This service bulletin provides information on Tire Sidewall Irregularities.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Chevrolet Corvette wheels problems
moderate Owners of the 2016 Chevrolet Corvette have filed 58 NHTSA complaints about the wheels, typically surfacing around 17,363 miles at roughly $400 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See wheels across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
58
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$400
| Model year | wheels complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Corvette | 4 |
| 2015 Corvette | 12 |
| 2016 Corvette (this page) | 58 |
| 2017 Corvette | 219 |
| 2018 Corvette | 43 |
| 2019 Corvette | 122 |
When does it fail?
Of the 58 wheels complaints filed for the 2016 Chevrolet Corvette, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Wheels accounts for 56% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 5 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 58 wheels complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering wheels on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This service bulletin provides a procedure on how to clean and resurface aluminum wheel bead seats for vehicles that have the condition of Tire Slowly Goes Flat, Tire Air Loss, Low Tire Pressure Warning Light Illuminated, Aluminum Wheel Bead Seat Corrosion.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information on Wheel Alignment Specifications, Requirements and Recommendations for GM Vehicles.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin advises the dealers to maintain the vehicle stock on hand by doing a full inspection on the vehicles before being sold (prepping) to the customer.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides a procedure to clean the back side of the rims and rotors and to correct the customer concern of wheel clicking.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners consistently report cracks appearing on the inside lip or bead of rear cast aluminum wheels on 2016 Corvettes, particularly the Z06 and Grand Sport models, with no evidence of road trauma. These cracks develop at mileages ranging from under 3,000 to over 69,000 miles, causing slow to rapid air leaks. Repairs via welding are temporary; replaced wheels often crack identically. Multiple owners report four, five, six, or more cracked wheels over ownership, with dealers acknowledging the defect but refusing warranty coverage and suggesting the material choice (cast vs. forged aluminum) is the root cause.
Front wheels develop bending or warping that causes vibration at highway speeds, sometimes appearing with extremely low mileage. Owners report being told by dealers this is "extremely common" on the C7 platform, with some customers replacing three to four wheels. One dealer noted the issue is so well-known online it's called "Chevy Shake."
Replacement wheels from the factory exhibit identical failures. Aftermarket forged wheels are available but cost $8,000 or more. Owners uniformly deny aggressive driving, track use, pothole strikes, or curb contact. Many compare their current Corvette unfavorably to older models they owned with forged aluminum wheels that showed no cracking. GM consistently refuses warranty coverage, and dealers report being directed to tell customers the defect isn't covered.
Same Chevrolet Corvette wheels reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Rear wheel rim cracking
Cast aluminum rear wheels (typically 20x12 on Z06/Grand Sport models) develop cracks on the inner lip or bead area with no visible impact damage. Cracks cause slow to rapid air leaks and can recur multiple times on the same vehicle or after replacement with new factory wheels.
When: Mileage varies widely: some as early as under 3,000 miles, most between 12,000–40,000 miles, with one report at 69,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Slow air leak from tire with no visible hole or puncture; Tire pressure warning light illuminates; Hairline cracks visible on inside edge or bead of rim when tire removed; Air loss accelerates as crack expands over time
Codes mentioned: TPMS warning lamp
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report purchasing replacement rims from dealerships at $800–$1,100 per rim. Some rims welded as temporary fix; repairs typically fail. Aftermarket forged wheels available at $8,000+ per set. Multiple owners on same vehicle: one owner with 7–8 cracks across three different rims; another with four cracked wheels over 1.5 years; another with second replacement rim cracking identically to the first after 7,600 miles.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM refuses warranty coverage and denies the defect exists. Dealers report GM stating wheels are 'not defective' and directing owners to 'sue if unsatisfied.' One dealer told an owner the wheels 'designed to crack to protect the rear suspension.' No recalls or TSBs mentioned. One owner reports metalurgy professor confirmed rim defect but noted destructive testing would be required for absolute proof.
Front and rear wheel bending/warping
Wheels become bent or warped out-of-round, causing vibration. Occurs on multiple wheels on the same vehicle, sometimes all four. Appears with very low mileage on vehicles with no crash history or curb strikes.
When: Reported from under 3,000 miles to at least 25,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vibration at highway speeds (starts around 40–55 mph, worsens as speed increases); High-frequency vibrations in steering wheel and interior panels; Wheels cannot be properly balanced; Visual warping visible once tires removed
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement with aftermarket wheels at $3,400.58 reported for full set; factory replacement wheels said to carry same risk. One owner reports dealer recommended aftermarket forged wheels ($8,000+) instead of factory replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers acknowledge the issue is extremely common on the C7 Corvette platform. One dealer stated customers have replaced 3–4 wheels and recommended against ordering new factory wheels due to high failure rate. No official GM warranty coverage or TSBs cited.
Synthesized from 58 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
I had a slow leak in a rear tire on a z06 wheel. The tire shop fixed the leak and informed me the wheel was bent. The car was bought new and has only 2000 miles on the odo. I cannot recall hitting a large pothole or running over anything
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that the wheels were cracking from the inside. The contact stated that the TPMS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the wheels needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not contacted. The…
Four rear wheels have cracked leaking air and have no external damage from road hazards. Two were replaced under the new car warranty and two were replaced under gm's purchased extended warranty. The first one, right rear, cracked on 11/19/16 with 18,843 miles on the car. The second one,left rear, cracked on 8/23/17 with 24,332 miles on the car. The third one,left rear, cracked on 8/14/18…
I was driving down I-20 and my tire warning light came on for the right rear tire. I took the car to discount tire and the technician pulled the tire and said that the rim was cracked and showed me the crack. I believe if I had disregarded the tire warning and just added air I could have had an accident if the rim disintegrated while driving.
Rear rim (20 inch by 12 inch, cast aluminum) cracked in two places. These are the fifth and sixth cracks I've had in two rear rims. Reported it to the dealer and they effectively said "sue GM", won't help me. When the rim cracks, the tire looses air pressure and the car's sensors tell me the air pressure is low. These cracks appear on the inside of the rear wheels without any trauma to…
Normal driving - about 69,000 miles. Rear wheel rim developed cracks in inner bead lip causing complete loss of inflation.
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet corvette. The contact stated that there was a failure concerning the rear OEM factory rims. The contact stated that the metal was not structurally sound and there were cracks in the rear passenger side wheel. The failure LED to low tire pressure. The dealer (george matick Chevrolet, 14001 telegraph rd, redford charter twp, mi 48239, (313) 531-7100) replaced…
Started loosing tire pressure on L/R tire, local tire shop informed and showed me that my left rear rim has a crack which causes loos of air. This is a known issue that GM wants to blame on drivers but issue stems from GM using cheaper cast aluminum materials instead of forged materials which are better suited due to the amount of torque that the ZO6 models generated. *Note* GM used forged…
Had wheels trouble with your 2016 Chevrolet Corvette?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the wheels problem on the 2016 Chevrolet Corvette?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 58 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $400 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the wheels typically fail?
Across the 44 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most wheels failures cluster between 12,000 and 30,000 miles, with the median around 17,363. A quarter of owners report trouble before 12,000; a quarter make it past 30,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $400 for wheels repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to wheels?
No active recalls currently cover wheels issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Chevrolet/Corvette.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.