS, AND NEARBY VEHICLES IF THE ENGINE FAILS GOING DOWN THE ROAD. PLEASE ASSIST US IN HAVING GM MAKE THIS RIGHT.

NHTSA ID
10861934
Incident
Mar 9, 2016
Mileage
37,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 15, 2016

GM DENIES ANY SORT OF WIDE SPREAD ISSUE WITH RESPECT TO THE MANUFACTURING/ASSEMBLY OF THE CYLINDER HEADS FOR THE LS7 ENGINE. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURES AS A RESULT OF A BROKEN VALVE HEAD DROPPING INTO THE CYLINDER AND SUBSEQUENTLY BLOWING A HOLE THROUGH THE MOTOR, CAUSING FLUIDS TO LEAK ALL OVER THE ROAD, AND COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE SYMPTOMS ARE PREMATURE VALVE GUIDE WEAR, WHICH EVENTUALLY BECOME SO WORN THAT THE VALVE CLOSES ON THE WRONG ANGLE TO THE SEAT, AND OFF BREAKS THE VALVE HEAD. THE ISSUE APPEARS TO BE POOR VALVE GUIDE TO VALVE SEAT CONCENTRICITY, WHICH LEADS TO PREMATURE VALVE GUIDE WEAR. MY 2009 Z06 CORVETTE AT ONLY 15,000 STREET DRIVEN MILES WAS INSPECTED BY A REPUTABLE THIRD PARTY REPAIR FACILITY, AND DISCOVERED THAT 14/16 VALVE GUIDES WERE BEYOND GM'S SERVICE LIMIT, AND THE REMAINING 2/16 WERE RIGHT AT THE LIMIT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULDN'T OCCUR UNTIL 150,000 MILES AT LEAST...NOT 15,000. THERE NEEDS TO BE AN INVESTIGATION BEFORE MORE CATASTROPHIC FAILURES OCCUR. THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF DOCUMENTED OCCURRENCES.

NHTSA ID
10859846
Incident
Sep 21, 2015
Mileage
15,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 12, 2015

THE LS7 ENGINE IS KNOWN TO HAVE BAD 2 PIECE EXHAUST VALVES THAT COME APART AND FALL INTO THE CYLINDER RESULTING IN A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE THAT REQUIRES AN ENTIRE NEW ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED TO ME THIS PAST MARCH 2015. GM NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS ENGINE FAILURES AS A RESULT OF A DROPPED VALVE INTO A CYLINDER WHICH CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND FIRES. GM IS VERY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS HUGE SAFETY RISK TO DRIVERS, PASSENGERS, AND NEARBY VEHICLES IF THE ENGINE FAILS GOING DOWN THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID
10725035
Incident
Mar 12, 2008
Mileage
21,900 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 13, 2015

THERE WAS A MANUFACTURING ERROR MADE DURING ENGINE BUILD WITH THE VALVE GUIDES. THEY ARE MAKING A NOISE CURRENTLY. THIS CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO FAIL ABRUPTLY AND CONSEQUENTLY ONE COULD LOSE POWER (ENGINE) AND THUS LOOSE BRAKING ASSIST & POWER STEERING ASSIST AND CAN CAUSE A CRASH & COULD BE FATAL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10705351
Incident
Apr 13, 2015
Mileage
23,845 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 7, 2015

I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT EXCESSIVE VALVE TRAIN NOISE AND AFTER READING SEVERAL CORVETTE FORUM THREADS ABOUT IMPROPERLY MACHINED HEADS BY GM'S SUPPLIER LINAMAR, AND THAT NUMEROUS VEHICLES HAVE HAD VALVES DROP AND RUIN THE ENGINES, I TOOK MY CAR WITH 7800 MILES ON IT TO A CORVETTE SPECIALTY SHOP ( KATECH) TO HAVE MY VALVE GUIDE CLEARANCE TESTED. I HAD (5) INTAKE VALVE GUIDES OUTSIDE OF SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS, (4) EXHAUST VALVE GUIDES OUTSIDE OF SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS, AND A COMBINATION OF (3) OTHER INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVE GUIDES AT OR NEAR THE MAXIMUM OUTSIDE OF SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS. THE CAR IS BEING REPAIRED WITH PROPER RE-MACHINING OF THE HEADS TO MAKE THE VALVE GUIDES CONCENTRIC, NEW INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVE GUIDES INSTALLED, AS WELL AS NEW SEALS, VALVES, SPRINGS, ETC. 88% OF THE CORVETTE FORUM MEMBERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR CYLINDER HEADS TESTED FOR EXCESSIVE VALVE GUIDE WEAR, WERE OUT OF SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS. SOURCE: HTTP://WWW.CORVETTEFORUM.COM/FORUMS/...-REGISTRY.HTML GM NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS ENGINE FAILURES AS A RESULT OF A DROPPED VALVE INTO A CYLINDER WHICH CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND FIRES. GM IS VERY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS HUGE SAFETY RISK TO DRIVERS, PASSENGERS, AND NEARBY VEHICLES IF THE ENGINE FAILS GOING DOWN THE ROAD. HERE IS A LINK WITH THE GUIDE MEASUREMENTS IN IT. HTTP://WWW.CORVETTEFORUM.COM/FORUMS/C6-Z06-DISCUSSION/3608443-KATECH-STAGE-2-Z06-SN-74-A.HTML. *TR

NHTSA ID
10704251
Incident
Feb 17, 2015
Mileage
7,812 mi
BrakesEnginePowertrain (other)+1 more
Filed Mar 9, 2015

THE ENGINE HAD AN EXHAUST VALVE FAILURE CAUSING THE MOTOR TO LOCK UP AND REQUIRING OVER $5000 IN REPAIRS. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE CAR WAS FORCED TO BE STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT POWER BRAKES OR STEERING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10692889
Incident
Oct 10, 2014
Mileage
36,000 mi
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Jan 25, 2015

ENGINE HAD EXCESSIVE NOISE. AFTER READING SEVERAL CORVETTE COMPLAINTS ABOUT IMPROPERLY MACHINED HEADS BY GENERAL MOTOR'S SUPPLIER LINAMAR, AND THAT NUMEROUS VEHICLES HAVE HAD VALVES DROP AND CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE, I HAD MY CAR WITH CHECKED AT A SPECIALTY SHOP. I HAD SEVERAL VALVE GUIDES OUTSIDE OF SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS. THE CAR IS BEING REPAIRED WITH PROPER RE-MACHINING OF THE HEADS TO MAKE THE VALVE GUIDES CONCENTRIC, NEW INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVE GUIDES INSTALLED, AS WELL AS NEW SEALS, VALVES, SPRINGS, ETC. 88% OF THE CORVETTE FORUM MEMBERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR CYLINDER HEADS TESTED FOR EXCESSIVE VALVE GUIDE WEAR, WERE OUT OF SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS. SOURCE: HTTP://WWW.CORVETTEFORUM.COM/FORUMS/...-REGISTRY.HTML GM NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS ENGINE FAILURES AS A RESULT OF A DROPPED VALVE INTO A CYLINDER. THIS STOPS THE ENGINE, POWER STEERING, AND POWER BRAKES WHICH CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND FIRES. GM IS VERY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS HUGE SAFETY RISK TO DRIVERS, PASSENGERS, AND NEARBY VEHICLES IF THE ENGINE FAILS GOING DOWN THE ROAD. REGARDS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10678760
Incident
Jan 23, 2015
Mileage
30,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 19, 2015

I BECAME AWARE OF A POTENTIAL VALVE GUIDE WEAR ISSUE WITH THE LS7 AND LS9 ENGINES THROUGH THE CORVETTE FORUM, THE CORVETTE ACTION CENTER, AND OTHER SOURCES. I BEGAN RESEARCHING THE ISSUE AND DECIDED THAT I SHOULD HAVE MY CAR CHECKED OUT AT A GM DEALERSHIP. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VALVE TRAIN NOISE APPEARED TO BE NORMAL AND THE ENGINE WAS NOT BURNING OR USING ANY EXCESSIVE OIL. THE MORE I FOLLOWED THE VALVE GUIDE WEAR ISSUE, THE MORE CONCERNED I BECAME. THAT BEING SAID AND THE FACT THAT THE DEALER HAD NEVER HEARD OF OR HAD ANY CUSTOMER COME IN FOR THE ISSUE I DECIDED TO HAVE A LOCAL PERFORMANCE ENGINE SHOP (BECAUSE OF THEIR EXTENSIVE LS7 EXPERIENCE) INSTALL A REWORKED SET OF HEADS WITH BRONZE VALVE GUIDES WITH ADDITIONAL PARTS RECOMMEND BY THE SHOP, TO FIX THE PROBLEM PERMANENTLY, BASED ON THEIR KNOWLEDGE WITH THE ISSUE. MY ORIGINAL HEADS WERE EVALUATED FOR VALVE GUIDE WEAR AND 'EVERY INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVE GUIDE WAS OUTSIDE OF THE GM SERVICE BULLETIN SERVICE LIMIT OF .0037 WITH THE #8 INTAKE VALVE BEING SO FAR OUT THAT IT WAS DEEMED N/R (SO LOOSE IT WAS TOO BIG FOR THE GAUGE READOUT). THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 7500 MILES ON IT. 88% OF THE CORVETTE FORUM MEMBERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR CYLINDER HEADS TESTED FOR EXCESSIVE VALVE GUIDE WEAR, WERE OUT OF SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS. SOURCE: HTTP://WWW.CORVETTEFORUM.COM/FORUMS/...-REGISTRY.HTML GM NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS ENGINE FAILURES AS A RESULT OF A DROPPED VALVE INTO A CYLINDER WHICH CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND FIRES. GM IS VERY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS HUGE SAFETY RISK TO DRIVERS, PASSENGERS, AND NEARBY VEHICLES IF THE ENGINE FAILS GOING DOWN THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10676466
Incident
Oct 27, 2014
Mileage
7,500 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 10, 2015

THE ENGINE EXHAUST VALVE GUIDES WERE OUTSIDE OF GM SPECIFICATIONS AND BOTH CYLINDER HEADS WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE OF THIS. THIS DEFECT CAN CAUSE THE HEAD OF A VALVE TO SNAP OFF AND DESTROY THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WILL STOP WORKING IMMEDIATELY, CAUSING THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES SYSTEMS TO FAIL. THE VALVE FAILURE CAN CAUSE A OIL SPILL ONTO THE ROAD IF THE ENGINE IS DESTROYED. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS ENGINE FAILURES AS A RESULT OF A DROPPED VALVE INTO A CYLINDER WHICH CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND FIRES. GM IS VERY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS HUGE SAFETY RISK TO DRIVERS, PASSENGERS, AND NEARBY VEHICLES IF THE ENGINE FAILS GOING DOWN THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10671559
Incident
Jun 3, 2014
Mileage
45,748 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 6, 2015

MY SON'S CAR BLEW UP WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. HE WILL FILE A SEPARATE COMPLAINT. THERE IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH THE Z06 AND THE 427 ENGINE SO I HAD MY HEADS CHECKED AS A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE AND THEY WERE FAR ENOUGH OUT OF SPEC THAT SELF DESTRUCTION WAS IMMINENT. THE HEADS WERE CHECKED AND REPLACED BY A CHEVROLET DEALER. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF EXAMPLES OF THIS PROBLEM ON THE CORVETTE FORUM AND IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED. I SINCERELY HOPE YOU WILL LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM IN TIME TO PERHAPS SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10670431
Incident
Oct 15, 2013
Mileage
14,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data on this page last refreshed .