Report: GM Has a Fix for the Corvette Z06 and ZR1 Fuel Fire Issue
Last month, General Motors issued a stop-sale and recall for some Corvette Z06 and ZR1 cars for an issue with fuel spillage that could cause a fire. The problem has claimed more than one car, with at least one incident thoroughly documented on social media, but the automaker says it has a fix for the problem.
Users on the MidEngineCorvetteForum posted a letter from the automaker that states, “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. When parts are available, GM will inform affected vehicle owners of remedy availability and encourage them to make appointments with their local dealerships.”
The problem stems from the cars’ design, which can allow fuel to leak onto the radiator on the driver’s side. If it’s ingested by the engine or hits a hot enough surface, the fuel can ignite and cause a fire. The Z06 and ZR1’s relatively low production numbers mean the recall only impacts around 25,000 vehicles, though some estimate that more than 1,500 cars remain locked on dealers’ lots due to the stop-sale.
While the fix is incoming, GM advises owners to fuel their cars carefully, avoiding overfilling and following the fueling instructions to the letter. That said, even the most careful driver can’t fix shoddy fuel pump handles, so be alert if you’re fueling one of these cars.
[Images: Chevrolet]
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Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
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now, hire an Italian to redesign the body. Imagine those mechanicals surrounded by pina farina , take my money :)
Gasoline sounds dangerous. I wish we had more electricity.