2018 Chevrolet Corvette Safety Report

The 2018 Chevrolet Corvette presents a mixed safety picture, with a significant, recurring issue related to its wheels overshadowing other aspects. While NHTSA crash test ratings are not available for this model, indicating it was not subjected to the full battery of tests, the vehicle has a low overall complaint count of 51, with only 1 reported crash, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths. This suggests that when not impacted by the primary defect, the vehicle generally performs well in terms of preventing severe outcomes. The most prominent safety concern, by a substantial margin, is the WHEELS component, accounting for 43 of the 51 total complaints (approximately 84%). These complaints consistently describe wheels cracking, bending, and losing air pressure, often leading to flat tires and, in some cases, leaving drivers stranded or causing vibrations at highway speeds. Several complaints explicitly mention multiple cracks in a single wheel or multiple wheels being affected, with mileage ranging from as low as 5,700 to over 15,000 miles. This widespread issue points to a potential manufacturing or design flaw rather than isolated incidents of road hazard damage, as many owners report no impact events. In terms of recalls, the 2018 Corvette has one recall related to the 'STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM'. This recall, affecting certain 2016-2018 Cadillac CTS, 2017-2018 Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Camaro, and Chevrolet Corvette vehicles, addresses a potential failure of the electric power steering (EPS) assist. A loss of power steering can significantly increase steering effort, particularly at low speeds, thereby increasing the risk of a crash. While this is a serious safety defect, it has not generated a high volume of complaints for the 2018 Corvette specifically, suggesting the recall may have effectively addressed the broader issue or that the failure rate is low for this particular model year. Overall, the 2018 Chevrolet Corvette's safety profile is dominated by the pervasive wheel cracking problem, which, while not directly linked to injuries or deaths in the reported data, poses a significant risk of sudden tire deflation and loss of control. The steering recall is a notable, but seemingly less frequently reported, concern. The absence of NHTSA crash test ratings means a comprehensive assessment of its crashworthiness is not possible through this data.

Our recommendation: Prospective buyers should be aware of the widespread and severe wheel cracking issue, which is the primary safety concern for the 2018 Corvette, and factor in potential replacement costs or consider aftermarket wheels. Verify if the steering recall has been addressed.