Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Chevrolet Corvette owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The vehicle would not shift out of Park. Car has less than 20,000 miles. This happened once in a while at first then over time increased to almost every other time the car was started. I took it for repair and was told after searching the VIN # that my 2008 was installed with a 2007 shifter and gear. They said Chevy had numerous problems with the 2007 shifter and changed the 2008 parts so this would not happen. I had to replace both parts at around $2,500.00! I also had to wait on the parts to be found and there was only one available in the entire U.S. Chevy should have to pay for my repair since a 2007 part(s) should not have been placed in a 2008!
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.
C6 corvettes have electrically operated doors so it is impossible to open a door when the battery is dead. Having a dead battery, I placed the car in my driveway to jump start it. As I went to my truck to start it and connect the jumper cables the Corvette began to slowly roll backwards - apparently the hand brake was not quite set enough (manual transmission). I was unable to open the door to apply the brakes or handbrake because of the lack of battery power. The car continued to roll backwards, accelerating, with me unable to hold or stop it. It rolled across the street, down my neighbor's driveway, and through his closed garage door coming to a stop at the rear of his garage with a heavy impact (over $11 thousand in damages). My neighbor's 2 small girls often play in that garage with the doors closed or in the driveway. …
An instance occurred where the battery leaked acid down past the battery tray and onto the wiring harnesses below. Subsequent corrosion of wirings within the harness (of which contain approximately forty individual wires), causing breaks and shorts in several creating a hazardous situation. A no start condition occurred resulting from the affected wires leading to the ECM as well as others contained in the harness. Either the battery tray should be modified to contain or route possible acid from leaking down past it or the fabrication of a liquid tight compartment be installed to contain the wiring harness itself. Since the harness is no longer available from GM the Chevrolet service technician spliced in numerous lengths of new wires to bypass the affected areas within the harness. Labor cost of approximately $3000 for the repair. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Corvette. When the vehicle was started, the air conditioning vents began to release a thick fog. The contact touched the stop button and exited the vehicle. The contact noticed that the passenger compartment was filled with a thick fog, which impaired visibility within the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who informed the contact that a battery cable was routed tightly under the air conditioning line, causing friction that rubbed through the air conditioning line. The tubing attached to the assembly and the protective sleeve were replaced to prevent future friction. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall involving the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000.
Brake issue: brakes would stay on until pressed. Cruise control would also not function while the brake lights were engaged. Pressing the brakes would cause the brake lights to turn off. Taking foot off brakes would cause brake lights to turn on. Repaired by Chevrolet for $450. Electrical: starter has been replaced 11 times by Firestone & Chevrolet. Starter repeatedly stops working after 6 months of use (using original OEM parts installed at full price by Chevrolet).
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Corvette. While driving low speeds, the brakes felt as if they applied automatically. The service anti-lock brakes, service active handling, and service traction control warning indicators illuminated. The dealer diagnosed that the rear passenger hub assembly sensor was defective and the entire assembly needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
There is a very strong gas smell inside the car but no obvious leaks. The car does not appear to be using gas faster than anticipated. It smells strongest on the drivers side. Research has shown many owners had a problem like this with the fuel tank or fuel line. There was no obvious moment this started or event that caused this problem. The car just started smelling like gas.
Using accessories function, shorts electrical system out: with the car engine off, I turn on accessories, play the radio, etc. When the accessories ends its cycle and shuts-off the car will not start. The entire system shunts/shorts out, nothing operates until the battery is bled down. This has been a continuing problem
Gear shift release button locks and operator is unable to shift vehicle back into park or even reverse at times. Vehicle May also get stuck in reverse and not be able to go back into park nor drive. Issue has happened several times and makes vehicle undriveable due to this malfunction
Electrical complaints in other Corvette years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2008 Chevrolet Corvette?
NHTSA has 39 complaints about the electrical system of the 2008 Chevrolet Corvette, 7% of the model year's 541 complaints. The component named most often is software (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Chevrolet Corvette electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2008 Chevrolet Corvette. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2008 Chevrolet Corvette electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 40,000 miles, and 45% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.