Reliable Auto DB

2012 Chevrolet Corvette reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 56 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette over 15 years — 3 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Corvette years here — under the median of the other years, which is 7. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Hinge.

2012 Chevrolet Corvette
Photo by Lothar Spurzem, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 2.0 de
Complaints

56

Per year

3

Recalls

1

Years on the road

15

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Fuel and propulsion system (28 of 56), then Air bags (10) and Electrical system (6). Those filings include 2 that report a crash.

Next to 2013

The 2013 Corvette has 82 complaints, 5 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 Chevrolet Corvette. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall structure, body, liftgate, hinge 2011-10-03 · NHTSA campaign 11V491000
Summary 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". THE REAR HATCH HINGES MAY NOT MEET THE LOAD REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN THE SAFETY STANDARD.
Remedy 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.

Complaints by component (56 total)

Fuel and propulsion system
28
Air bags
10
Electrical system
6
Electronic stability control (ESC)
5
Service brakes
4
Exterior lighting
3
Seat belts
3
Powertrain
2
Steering
2
Suspension
2
Engine
1
Fuel system, gasoline
1
Speed control
1
Structure
1
Tires
1
Show 7 more Show less
Crash-flagged

2

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

0

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

2201222013420143201572016420173201842019820205202142022320233202442026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "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”…"
    Steering, Suspension, Service brakes · filed 2026-07-02
  • "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…"
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-06-27
  • "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…"
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-03-07
  • "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…"
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-01-29
  • "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."
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2024-11-24

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2012 Chevrolet Corvette 2 DR RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2012 Chevrolet Corvette C RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2012 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 2 DR RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2012 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 2 DR RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Corvette 6.2L, 8-cyl Manual 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 14 21 17 MPG $4700
Corvette 6.2L, 8-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Rear-wheel drive 15 24 18 MPG $3600
Corvette 6.2L, 8-cyl Manual 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 16 25 19 MPG $3400
Corvette 7L, 8-cyl Manual 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 15 24 18 MPG $4450

Specs and fitment

C6, 2012–2013
Body styles Coupe, Convertible
Oil 5W-30 (dexos1)
Tire size 245/40R18 (front common); staggered rears 275/35R18 to 335/25R20 front / 275/35R18 to 335/25R20 (staggered; trim-dependent) rear

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA campaign 11V-491 covers certain 2011-2012 Chevrolet Corvette coupe vehicles: a hatchback/liftgate hinge attachment concern is described in the campaign summary; dealers repair per the published remedy. Confirm the VIN against NHTSA before assuming coverage—this generation's US catalog window in this site is short (2012-2013).

Compare

Next year 2013 Chevrolet Corvette See every Chevrolet Corvette model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette reliable?

Owners have filed 56 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette over 15 years — 3 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Corvette years here — under the median of the other years, which is 7. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Hinge.

What are common problems with a 2012 Chevrolet Corvette?

The complaints owners file most often name Fuel and propulsion system (28 of 56), then Air bags (10) and Electrical system (6). Those filings include 2 that report a crash.

Is the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 Corvette has 82 complaints, 5 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

Has the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette been recalled?

The 2012 Chevrolet Corvette has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette?

Owners have filed 56 complaints about the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 Chevrolet Corvette get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette is 18 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

When did the mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette debut?

The C8 generation launched for the 2020 model year with a mid-engine layout.

What oil does a C8 Chevrolet Corvette take?

C8 US notes list 0W-40 (dexos1); earlier C7 Stingray notes often list 5W-30.

What body styles does the Chevrolet Corvette offer?

US Corvette generations on this site include coupe and convertible body styles.