Driving Instructor Sends Letter to GM CEO After C8 Explodes On Track
Corvette Forum member also has a C8 Z06 that has spent weeks on end for repeated failures after break-in.
Chevy’s C8 Corvette has proven itself time and time again as a mid-engine monster on the track, but when it comes to one owner, the specter of mechanical failure just won’t go away.
In an open letter to GM’s CEO Mary Barra on our sister site Corvette Forum (which he apparently sent as USPS Certified Mail), “C8gofast,” a driving instructor at Road Atlanta, details a horrifying incident where his 2021 C8 threw a rod while on track at only 4,000 miles.
According to him, the blown rod perforated the gas tank, with the car subsequently burning to a crisp as a result. Without specific details, its hard to say what directly caused this.
But given his background as a driving instructor, we assume he topped off all his fluids and performed other maintenance as-needed.
C8 Z06 Woes
Remarkably, he quickly pivots from this bizarre and seemingly near-fatal incident to further divulge his real reason for the letter–he needs help with his 2023 C8 Z06 (which he actually purchased to replace his totaled C8) that has spent weeks-on-end at the dealership for transmission failure.
“The Z06 has been at the dealership for the past 10 of 12 weeks,” he said. “After the 1500-mile break in, the transmission failed the first day at Road Atlanta in May, where I am a driving instructor.”
After spending a few weeks at a GM dealership, he decided to trailer the car back to Road Atlanta once the repairs wrapped up. Frustratingly, the Tremec TR-9080 in his Z06 failed again after only one lap.
Persistent C8 Issues
Even more bizarre, he went to go pick up the car after a follow-up repair, and it apparently failed on the spot.
“Car was returned to the dealership where it sat for three more weeks while they replaced the wiring harness to the fluid pressure sensor,” he said. “I went to pick up the car July 14th and I did not make it out of their parking lot before the transmission failed again…the Z06 is still at the dealership.”
He goes on to mention that he’s coveted Corvettes since he was 10, and has owned nine of them throughout his life. “This is not what one would expect when purchasing such a car,” said C8gofast.
Remarkably, his letter is neither an overt condemnation of the the car or GM, nor is it inflammatory in any way. In fact, he has no interest in getting attorneys involved, despite experiencing a legitimately life-threatening incident. However, he minces no words with the General about his Z06 being a lemon, and has offered to “donate” his car to the engineering team for study. In exchange, he feels a replacement is order, with dibs on the first available models with the Z07 package.
“I believe this is a reasonable resolution,” he said.
GM’s Response
C8gofast eventually got a reply from GM. Unfortunately, it was as droll as you can imagine.
“Got a call today from GM after they saw the email. Basically, they offered nothing other than adding 40k miles to the power train warranty (components only) not labor. The time frame is not extended. So, its a worthless offer.
I am not going to drive the ZO6 60,000 miles in 5 years, much less 100,000 in 5 years .No extended warranty, no compensation, no nothing .
If the car breaks down on the track next weekend, I’ll turn everything over to an attorney.”
Even More Problems
While this is understandably an underwhelming offer for what are most certainly factory issues, the real issue is that C8gofast will likely have to send his Z06 in for another round of lengthy repairs anyway, as he elaborates further:
“I picked up the car this past Thursday and will be trailering it to Barber’s August 19/20. If the transmission fails again, that will make five times. GM has not replaced the transmission. If it fails again I will pursue legal action. GM said they would call me on the 21st to see how the car did. During the 1500 mile break in period, there were no issues. The car drove fine on the street, but the stresses on the track are much greater and that’s where the problems show up, other than after the second repair I did not make it out of the parking lot of the dealership before “service rear axle “. Popped up on the display. The last failure on the track after one lap was both a display icon( service rear axle was displayed) and I could feel the back end of the car very twitchy . The differential was slipping. I immediately came into the pits and put the car on the trailer. The Service Manager at Terry Thompson Chevrolet in Daphne Alabama was great. But, their hands are tied. They have to wait for GM to tell them what to do and there were many days wasted on waiting for them to reply.”
Still, we simply have to wonder if maybe, just maybe, this all could have been avoided with a transmission swap–especially since it is proving over and over again to be the crux of the issue. Along with axle and differential issues, no compensation, and endless dealer trips, we wouldn’t be surprised if he may have to go the legal route to rectify this situation.
This is a developing story…
Photos: Corvette Forum; Chevrolet
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