General Motors Recalls Thousands of Corvettes Due to Fire Risk

General Motors, LLC is initiating a recall for a significant number of Chevrolet Corvette vehicles from model years 2023 through 2026. This action, reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) under recall number 25V536, addresses a potential defect that could lead to a fire hazard. The issue specifically affects Corvettes equipped with a left-side radiator and fan combination. Owners of the potentially involved vehicles are advised to take precautions and should be aware of the necessary steps to mitigate the risk.

The safety concern arises from the potential for excess fuel to spill into the vehicle’s fuel-filler pocket during refueling. If this spilled fuel leaks onto an ignition source, it creates an increased risk of fire. This situation is more likely to occur in vehicles with the left-side radiator and fan setup, as the fuel-filler pipe and its associated pocket are positioned above this component. The defect can be exacerbated by malfunctioning fuel pumps at filling stations that fail to shut off automatically. In such instances, the cooling fan can draw spilled fuel through the radiator, vaporize it into the engine compartment, and expose it to an ignition source, potentially leading to a fire.

The recall encompasses a total of 23,656 vehicles. Specifically, 5,973 units of the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette, 9,218 units of the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette, 8,160 units of the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette, and 305 units of the 2026 Chevrolet Corvette are potentially affected. It is important to note that not all Corvettes within these model years are included; only those manufactured with the specific left-side radiator and fan combination are part of this recall. Vehicles equipped with the E-Ray trim lines, or Stingray models in North America, which do not feature this particular cooling system configuration, are not affected. The production dates for the affected vehicles range from May 11, 2022, to August 14, 2025, depending on the specific model year.

General Motors became aware of the issue after a report was submitted on June 10, 2025, detailing social media posts alleging three Corvette fires during refueling over a 30-day period. A fourth incident involving a General Motors-owned development Corvette test vehicle occurred on June 12, 2025, prompting an investigation on June 17, 2025. During their investigation, GM identified melting patterns on the left-side radiator in the development vehicle, which is exclusively found on Z06 and ZR1 models in North America. All four reported field fires involved vehicles with this radiator configuration. Physical evaluations confirmed that simulating a fuel spill onto the radiator and fan assembly with an artificial ignition source resulted in fuel ignition and burn patterns consistent with those observed in the field incidents. Conversely, evaluations of vehicles without the left-side radiator did not result in ignition. Customer reports and photographic evidence suggest that faulty fuel station pumps contributed to at least two of the four fires. Two of the reported incidents involved minor alleged injuries.

To address this safety risk, General Motors will be implementing a repair for the affected vehicles. Dealers will install an insert or shield designed to divert spilled fuel away from sensitive areas behind the quarter panel, thus preventing contact with potential ignition sources. Vehicles manufactured after August 14, 2025, have reportedly been held at the assembly plant to incorporate this correction in production. Owners of affected vehicles are strongly advised to park their Corvettes outdoors and to exercise caution when refueling. Specific instructions for owners will include always turning off the vehicle’s engine during refueling, confirming the fuel nozzle is fully inserted into the fuel pipe, and refraining from overfilling the tank or attempting to fill after the initial automatic shut-off click.

Dealers are scheduled to be notified of the recall on August 21, 2025. Interim owner notification is anticipated to begin on October 6, 2025, with an estimated remedy owner notification date to be provided later. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) will be searchable to determine recall status starting August 21, 2025. General Motors has stated that they do not plan to provide reimbursement notices as the remedy was not available prior to this recall.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from General Motors, LLC and NHTSA.

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