Owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the transmission and electrical. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2021Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2021 Chevrolet Corvette: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Engine off, key in hand0/2
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/4
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2021's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2021 checks
Worth adding to your 2021 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 6.2L 8-cyl | RWD | 19 mpg |
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Transmission shifting and warning lights
450–3,000 miles
NHTSA complaints for the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
The dual-clutch transmission fails early, often within the first few thousand miles. Cars lurch, buck, surge, or lunge when shifted from park to reverse. They also drop into limited gears or refuse to shift, with check engine and transmission warning lights. Dealers replace valve bodies, filters, gaskets, and fluid, and at least one owner says GM blamed assembly debris inside the transmission. Repeat failures after repair are common, and some cars spend over a month at the dealer. Other reports describe fluid under the rear, a loose rear axle nut causing noise, and a no-start after a software update.
Electric door release buttons stick, which can leave occupants unable to open the door from inside. A replacement switch does not always fix it. The rear camera sometimes shows a black screen with red icons in reverse, leaving no full view behind the car while backing up. One report notes the dash gives no warning of a failing alternator, so a charging fault can look like a dead battery. With only 3 complaints on file, no mileage pattern is visible.
Excerpts from complaints Corvette owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Noise from the rear of the vehicle. Took vehicle in to dealership. The determined that it was a left side loose axle nut. This is clearly a safety issue. It may not have been torqued properly at the factory. The vehicle is a 2021 with only 5500 miles. They did the repair/tightened the axle nut and the noise is gone.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2025
From mile 450 (approx.) forward,my CEL came on more than 5x. along with rear axel alert. In for service numerous times. Cleared codes, flushed solenoid. Replaced transmission/leaks. Actual service invoices are available.
Filed with NHTSA, November 2021
Electrical door button is getting stuck and the door is locked from the inside. The switch has been replaced by authorized dealer once already. (July 19 2023) 4,783 miles on the vehicle at the time of first issue. From checking other forums, this is a common problem for this year vehicle.
Filed with NHTSA, April 2024
intermittent black screen from the Rear Vision Camera (RVC) on the infotainment screen with red icons when put in reverse the backup camera may fail with a black screen there is no full mirror coverage to the rear of the car while backing up.
Filed with NHTSA, September 2025
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2021 has the fewest owner complaints of the 6 Corvette years we cover, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2021 is the second model year of the Corvette's eighth generation (2020–2023).
Chevrolet updated the Corvette for 2023, so a 2021 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2023 (not on a 2021)
Recall repairs are free at any Chevrolet dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
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.
Fix: 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.
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.
Fix: 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.
Cars shoppers compare with the Chevrolet Corvette, with their own 2021 checklists.
2021 owner complaints, side by side
