by Brad Anderson
- Over 23,000 Z06 and ZR1 models are being recalled nationwide.
- GM has not confirmed how long it will take to produce new shields.
- Owners are urged to be careful when refueling due to fire risk.
A safety scare has forced GM into an uncomfortable spotlight, with thousands of Corvettes temporarily sidelined while engineers worked on a fix. The issue affects 2023–2025 Corvette Z06s and 2025–2026 Corvette ZR1s, all recalled last month due to a potential fire hazard. While a remedy now appears to exist, owners may still be waiting a while before their cars are officially cleared.
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The problem centers on a small but serious flaw. If excess fuel leaks into the filter pocket, the left-side cooling fan of the mid-engined supercar can push vapors or droplets toward hot components like the engine, increasing the risk of a fire. This isn’t just a hypothetical concern either, as one Z06 was even caught on video igniting at a gas station.
A Fix On Paper
At the time that GM issued the recall, it said that impacted vehicles would be fitted with a new insert/shield to divert any spilled fuel. Eager to see how the development of this part was progressing, the MidEngineCorvetteForum reached out to GM and was informed that the part has been developed and now just needs to be produced at scale.
“GM has developed the recall remedy (an insert / shield to divert spilled fuel) and is working to quickly source production and deliver it to dealers,” GM said. “When parts are available, GM will inform affected vehicle owners of remedy availability and encourage them to make appointments with their local dealerships. In the meantime, vehicle owners can visit gm.com/service and enter their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) for recall information.”
Delays On The Horizon
There’s no word on how long it will take GM to get production of the new part up and running. According to CorvetteBlogger, roughly 1,630 brand-new Corvette Z06s are currently stranded on dealership lots because of the issue. Given that more than 23,000 Z06 and ZR1s are impacted by the recall, customers may have to wait quite some time before their cars can be repaired.
Read: GM Orders Dealers To Stop Selling ZR1 And Z06 Until It Figures Out What’s Wrong
This is especially bad news for those who have purchased a new Z06 or ZR1 but have yet to take delivery, as Chevy won’t start shipping their cars until the fix is made. For those with an impacted model already sitting in their driveway, GM is urging them to take extra care when refueling, ensuring the nozzle is fully inserted, shutting off the engine, and never topping off after the pump clicks.
