Rob Loszewski
A large group of 2015 – 2016 Corvette Z06 owners have filed a class-action lawsuit against General Motors due to a proposed issue where their Corvettes go into limp-home mode after performing on a race track where the engine temperatures rise to a certain level.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, June 13, 2017 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, alleges that after around 15 minutes of track use, the Corvette Z06’s LT4 engine will go into “limp mode” due to a “defective cooling system” which prevents the driver from driving the car on the track until the engine has cooled back down. The lawsuit also claims that GM was “knowingly selling allegedly defective” cars, even though the vehicles are sold as track-ready.
As per the lawsuit, Corvette Z06 owners are seeking full reimbursement for all damages permitted by law including the loss in value of affected Z06 Corvettes, and/or loss of the benefit of the bargain, in an amount to be proven at trial to compensate the owner’s for GM’s alleged fraud that purt owners at risk. The Z06 owners are also seeking an order to enjoin GM’s deceptive marketing and sales tactics as well as any and all punitive damages.
The Z06 owners are represented by leading auto defect consumer-rights law firm, Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP, and nationally recognized trial law firm, Grossman Roth Yaffa Cohen.
Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP is well known for leading litigation against GM for its ignition switch defects as well as GM’s illegal use of emissions-cheating software in Duramax trucks.
Below is the actual press release / announcement of the law suit from Hagens Berman:
Corvette Z06 Overheating
KEY ATTORNEYS:
Steve W. Berman, Shelby R. Smith
Own a 2015 – 2016 Chevy Corvette Z06?
A vehicle defect is causing your premium track car to overheat and go into limp mode. You may be entitled to reimbursement.
Affected vehicles
- 2015 – 2016 Chevy Corvette Z06
According to Hagens Berman’s investigation into consumers’ reports, Chevrolet has sold its model year 2015 and 2016 Corvette Z06 cars as track cars built to sustain high speeds, but Chevy failed to tell purchasers about the vehicle’s lack of transmission and differential coolers, which can greatly diminish the track capabilities that consumers seek when they purchase the Z06. Corvette Z06 owners have reported this causes the car to overheat and enter limp mode, while in use, even when the car is not being tracked. If you own an affected Chevy Corvette Z06 and have experienced overheating and limp mode, fill out the form to find out your consumer rights to compensation.
Corvette Z06 LIMP MODE Explained
The Corvette Z06 reportedly enters limp mode, causing the car to fail to maintain desired speeds. Limp mode is a safety system designed to protect the engine from being damaged during extremely hot temperatures. Once limp mode engages, the engine will only run at very low RPMs and will be barely able to move.
Corvette owners report affected cars entering limp mode when in regular use. Owners have also reported that despite Chevy’s promise to consumers that the Z06 was “conceived on the track and engineered alongside the C7.R race car,” the vehicle is reportedly prone to overheating when driven at high speeds. Owners have cited Chevy’s ads and promotion of the Corvette Z06 as a track car, but consumers were never warned that their vehicles would quickly overheat when tracked or driven at sustained high speeds.
Your consumer rights
Hagens Berman believes that consumers have the right to reimbursement for the premium price they paid for what they thought was a car capable of reaching and sustaining high speeds without failure. Nowhere does Chevy divulge these vehicles’ failure to maintain high speeds to consumers. According to the firm’s investigation, Chevy knew about the limp mode defect present in Corvette Z06 models and continued to market these vehicles extensively as fully functional, charging consumers high prices for vehicles that in no way uphold its promises.
TOP AUTO LITIGATION FIRM
Hagens Berman is one of the most successful auto litigation law firms in the U.S. and is presently leading nationwide cases against Volkswagen, GM, Mercedes and Fiat Chrysler for use of diesel emissions-cheating software. Our firm’s independent research outpaces even government agencies, and we are the only firm dedicating its own resources to uncovering new instances of fraud. Hagens Berman has also taken on other automakers on behalf of consumers throughout the United States for safety defects and negligence, and your claim will be handled by experts in automotive consumer law.
NO COST TO YOU
There is no cost or fee whatsoever involved in joining this action. In the event Hagens Berman or any other firm obtains a settlement that provides benefits to class members, the court will decide a reasonable fee to be awarded to the class’ legal team. In no case will any class member ever be asked to pay any out-of-pocket sum.
Click on the image for a larger view.
For the 2017 Corvette Z06, Corvette Engineers modified the intercooler geometry in order to allow for improved cooling to the intake charge in all LT4 cylinders, thus decreasing the chance of pre-ignition within the cylinders and retarded spark timing. Excessive amounts of detonation within the cylinders will cause the car’s ECM to retard the spark timing, and ultimately, overall performance.
As seen in the image above, Corvette Engineers also made the supercharger cover larger for 2017, which allows for better cooling around the body of the supercharger.
Given that the law suit is only naming owners of 2015 – 2016 Z06 Corvettes, we can only guess that all of these changes made for the 2017 model year helped decrease engine temperatures during track runs at ambient temperatures as well as overall customer complaints.
Would any of our readers who own and regularly track their 2017 Z06 like to comment on their experiences?
Chime in with your thoughts in the forums >>>
