2015 Chevrolet Corvette Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2015 Corvette most often describe two things: an 8-speed automatic transmission that shudders, bangs or hesitates, and cracks in the factory rear wheels that let air out. Both tend to show up at low mileage — many complaints are filed well under 20,000 miles — and several owners say the dealer flushed transmission fluid or declined to replace wheels at no cost. A smaller group reports fuel smells around the filler area and windshield cracks that start on the inside layer of the glass.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   8-speed automatic shudder, hard shifts and delay

   • 19 complaints (29%)
   • median 10,440 mi at 2.8 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • filed 2015–2025

   Complaints describe a shudder or vibration from the 8L90 automatic while cruising at steady highway speeds, often compared to driving over rumble strips. Others report violent 2-1 downshifts when slowing to a stop, delayed or banging engagement after a cold start from reverse into drive, and a lag of a second or more when accelerating out of a downshift. According to the complaints, dealers flushed and refilled the transmission fluid, updated software, or in some cases rebuilt or replaced the transmission, and several owners say the symptom returned afterward or that the dealer called the behavior normal. Mostly reported between a few hundred and about 20,000 miles, with shudder often showing up at steady 40-70 mph cruising and hard shifts when the transmission is cold.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the car long enough to hold a steady 50-70 mph cruise and to make several slow stops, feeling for shudder or a hard 2-1 downshift. Ask for service records showing whether a transmission fluid flush or software update was already done, and when.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Slow down shift. When you hit the accelerator while the car is down shifting, there is a 2 second delay. I came off express way and turned on to road then hit the gas to merge into a lane when there was a 2 second delay. Very dangerous. How do I fix problem? Why is Chevrolet not fixing problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #11387722, filed 2021-01, 2,000 miles

   “The a8 automatic transmission in the 2015 Corvette is prone to occasional hard downshifts from 2nd to 1st gear when driving at slow speeds (less than 10 MPH). Sometimes the downshifts are so violent that the car jerks forward several feet. The first time it happened I thought I had been rear ended by another car. The unpredictable behavior of the transmission is especially dangerous in proximity to pedestrians or other vehicles.”

   NHTSA complaint #10894014, filed 2016-08, 9,300 miles
2. 2
   Wheels

   Cracked factory rear wheels and slow air loss

   • 10 complaints (15%)
   • median 22,500 mi at 4.0 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2017–2024

   Complaints describe cracks appearing on the inside of the factory rear rims, often found during a tire change or after a low tire pressure warning, with some owners reporting three wheels cracked over time. Owners say the wheels were not bent and that the cracks started at the outer edge of the rim and worked inward, allowing air to leak past the tire bead. According to the complaints, dealers verified the cracks but declined to cover replacement, sometimes attributing them to road conditions, and owners paid for new wheels or had them welded. Usually reported between roughly 11,000 and 40,000 miles, on cars described as driven on normal city streets and highways.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the wheels inspected off the car with the tires dismounted if possible, looking for hairline cracks on the inner rim and bead area, and check tire pressures over a few days for slow leaks.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When I took the car into a discount tire store to have new tires put on the back at about 15,600 miles on the car cracks were found on the inside rim where tire bead seals of both back wheels. Problem was immediately reported to dealer who verified cracks, but dealer and GM refused to replace unless I purchase new wheels for discounted price of $1,100.00 for rear wheels only. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11131647, filed 2018-09, 15,600 miles

   “A small crack developed on the inside rim of one of my rear wheels as I was driving on city streets and an interstate highway. I noticed the problem when low tire pressure came up on my screen. . I was 500 miles from home when I noticed that the tire was leaking. I went to a local tire dealer. He discovered the crack and said that it would take about 5 days to get a replacement. I needed to get home so he put some sticky tire goo on the outside of the crack and inflated the tire to 50 PSI. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11413833, filed 2021-04, 14,000 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell around the filler area

   • 5 complaints (8%)
   • median 7,180 mi at 1.8 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2016–2025

   Owners describe a strong fuel odor coming from the rear of the car, strongest near the driver's side rear tire or the fuel filler pipe, and most noticeable when the car sits in a closed garage overnight. Some say there are no warning lights and the dealer could not resolve it after repeated visits. Separate complaints describe the fuel gauge sending unit failing, so the gauge reads higher than the actual fuel level and the engine stalls or the car runs out of fuel. Reported from around a few thousand miles into older, higher-mileage examples, typically noticed while parked rather than while driving.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: After the car has sat in a garage, smell around the rear wheel and filler neck for raw fuel, and compare the gauge reading against a fill-up to confirm the sending unit works.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I ran out of gas on the interstate during rush with a tractor trailer behind me? How I got to the shoulder was a miracle!! Then I noticed the engine warning light came on, the gas gauge stopped working? The road warrior came and gave me some gas. I took it my dealer right away. They gave me a loaner. After a few days I called for an update? The service deptartment told me it was the fuel sender unit that went bad. And that part is on national back order?? I don't know what that meant? So I call GM's customer relations and speak to a gloria. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10906441, filed 2016-09, 7,180 miles

   “A strong fuel odor is coming from the fuel filler pipe. The fuel odor fills the garage when the car has been sitting in there overnight, and completely turned off. The authorized Chevrolet dealer service department has tried to fix it twice, but has not been successful. Vehicle is stationary.”

   NHTSA complaint #10910962, filed 2016-10, 8,800 miles
4. 4
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield cracks starting on the inside layer

   • 5 complaints (8%)
   • median 19,500 mi at 6.1 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2018–2022

   Complaints describe cracks that begin at the upper corner or top edge of the windshield with no sign of a stone impact, sometimes while the car is parked in a garage. Owners report the crack runs on the inner layer of the laminated glass and grows over time, and some note delamination in the same area. According to the complaints, dealers replaced the glass under warranty in some cases and declined in others as the car aged out of coverage. Mostly reported between about 7,000 and 27,000 miles, including cars that had been sitting or driven little.

   What to check: Inspect the top edge and corners of the windshield in good light for a crack line on the inner glass with no impact point, and ask whether the windshield has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Windshield mounting stress crack. While inside my garage today, I found a large 25 inch long crack in the upper drivers side corner of my 2015 Corvette. Upon inspection the crack is on the inside layer of the 2 layer glass. Nothing fell on the car and I haven't driven it for 6 months. Being friends with other Corvette owners, I spoke with them and was sent to the 'corvetteforum ' online. I was surprised to find this is an ongoing issue with this model of car. While some owners are covered for replacement by GM dealerships under warranty. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11397246, filed 2021-02, 27,000 miles

   “Windshield is delaminating. Delamination has caused a stress crack to develop. There is no evidence of a stone or other projectile impacting the windshield. These conditions have been verified by the Chevrolet dealer where the car was purchased after inspection by the service lane manager and the service director. Condition noticed when washing the car.”

   NHTSA complaint #11130191, filed 2018-09, 7,440 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Instrument display and backup camera going blank

   • 5 complaints (8%)
   • median 1,500 mi at 1.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2015–2023

   Owners report the center infotainment screen and the driver instrument cluster flickering, dimming or going completely dark, sometimes taking the backup camera, radio and speedometer display with them. Complaints describe the center screen retracting and the cabling behind it wearing out over time, and say the problem starts intermittently before becoming permanent. Some state that the affected cable or screen part is no longer available. Reported from as little as 1,500 miles up to higher-mileage cars, with no clear weather or driving pattern.

   What to check: With the car running, exercise the retractable screen through a few cycles and check that camera, radio and gauge displays stay lit; ask whether the screen or cabling has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The entire dash went dark, there was no display of the odometer, symbols for system IE lights, oil pressure, tachometer, and no display on the screen where the radio or navigation selections are made. This began upon car being started. Turning off engine and restarting did not resolve. Car was drivable but not safely as speed could not be monitored.”

   NHTSA complaint #11479010, filed 2022-08

   “Chevy C7 corvettes have an issue with the center screen that project he backup camera. Due to the screen retracts, the cabling wears out and causes the camera to flicker or go blank. It seems the part to repair has been discontinued. This represents a safety hazard for all C7 corvettes since the part is label discontinued and the camera is much needed to back to car up safely without causing injury or property damage.”

   NHTSA complaint #11494719, filed 2022-11

Buying note. A 2015 Corvette is worth having inspected for transmission shudder and inner-rim wheel cracks before purchase, since both are widely reported and come up at low mileage. Service records showing transmission fluid service and a close look at the wheels and windshield will tell you more than the odometer alone.

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.