2021 Chevrolet Corvette Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Best The 2021 Chevrolet Corvette has a complaint index of 0, the lowest of any year covered, and ranks Best among 21 model years. It has 12 complaints and 2 recalls, with Transmission & Powertrain issues making up 58% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 0/100
- #21 of 21 Corvette years
- Verdict
- Best
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 12
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Top issue
- Transmission & Powertrain
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 15 city / 27 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
Top 2021 Chevy Corvette problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain7 (58%)
- Electrical System4 (33%)
- Airbags1 (8%)
- Brakes1 (8%)
- Other1 (8%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (8%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Transmission can lurch, buck, or refuse to shift out of certain gears after warning lights and error messages appear.
- Some owners report the transmission stopped driving altogether at low mileage, requiring towing to a dealer.
- A rear axle or half-shaft warning can appear along with a check engine light and repeated service visits.
- Electrical faults include vehicles that won't start after an over-the-air software update despite showing a charged battery.
- The rear vision camera can go black intermittently when the car is put in reverse.
- Door lock switches have gotten stuck, locking occupants inside until the switch is replaced.
2021 Chevrolet Corvette recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 22V091000Feb 17, 2022Transmission & Powertrain22 vehicles
Power train:driveline:driveshaft
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Chevrolet Corvette vehicles. The rear half-shaft assemblies may be missing one or more ball bearings, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Risk: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left or right rear half-shaft assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 4, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212351320.
- NHTSA 21V421000Jun 10, 2021Airbags285,622 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Air bags:SRS malfunction warning lamp/light
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Buick Envision, Cadillac CT4, CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Corvette, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles. The communications gateway module incorrectly processes a loss of communication with the sensing diagnostic module (SDM), causing the air bag malfunction indicator light to inconsistently illuminate.
Risk: The air bag malfunction indicator light may fail to warn the driver of a problem with the air bag, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: The communications gateway module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 1, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212338110.
2021 Chevrolet Corvette fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 15 MPG
- Highway
- 27 MPG
- Combined
- 19 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,200
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2021 compared with other Corvette years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette reliable?
- NHTSA data shows the 2021 Corvette has a complaint index of 0, the best of any year in the lineup, with only 12 complaints and 2 recalls reported.
- What problems does the 2021 Corvette have?
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints make up 58% of all reports, including transmission shudder, loss of drive power, and error messages. Electrical system issues, including no-start conditions and backup camera failures, account for 33%.
- Does the 2021 Corvette have any recalls?
- Yes, two recalls: one for rear half-shaft assemblies missing ball bearings that can cause loss of drive power, and one for a communications gateway module software update shared with several GM models.
- How does the 2021 Corvette compare to other model years?
- The 2021 Corvette ranks 21st out of 21 years in complaint volume in a good way, meaning it has the fewest reported issues relative to its complaint index and carries a Best verdict, unlike Avoid years such as 2005, 2008, and 2017.
- What year Corvette should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA data, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2017, and 2019 are rated Avoid due to higher complaint indexes, while 2021 is rated Best.