C8 Corvette Warranty Service Denied Because of Lowering Collars

GM has flagged lowering collars, specifically, as the source of a major issue that will cause a C8 Corvette warranty to be voided.

As enthusiasts, many of us have modified our Corvettes in some way, shape, or form, which we’re able to do thanks to a burgeoning aftermarket fully of enticing upgrades. However, as many are well aware, there are downsides to modifying any sort of vehicle, including the fact that those parts can cause accelerated wear and tear, require an investment that we rarely get back when we sell the car, and in some cases, can void a factory warranty. In fact, something as simple as lowering collars were enough to get a YouTuber’s C8 Corvette warranty service denied recently, as he explains in the video below.

The owner – who goes by the handle NuHorizon C8 – took his Corvette to the dealership after it threw an error code, after which the front lift system stopped working altogether. Going in, he knew that there might be a problem with getting his C8 Corvette warranty service completed, given the fact that he had previously installed aftermarket lowering collars on the car. In fact, at least one other owner has already caused some waves online when he posted that GM informed him that this same component voided his warranty, too.

Regardless, he decided to give it a try and headed down to the dealer with the hopes that this was something they could fix and perhaps not directly attribute to the presence of the collars, which is typical in the automotive world. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case, as the dealer told him that the front driver’s side actuator – which is attached to the strut itself – has failed completely and must be replaced. However, the service tech that worked with the owner was actually pretty helpful and tried to submit the claim, though it was ultimately denied.

The reasoning behind this, of course, is that GM has determined that these lowering collars can be directly responsible for causing problems with the front lift system, coupled with the fact that this is a rather expensive repair. Thus, the owner had to shell out $1,100 for the actuator itself, plus an additional $700 in labor and $100 for an alignment, 0r around $2,000 in total.

As one might imagine, this C8 owner suggests that those seeking to lower their cars should probably take a look at lowering springs rather than going with collars, which may not cause this sort of issue. Of course, there’s still a chance that even springs might void one’s C8 Corvette warranty as well, so the main lesson here is pretty simple – if you decide to modify your new car in any way, you’re doing so at your own risk, and you should be aware that it could cost you even more money later on down the road.

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