2016 Chevrolet Corvette: Problems & Reliability
SOLID2016 Chevrolet Corvette: SOLID — 105 owner complaints, a typical complaint rate for ~10 years on the road; top issue: wheels (59 complaints).
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2016 is 1.20, where 1.00 is a typical Corvette year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road, between the best line (0.75) and caution (1.25). 36% of its complaints are severe — a crash, fire, injury or a safety-critical system. The raw count looks high, but the 2016 has had about 10 years on the road to collect complaints; per year on the road it is in line with or better than the rest of the Corvette.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2014–2025 compared · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
105
NHTSA complaints
1.20
Verdict score (1.00 = typical Corvette year)
1,458
Service bulletins
2
Recall campaigns
Most-reported 2016 Chevrolet Corvette problems
Wheels dominates the record — 56% of complaints name it.
| Component | Complaints | Share of 2016 complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Wheels | 59 | 56% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 14 | 13% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 13 | 12% |
| Electrical system | 6 | 6% |
| Engine | 6 | 6% |
A complaint can name more than one component, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2016 Chevrolet Corvette recalls
2 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2016, reported between Sep 8, 2016 and Jul 10, 2017.
2016 Chevrolet Corvette service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 1,458 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2016 — more than the 853 of the median Corvette year from 2014 to 2025. Coded bulletins most often cover electrical system (266), powertrain / transmission (200), engine & cooling (195). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2016 vs. the year before and after
From the 2015 to the 2016, owner complaints rose 62% (65 → 105) — a step backward. The 2017 that followed jumped 2.4× (105 → 257), so the 2016 is the cleaner of the two by count.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Corvette | CAUTION | 65 | 1,819 | 5 | — |
| 2016 (this page) | SOLID | 105 | 1,458 | 2 | — |
| 2017 Corvette | AVOID | 257 | 1,267 | 4 | — |
Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Chevrolet Corvette years to avoid.
What to check on a used 2016 Chevrolet Corvette
Wheels (59 complaints on the 2016): check for bent rims and feel for vibration at highway speed.
Fuel / propulsion system (14 complaints on the 2016): smell for fuel around the car, watch for hesitation or stalling, and check for a lit check-engine light.
Powertrain / transmission (13 complaints on the 2016): test-drive from cold through every gear and feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder; ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced.
Electrical system (6 complaints on the 2016): test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system, and have the car scanned for stored fault codes.
Engine (6 complaints on the 2016): cold-start it yourself and listen for ticking or knocking; check for oil leaks, low coolant and a lit check-engine light, and ask for oil-change records.
Recalls: confirm all 2 campaigns above were completed on this VIN.
Nearby Corvette years with a better rating: 2018.
Know what to pay for the right 2016 Chevrolet Corvette — then negotiate it
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FAQ
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Corvette reliable?
2016 Chevrolet Corvette: SOLID — 105 owner complaints, a typical complaint rate for ~10 years on the road; top issue: wheels (59 complaints). CarWhere's verdict score for the 2016 is 1.20, where 1.00 is a typical Corvette year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road, between the best line (0.75) and caution (1.25).
What are the most common 2016 Chevrolet Corvette problems?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported areas on the 2016 Chevrolet Corvette are wheels (59, 56%), fuel / propulsion system (14, 13%), powertrain / transmission (13, 12%). The manufacturer has 1,458 service bulletins on file for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Corvette have?
2 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2016 Chevrolet Corvette, most recently 17V437000 (Jul 10, 2017, air bags); 16V651000 (Sep 8, 2016, air bags). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2016 Chevrolet Corvette before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & method
Complaint, recall and service-bulletin counts for the 2016 Chevrolet Corvette come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; the verdict is CarWhere’s severity-weighted, time-on-road-adjusted score compared with the model’s own median year. Complaints are owner allegations, not verified defects. Full methodology.