Modern-day cars have a lot of plastic cladding but all of it serves one purpose or another. For the Chevrolet Corvette Z06, the plastic underbody panels smooth airflow which can impact a number of factors. Now, multiple owners are reporting that their underbody panels are installed incorrectly and collecting rocks along the way.
Every time a new Corvette Z06 reaches its Chevrolet dealership, employees there are to complete a pre-delivery inspection (PDI). As a part of that inspection, they install one of these under-body panels. After one owner noticed the panel looking a bit funny, they posted to the website MidEngineCorvetteForum asking for advice.
Not long after, another member confirmed that the panels were out of order. As noted by the Corvetteblogger, that original poster, GTPprix, says that the panel is easy enough to install correctly but in the process, he found “a TON of baby rocks” on top of the panel. Numerous posters have now responded to him with similar stories of improperly installed closeout panels.
Read: Chevy Releases Two New C8 Corvette Stingray Special Editions, But They’re Only for Japan
Those concerned about whether or not their Z06 has this issue should be able to see it by looking back toward the rear of the car from the front. If they can see sagging plastic like in our lead image there’s a good chance that they have a problem. Thankfully, the solution is pretty straightforward for those who want to do the work themselves.
GTPprix says that only two tools are needed. A Torx T15 and a 7mm socket/nut driver. The sagging panel needs to be lowered and then reinstalled with it above, not below, the closeout panel that’s just ahead of it. Chevrolet hasn’t said anything publicly about this situation and it’s not a recall either but we’ll update this post if they do.
It’s worth noting that the regular C8 Corvette Stingray has a different process and different panels. To that end, owners of those cars don’t have to worry about this issue from what we can tell.