2012 Chevrolet Corvette: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
56 NHTSA owner complaints · 1 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The Chevrolet Corvette's years to avoid are 2017 (AVOID at 37 on 255 complaints) and 2019 (46 on 147), and one category accounts for both: Wheels, with 223 and 124 complaints. The years to buy are 2011 and 2012 (87 and 92 on 85 and 56 complaints), 2014 and 2015 (77 and 74), and 2021 and 2022 (89 and 88 on 12 and 20). Read the full note on the model page. 2012 specifically: a year the record favours — 56 complaints, score 92/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Chevrolet Camaro and Corvette: the years to avoid, including 2012 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 56 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 4.0
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
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 garage one morning with a very strong smell of gasoline. The issue was dealt with by myself I didn’t have to take it to a mechanic to repair
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 puddles under the rear near the driver’s side rear tire. The fumes are so bad that the car cannot be stored in the garage (which is attached to my home). Smell is pervasive even sitting outside. I cannot dri…
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.
Recalls: 1 campaigns
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 11V491000 | Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Hinge And Attachments | 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… |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a sports car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 18 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $3,400
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Fuel/Propulsion System28 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
- Air Bags10 complaints · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,700
- Electrical System6 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Electronic Stability Control (Esc)5 complaints · typical job: Yaw sensor or ESC module replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$660–$1,560
- Service Brakes4 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Exterior Lighting3 complaints · typical job: Headlamp assembly or lighting-module replacement (1.5 h labour + parts)$360–$1,380
Other Chevrolet Corvette years
Chevrolet Corvette years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Fuel/Propulsion System (28 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 92/100, computed from 56 NHTSA complaints and 1 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette's most common problem?
28 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette sit in the Fuel/Propulsion System group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is fuel pump or injector replacement: about 3.5 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $680–$1,620 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2012 Chevrolet Corvette cost to run per year?
About $5,896 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $29,480 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette, 0 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 03/10/2011. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other sportss of about the same age.
What will a 2012 Chevrolet Corvette really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Moderate evidence — 56 complaints, 1 recalls on record
- 56 NHTSA complaints on record (4.0/yr of exposure) — better than a typical year of this model (5.7/yr)
- 1 recall campaigns, 0 touching safety-critical systems