2007 Chevrolet Corvette Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe a strong gasoline odor around the rear of the car, most noticeable after filling the tank and when the car is parked in a garage; many mention a dealer diagnosis of a leak at the left fuel tank or pump area, and several say a special coverage expired before repairs were made. A second theme is difficulty moving the automatic shifter out of Park, and a third is the "Service Active Handling" message with brake or steering symptoms. Complaints span low to high mileage, with the fuel-odor reports appearing from a few thousand miles into six figures.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Gasoline odor and fuel leak at the rear tank

   • 114 complaints (33%)
   • median 54,925 mi at 10.9 yrs old (76 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,100 (median of 12 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2026

   Owners describe a strong gasoline smell inside and outside the car, usually after refueling or when the tank is more than half full, and most noticeable when the car sits in a garage. Some report visible fuel pooling on top of the tank or dripping near the left rear tire, and dealer inspections have identified leaks at the left fuel tank, filler neck, sending unit or pump seals. Several owners say a special coverage program expired before the repair and that the work was quoted as an out-of-pocket expense. Reported from roughly 2,000 to 150,000 miles, often after fill-ups and while the vehicle is parked.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for service records showing whether the fuel tank, pump and crossover pipe work was done, and check for a fuel smell around the left rear wheel and under the car after a fill-up. Park it overnight in a well-ventilated spot before committing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Service b. : 15682 gas smell; dealer telling me requires left fuel pump and crossover pipe and they will not pay for. This should be a recall as its very dangerous. I never got anything from chevy regarding this issue. Have had smell issues for years. Have barely driven in 2.5 years because of issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11326795, filed 2020-06, 90,000 miles

   “Recently, 03/01/2021, filling gas tank to over 1/2 full on my parked 2007 c6 Corvette, with 30,360 miles, parked vehicle caused strong interior gas odor. On further investigation and communication with GM, I was informed fuel pump was a known issue. The fuel pump was then redesigned to solve this issue; however, replacement of faulty fuel pump was only given a warranty extension instead of recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11404768, filed 2021-03, 30,360 miles
2. 2
   Electronic stability control

   Service Active Handling message with brake or steering

   • 31 complaints (9%)
   • median 41,759 mi at 6.7 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • filed 2009–2020

   Owners report a "Service Active Handling System" warning on the driver information display, sometimes with a chime, appearing without warning. Some describe the brakes pulsing or applying on their own, brake lights staying on, or a brief pull or loss of steering feel, and several say the steering wheel position sensor, brake switch or control module was replaced more than once without a lasting fix. Others note the system's control module is no longer available new. Reported from roughly 30,000 to 150,000 miles, sometimes recurring over several years of ownership.

   What to check: Scan for stored codes such as those tied to the steering wheel position sensor or ABS module before purchase, and ask whether the module has ever been rebuilt or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2007 Corvette 41,000 miles. Service active handling systems keeps coming on.. On the dic. When this happens the brake lights get stuck in the on position I have almost been rear ended twice because of this. I have had the swps and brake switch replaced twice. I have had the brake switch recalibrated and I have installed the orange comb GM used on the sw wiring harness. Still not fixed . Updated 03/03/11”

   NHTSA complaint #10384067, filed 2011-02, 36,000 miles

   “Service active handling system error appears on the dash and a bell sounds for no apparent reason. This has happened over 6 times in the 4 years that we have owned this 2007 Corvette starting in sept 08. We have taken it in 6 times to be fixed. They say the computer shows code c0710 and they replaced the steering wheel position e7690 sensor five times. The last time this happened, the steering wheel jerked from side to side and scared the crap out of my wife. Fortunately she was driving at a low speed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10389888, filed 2011-03, 33,343 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Automatic shifter stuck in Park or won't release

   • 46 complaints (13%)
   • median 35,015 mi at 9.6 yrs old (38 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2010–2023

   Owners of automatic cars describe the shifter refusing to move out of Park, sometimes releasing only after working it back and forth several times, and in some cases being locked out of Reverse and Park entirely. One owner reported the car could not be shut off and had to have the battery disconnected. Dealers have diagnosed a faulty shifter or shift control assembly and replaced it, in at least one case at the owner's expense. Reported from about 1,600 miles up to roughly 45,000 miles, typically at startup with the brake applied.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: With the engine running and the brake pressed, cycle the shifter through every position several times and confirm it releases from Park smoothly. Ask whether the shifter assembly has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I start the engine with my foot on the brake the shifter is stuck in park, I turn the engine off tried starting after 5 minutes same thing unable to get it out of park.”

   NHTSA complaint #10593375, filed 2014-05, 23,526 miles

   “Arrived home after a short drive, automatic shifter button would not depress so I was locked out of reverse and park, only have neutral and drive. Also was unable to turn car off, had to remove negative battery cable to keep from draining battery. With battery reconnected the accessories are still on and can't be turned off unless negative is removed. Also the car will not start in neutral.”

   NHTSA complaint #10895786, filed 2016-08, 38,000 miles
4. 4
   Exterior lighting

   Roof panel popping or separating on removable-top cars

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners of cars with the removable roof describe snapping or popping noises over bumps and at speed, wind noise, poor panel fit and water leaking into the cabin. Some report the panel partially or fully separating while driving, and a number say the roof recall did not cover their vehicle identification number, so no repair was made. Others report similar creaking and popping from the sunroof. Reported from roughly 8,000 to 22,000 miles, generally on removable-roof cars.

   Recall 09V491000

   What to check: On a removable-roof car, listen for snapping over bumps and check panel alignment and the adhesive joint at the frame; ask whether recall 09V491000 was performed for that vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Popping noises coming from roof panel at low rate of speed as well as fast rate. Recall # 090230 found via internet. Dealership as well as GM both notified. They both stated that this VIN # was not included in the recall. Recall states 2005-2007 Corvette roof panel recall. Apparently other VIN #'s should be included in this recall to avoid possible injury or fatalities from roof panels that fly off.”

   NHTSA complaint #10435274, filed 2011-11, 22,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Corvette. He stated while driving at speeds of 40 MPH the roof panel separated from the vehicle. The dealer was contacted and although recall number 09v491000, structure:body:roof and pillars was directly related to the failure, his VIN was not included. No repairs were made to the vehicle. The failure mileage was 15,000 and the current mileage was 19,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10298740, filed 2010-01, 15,000 miles

Buying note. Check for fuel odor and leaks at the rear tank first, since that theme dominates owner complaints, and confirm whether the fuel-system special coverage or any open recall was completed. Then verify the shifter releases from Park and that no active-handling warning appears on a test drive.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.