A new massive recall for Chevrolet, and the Corvettes have become a very serious matter. General Motors has announced the recall and sales stop of the Corvette Z06 (2023-2026) and Corvette ZR1 (2025-2026) models across North America due to a fire risk when refueling. Everything points to problems in the cooling system design, which could cause flammable vapors right where they should not be, near engine components. Chevrolet claims to be working on a solution, but in the meantime, fear is rising among Corvette owners and it is no wonder.
What is the problem in the Corvette Z06 and ZR1?
The fault is in the side radiator and the cooling fans mounted on the left side of the car. According to GM, under certain conditions (which by the way, they have not fully detailed) gasoline or its vapors could come into contact with hot areas of the engine, which increases the risk of fire and we already know how that ends.
So far, at least two incidents related to this failure have already been documented, and yes, believe us when we say that two incidents are a lot. Luckily, there were only minor injuries, but enough to set off all the alarms and start looking for a solution through a recall.
What is Chevrolet’s plan to fix it?
From the brand, a spokesperson has said that they are already working on a solution: a shield or insert that diverts vapors so they do not reach where they should not. As soon as it is ready, it will be installed for free at dealerships for all affected.
In the meantime, they ask drivers to be extremely careful when refueling. Do not overfill the tank, stop as soon as the nozzle clicks, turn off the engine, and make sure everything is properly in place. Basically, what the manual already said, but with double the attention now:
“Confirm that the fuel nozzle is fully inserted into the vehicle’s fuel pipe before refueling. Do not overfill the tank or attempt to fill it after the automatic shut-off cable of the fuel pump clicks. Turn off the engine during refueling”.
Why does it only affect the Z06 and ZR1
Although all Corvette C8s have the fuel cap in the same rear area, only the Z06 and ZR1 carry those additional radiators and fans that could cause the problem. The “normal” Corvettes are out of the equation. They do not present this risk, so they are not included in the campaign.
A blow for an American icon
The Corvette Z06 and ZR1 are Chevrolet’s jewels, capable of competing with European supercars for much less money, they are designed to fill headlines but not like these…
Recalls are usually common in the industry, it means our vehicles are under constant review, but this moment has been like a bucket of cold water for the national automotive industry. Besides, this is not a small problem recall, we are talking about fire risk.
What should owners do?
The first thing is to check that your car is included in the recall, with the VIN number, enter it on the Chevrolet website or on NHTSA’s own site, the recall is listed under number N252514930 (GM) and 25V536 (NHTSA). Until the repair is ready, the most recommended thing is to take extreme precautions on each visit to the gas station, be very careful!
Now we just have to wait for GM to act to restore the trust of its owners, and hope that no further incidents occur!