Recently, several Chevrolet Corvettes have caught fire unexpectedly, prompting General Motors to remind owners about a recall for over 23,000 sportscars. This issue relates to refueling defects that might cause spilled fuel to ignite.
The recall impacts certain models of the Corvette Z06 and ZR1 from the years 2023 to 2026, many of which have price tags exceeding $100,000.
The vehicles involved contain a left-sided radiator and cooling fan situated beneath the fill area. This design can potentially blow leaked gasoline onto hot components, leading to fires, as noted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
GM has documented at least four fire incidents linked to this issue.
Investigators indicated that fueling station pumps may have inadvertently contributed to some of these occurrences.
One notable incident caught public attention in June when a car was reported to have been engulfed in flames almost instantly, as detailed by the Wall Street Journal.
A Corvette enthusiast, Connor, posed a question in a Facebook group about whether anyone else had experienced similar issues. He described the car exploding while fueling, mentioning he had a theory but was eager to hear others’ perspectives.
Social media highlighted another instance where a Corvette erupted at a fuel pump, along with reports of multiple fires within a month. Soon after, GM acknowledged that one of their test Corvettes also caught fire.
After an extensive investigation, GM identified a pattern that warranted concern, marking the end of several months of scrutiny. Last month, they initiated recalls due to significant safety risks, noting that in some cases, cooling fans may continue running after the vehicle is turned off, potentially blowing gasoline into areas that can ignite.
According to GM, “Customer safety is a top priority for the entire GM team and we are working to improve this issue as quickly as possible.”
The company has also taken action regarding cars still at dealerships, implementing measures like a protective shield to deflect any spilled gasoline away from ignition sources.
This recall includes the Z06 models from 2023 to 2025 and the ZR1 from 2025 to 2026, affecting approximately 25,000 vehicles globally, though regulators estimate only around 10% of these may be defective.
