[VIDEO] Buying a C7 Corvette? Here’s What Fails After 100,000 Miles

Nov 3, 2026

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[VIDEO] Buying a C7 Corvette? Here's What Fails After 100,000 Miles

Photo Credit: Keith Cornett

When shopping for a pre-owned Corvette that will be new for you, it’s good to do some research into the generation to find out what the known mechanical issues are, and often the best people to talk with are those that work on these cars.

Our friend Lyle at C&S Corvettes in sunny Sarasota, Florida has just the video covering the C7 era. If you’re getting ready to put down some cash on a car, here are some of things that often fail on a C7 Corvette after 100,000 miles.

In this video, Lyle walks through six trouble spots: cracked or bent factory wheels on Grand Sports and Z06s, AFM lifter failures, eight-speed automatic transmission shudder, leaking belt tensioners, deteriorating torque tube couplers, and Z06 cooling limitations during track use.

He covers the warning signs, from ticking under the hood to a rumble-strip sensation at light throttle and noises coming from the center tunnel. Repairs range from replacing a belt tensioner to rebuilding the torque tube, a labor-intensive job he says can cost $5,000–$6,000.

Before these potential repairs scare you away, Lyle offers some perspective. “All of this is solvable,” he says.

Knowing what to look for can help you find the right C7 and negotiate a price that accounts for any work it needs. Check out the video below and let us know in the comments if you have encountered any serious issues with your C7 that could help a prospective buyer.