Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 152 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette, and it carries no recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion system | 77 | 51% |
| Engine | 19 | 13% |
| Air bags | 12 | 8% |
| Exterior lighting | 6 | 4% |
| Unknown or other | 4 | 3% |
| Power train | 4 | 3% |
| Structure | 4 | 3% |
| Engine | 2 | 1% |
| Steering | 2 | 1% |
| Fuel system | 2 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
When the gas tanks are more than 1/2 full the inside of the car fills with gas fumes the only way to prevent is to keep the Tanks less than half full…… worried the fumes will ignite under the right conditions…….. suppose
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
Approximately 2 months ago I noticed a faint gasoline odor when I entered our garage. I thought that it might be due to a recent re-call on my Honda Gold Wing which involved the fuel system. The motorcycle was repaire
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
Air bag display is on and apparently there is a leak in the accelerant on the passenger side of the car.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
Unknown. Gasoline fumes when parked with over a half tank of fuel. Fills my garage with the smell..purchased this in 2022 and I was unaware of this problem until I put it in my garage after filling the tank completely.
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
Fuel leak issue. I have a fuel leak coming from a faulty fuel pump on the driver'side. Very dangerous. Leaking down on side of tank. Could possibly leak down onto exhaust.GM said there was nothing they could do. I have t
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
fuel leak on driver side tank elbow on gas pump is cracked. Low beam headlights do not work, high beams are ok.
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
warning light came on checked code p0442 came up stating a small vapor leak in fuel system. replaced fuel cap , smoke test and found that the evap vent solenoid was leaking. Remove and replace fuel tank vent valve progra
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
Strong fuel smell from defective part on fuel assembly. I was told this is a $4000 fix for a part that was knowingly bad and GM did nothing about it. This is a fire hazard and could burn my house down the gas smell in my
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
| Reliability raw | 76 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 75 | good |
| Maintenance | 66 | good |
| Depreciation | 98 | excellent |
| Performance | 76 | good |
| Efficiency | 32 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other sports & two-seaters in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 152 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and fuel/propulsion system is the most reported area with 77 of them (51%). No recalls are on record for it.
AVOIR scores its reliability 76/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 75/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2009 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 73/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.