Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 56 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette, and it carries 1 recall. 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 | 26 | 46% |
| Air bags | 9 | 16% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 5% |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 5% |
| Steering | 1 | 2% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 2% |
| Power train | 1 | 2% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 1 | 2% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 2% |
| Steering | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I am reporting a safety issue involving the Active Handling/Stability Control system on my 2012 Chevrolet Corvette. After a routine oil change at Grossman Chevrolet in [XXX] on XXX, the “Service Active Handling System” w
NHTSA complaint: Steering
90 degree elbow on top of fuel hat on drivers side fuel tank cracked and had a bad fuel leak causing an immediate fire hazard in my garage with how combustible fuel is. There were no warning signs just walked into my gar
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
Fuel leak(s) involving filler neck, fuel pump, fuel tank or associated parts in the fuel delivery system at rear of car. Gasoline smells is very strong, when the tank is filled (not overfilling the tank) gasoline puddles
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
I purchased a 2012 Corvette from Coast Chevrolet on 1-24-26. This car was supposed to have been inspected for safety issues prior to being listed for sale. Being that this is a reputable General Motors dealership I assum
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
Recently purchase used car. Very strong a gas smell/fumes in garage whenever fuel is pumped more than 1/2 tank. Concerned over fire or explosion hazard.
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
Smelling gas fumes when parked. There were no other indicators of an issue. I took car to dealership, turns out there is a flaw with the fuel system, causing a leak at the top of the tank. Fuel was leaking through a
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
Fuel smell coming from gas cap area replaced the gas cap twice. Continue to have strong fuel smells in garage where car is kept. Started about one month ago.
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
Strong gas smell after filling gas tank. This is a known issue on these cars and although it can develop at any time they only warranty the problem for 10 years. This creates a fire hazard. The attached service bulletin
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 CHEVROLET CORVETTE COUPE VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 24, 2011, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1, 2011, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER 206, "DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS".
Risk: THE REAR HATCH COULD SEPARATE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Fix: GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH REAR HATCH HINGES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 14, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.
| Reliability raw | 82 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 66 | good |
| Depreciation | 98 | excellent |
| Performance | 76 | good |
| Efficiency | 35 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other sports & two-seaters in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 56 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and fuel/propulsion system is the most reported area with 26 of them (46%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 82/100 (excellent) 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 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2012 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 75/100. 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.