Headlight complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 5% | — |
| 2021 | 1 | 8% | — |
| 2020 | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2019 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2014 | 5 | 8% | 2,000 miles |
| 2012 | 3 | 5% | 60,000 miles |
| 2011 | 1 | 1% | 1,000 miles |
| 2010 | 2 | 2% | 24,000 miles |
| 2009 | 9 | 6% | 60,000 miles |
| 2008 | 46 | 9% | 61,000 miles |
| 2007 | 38 | 11% | 85,000 miles |
| 2006 | 62 | 17% | 86,000 miles |
| 2005 | 87 | 16% | 83,000 miles |
| 2004 | 3 | 1% | 82,000 miles |
| 2003 | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2002 | 7 | 4% | 97,000 miles |
| 2001 | 7 | 3% | 52,000 miles |
| 2000 | 17 | 6% | 39,000 miles |
| 1999 | 7 | 2% | 7,000 miles |
| 1998 | 3 | 1% | — |
| 1997 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 1996 | 2 | 5% | — |
| 1995 | 1 | 3% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
My car has had a problem with the instrument panel lighting improper (intensity) and speed control (erratic control) both operated improperly. I finally found a dealer that agreed there was a problem, the problem was the interface between the instrument panel and several computers in the car. In an attempt to reprogram the computers it was found the panel was so defective the computers could not be programed. It turns out the problem is so pervasive that there are no repair parts available anywhere to fix my car. It was been awaiting a part now for over 6 weeks with no idea when one will be available. So I am without the car which is inoperable until repairs are completed. It seems that if this problem so large that no parts are available nor can it be determined when they will be available there must be a significant problem you should be aware of. …
HID lights have gone out completely without notice or warning. Only the lower lights are operational. Regular lights are out and high beam lights are out. This is a safety concern and the car malfunctioned without warning. This appears to be a common problem with the new model. I have a 2005 and have only had to replace one light one time and have nearly 200K miles. The service center stated they've never replaced the HID lights on a Corvette since employed with the company and thought since both went out at the same time there May be other issues. Online research demonstrates this is not an isolated incident. The car provided no warnings that the lights were going to go out or that they were out.
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 own a 2012 Corvette grandsport purchased new. Car has 12,635 miles in it. I was driving into town last night and head lights just shut off leaving me in complete darkness. I was coming into tuscaloosa and managed was fortunate to have enough area lighting to safely come to a stop and pull into a parking lot. I tried what I knew to try but lights would not come back on. I was able to hold the turn signal switch in the flash position to get high beams to work. I turned around and headed back home continuing to hold turn signal switch in flash position. Unfortunately, I was blinding the oncoming traffic. I can't imagine what might've happened if I had been on a country road with no lightning. I've been reading about recall issues on earlier models of the c6 I've also read this could be a faulty relay problem. My car has low miles and less than 25% of those miles were night driving. …
My 09 Corvette base model lt1's tail lights went out after I removed and reinstalled the fuse block. I checked all fuses and relays and they show to be good. Brake lights work as should as well as turn signals but all five tail lights will not illuminate when turn on. Upon further research this shows to becoming a more common problem among early c6 model corvettes. Tailights will randomly go out and process to be a tail light harness issue. I have talked to a local dealership and they show to not have any problems of safety recalls on file for the issue. I feel this is a safety issue for the drivers and fellow drivers on the road. The dealership also does not know the issue or solution to the issue. I want to at least note that this is an issue that needs to addressed for safety concerns and looked into for possible solutions to the issue.
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated upon purchasing the vehicle and driving at 25 MPH, the headlights flickered on and off. The contact was able to continue to drive. The contact later received an unknown recall notification from the manufacturer regarding the headlight failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who completed the recall repair; however, the failure reoccurred several times while driving. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 1.
I took car to local Chevrolet dealer to have headlight flashing problem corrected. They gave me back the car saying it was fixed. Problem is still there and now they want regular shop rate to repair the recal problem. Problem is a broken wire in the fuse box in engine compartment. This causes the low beam headlights to flicker on and off wfter engine compartment heats up. Car is unsafe to drive at night.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that the headlights suddenly shut off without warning. In order to turn the headlights back on, the contact had to cap the fuse box. The dealer stated that the wiring shortage was under the fuse box and the vehicle needed to be rewired in order to prevent the shortage. Also, the fuse box needed to be replaced. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle had already received a recall repair regarding the headlights. The contact stated that the failure recurred even after receiving the repair. The recall details were unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 109,000.
Related recalls (2)
Exterior lighting › Turn signal
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X Coupe, Corvette ZR1X Convertible, Corvette Coupe E-Ray, Corvette Convertible E-Ray, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Coupe, 2025 Corvette E-Ray Coupe, Corvette E-Ray Convertible, Corvette Convertible, and Corvette Coupe vehicles.
Remedy: The lighting control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters are scheduled to be mailed May 18, 2026.
Exterior lighting › Headlights
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Corvette vehicles manufactured March 29, 2004, through June 22, 2007. In the affected vehicles, the underhood bussed electrical center (UBEC) housing can expand and cause the headlamp low beam relay control circuit wire to bend.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a jumper wire to correct this condition, free of charge. The recall began January 2, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
NHTSA investigations
Loss of Low Beam Headlights
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 30 reports from consumers alleging that, after driving for a short time (5 to 30 minutes), both low beam headlights stopped working simultaneously and without warning.
Simultaneous Loss of Low-Beam Headlights
On May 14, 2014, General Motors (GM) submitted a Part 573 defect information report initiating NHTSA Safety Recall 14V-251 to remedy the subject vehicles.GM will remedy a defect condition in the underhood bussed electrical center (UBEC) by modifying the vehicle's electrical harnessing.GM also announced a customer satisfaction bulletin to address this issue on model year (MY) 2008-2013 Chevrolet Corvettes.Both…
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Corvette years have headlight problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2005 (87), 2006 (62), 2008 (46), 2007 (38) and 2000 (17) model years. Headlight complaints make up 16% of all complaints for the 2005.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Corvette headlight problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 26V-213 (turn signal, Apr 2, 2026); 14V-251 (headlights, May 14, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Corvette headlight problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 75,000 miles; 24% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the headlights (25 mentions), followed by the turn signal (7).
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.