C8 3LT Dash Bubbling and Separating
- Thread starter hypersonic8
- Start date
WOW! That's bad.
Do you leave it sitting in the sun?
Do you leave it sitting in the sun?
- Thread starter
- #3
It is a 2022 I took delivery in April 22 2025. I have driven it a total of 15 months over the last 3 years. . Yes it sits in my driveway BUT I put a shade in the window.
- Thread starter
- #4
additionally, the BS I received from a dealer today was I should NOT have bought the 3LT because the leather will shrink from the UV rays, amazing, many issues like this in the USA but I apparently am the unlucky CDN.
Read something about this before and wondered why they blame it on UV so I took a look....and if I recall it was also a 3LT being discussed. Something fishy in Bowling Green.
Modern windshields block a very high percentage of UV radiation, specifically about 96% to 99% of UV-A and UV-B rays. This is because windshields are made of laminated glass that includes a plastic interlayer which provides significant UV protection. In contrast, side and rear windows, which are typically made of tempered glass, block much less UV-A, usually around 50-71% depending on the vehicle and tint level.UV Protection by Modern WindshieldsFront windshields block on average 96% of UVA rays and about 99% of UVB rays.The laminated glass construction, with a plastic interlayer, is the key component that blocks UV.This protection helps reduce risks of skin damage, aging, and health issues like cataracts and skin cancer.Contrast with Side and Rear WindowsSide windows typically block a lower percentage of UVA, around 50-71%.This is because they use tempered glass without the UVA-blocking plastic interlayer.Tinting side windows can increase UV protection but varies widely.This UV blocking capability of the modern windshield is significant for drivers, offering near-complete blocking of harmful UV rays through the front glass, unlike other car windows which allow more UVA to penetrate �
I imagine it's heat related.
Still no excuse for that!
Still no excuse for that!
I have '2017 C7 3LT that had a similar issue on the driver's side dash area. Apparently it is the heat that causes the adhesive to soften and the leather to stretch and swell. I purchased a small 1200 watt steamer from Amazon for $23.00. I steamed the leather through a micro-fibre cloth to heat the leather and reactivate the adhesive, then used a small roller to press the leather back down while it cooled and shrunk back. Can't say if its a permanent fix as it's only been a few weeks, since the repair, but so far, so good. Others have also injected glue underneath with a needle/syringe before pressing the leather back down. You would think GM would have resolved this issue, by now. It has been an ongoing issues for the 3LT models for years now.
Good luck.
Good luck.
- Thread starter
- #8
thanks - apparently the c6's had an issue too
This is a well known issue for the C8 3LT trim level. From what I have read it is normally covered by the GM warranty. If your dealer does not handle a lot of Corvettes they may not recognize the issue. Take it to a dealer who sells more than 50 Corvettes a year.
It's the heat the dried out the adhesive no question. I would use the steamer method and inject extra glue or find a company that does leather seat repairs or similar and have them do it. If you don't ventilate the car and keep it cooler inside it will happen again. Get it out of the direct sun!
So, drive it on cloudy rainy days?
Did I say that? When you drive the car you open the windows or have the a/c on to lower the internal temperature. When the car sits in the direct sun
the inside temps can exceed 120F. There are tints that can be installed on the inside of the windows and outside of the windshield to reject a lot of the heat as well which I have both. The car needs to be ventilated or kept out of the sun to prevent it from happening again once it is repaired.
Hello everyone,
I'm here to share my story of a catastrophic dash delamination failure in my 2022 3LT C8 Corvette. This isn't a story about me being a bad owner; it's a story about GM's complete failure to stand behind its halo product and honor its moral obligations to a loyal customer. This is a matter of consumer protection and public interest, and the public should be made aware of my experience thus far...
I'm here to share my story of a catastrophic dash delamination failure in my 2022 3LT C8 Corvette. This isn't a story about me being a bad owner; it's a story about GM's complete failure to stand behind its halo product and honor its moral obligations to a loyal customer. This is a matter of consumer protection and public interest, and the public should be made aware of my experience thus far...
theboss
Power User
They should have learne from the c6 generation and not repeating the same mistake
Relive your childhood and re-cover your dash with shag carpet....
There is enough that has been written over the past 20 years on various Corvette forums to educate owners who have purchased 3 or 4LT's with leather dashes about preventative products that are available to keep 99% of the UV rays and over 90% of the heat out of the cars if they cannot be ventilated while people are at work or cannot park it in a garage or shaded area. Florida owners are very aware of solutions and how to protect their cars as are many of us up here. Every month I take brochures to my local clubs meeting to make members aware of solutions that exist. The latest windshield PPF that I had installed a couple of months ago replaced the film I had on the inside of the windshield as a 2 in 1 product. Owners get the windshield protected by PPF to stop rock chips/cracking and the interior gets the 99% UV protection and 93% heat rejection. Side and rear window tinting do the same.
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Too young to drive in that era. I was taught to avoid the "Candy Man Van" that trolled the streets around my school...