— A Chevrolet Corvette Z06 lawsuit alleges the cars overheat and enter "limp mode" within 15 minutes of being on the track even though General Motors advertises the expensive cars as being track-ready.
The plaintiffs claim the 2015-2017 Corvette Z06 cars cost between $80,000 to $120,000 and are marketed for road and track use with “Track-Proven Structure and Technologies.”
But according to the class-action lawsuit, the cars are completely unreliable on the track because they overheat and often enter limp mode that reduces power and speed. Losing those two things on a track surrounded by fast-moving cars is a dangerous prospect, yet the plaintiffs say that's exactly what happens.
The lawsuit alleges the Corvette Z06 cars have defective cooling systems that won't allow the cars to handle race track driving.
The plaintiffs claim GM is aware of the Z06 cooling problems because the automaker suspended production of the Z06 to find a solution to the overheating issue, which it intended to incorporate in the 2017 Corvette Z06.
GM claimed to have fixed the problem in the 2017 model by switching to a new hood with larger vents and a new supercharger cover. However, this fix allegedly does not help consumers with previous models and does not fix the problem. The 2017 allegedly still overheats and GM’s only answer is to, after the fact, warn owners that automatic transmissions have the potential for overheating.
The lawsuit alleges GM cannot shift its warranty obligations onto customers because if the Z06 cars need different cooling systems to perform as advertised, GM should retrofit the cars with new components on its 2015 and 2016 models as well as fix the 2017 model to allow the car to perform as promised.
Additionally, GM should fix any problems to the engine, transmission, drivetrain and other parts that occur as a result of overheating issues.
One plaintiff claims he bought a new 2017 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 for $86,362.50 on December 31, 2016, from a GM dealership in Florida for use on highways and tracks. The plaintiff says he purchased the car because it was “track-proven” and “the most capable track-Corvette” ever built.
According to the lawsuit, sales reps told the plaintiff that previous problems with overheating in the 2015-2016 Z06 cars had been fixed and the plaintiff wouldn't have any issues with the 2017 model.
The plaintiff allegedly looked at print and online advertisements showing photographs of the Corvette Z06 on race tracks and read about how various components in all 2017 Corvette Z06s were “track-proven,” such as the suspension, special steering, special brakes, and specific software settings, including a “Track App” and a heads-up tachometer display used for racing.
However, the plaintiff says he wouldn't have bought the Corvette if he would have known it suffered from cooling system problems that will send the car into limp mode.
On April 22 and 23, 2017, the plaintiff used his Corvette Z06 at a raceway when the car overheated and went into limp mode on April 22, 2017, after about three laps. The following day and after approximately three or four laps, the car’s oil temperature reached 290 and the plaintiff allegedly was forced to pit his car and end his day at the track.
Attorneys say more than 30,000 cars will be included in the lawsuit if certified as a class-action, with the suit including consumers who own or lease a 2015-2017 Chevrolet Corvette Z06.
The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida - Michael Vazquez, Michael Malone, Jonathan White, Brian Nakel, Jedediah Blanks and Sameer Hamid, et al, vs. General Motors LLC.
The plaintiffs are represented by Hagens Berman, and Grossman Roth Yaffa Cohen.
Those same lawyers filed a similar lawsuit in March 2017 against Ford concerning 2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 cars allegedly overheating and entering limp mode.
