[Blam2526]

Today definitely didn't go as I had planned. Drove about 40 miles up to Louisville to check out a few things with the wife. We were havin some fun just cruising after getting a Borla installed a week or so ago. Anyway, after a few stops, we headed off to the mall. We were in the left turn lane and when the light turned green I started off forward and it sounded like I hit something really big, and almost sounded like something was dragging behind the car. I put the hazards on thinking WTF did the new exhaust fall off?!?!? Peek under and nothing... everything looks as it should, I look back and there's nothing in the road I could've hit, tires all look good wtf? Hop back in, put it in first and try to start forward and nothing... sounds like a driveshaft freespinning.

A guy helped me push it out of traffic into a parking spot and I call my dealer. They give me the number for GM customer service to get a tow to their shop and I work out a loaner. As I'm waiting for the tow truck and courtesy shuttle to arrive I walk the path from the light and find some parts, 4 big torx bolts, a small bracket, and a round metal thing. It looks like the bolts pulled right through that metal thing in spots. (Pics below). Now I trying to figure out what it was.... everything motor wise is fine. Idles normal, sounds normal. Push the clutch, feels normal, gear shifter feels normal. Put it in 1st let off the clutch and it grumbles and shit is clanking around.... now the car has 16.5k miles. I've babied this car. I have taken it to one track night for a total of 4 passes last year right around 3k miles and everything has been fine since the day I brought it home. Other than that it's mostly cruising around with some spirited jaunts here and there. Not nearly any kind of hardcore driving that would justify a total clutch/transmission failure..... I've never smoked the clutch or ground the gears.

Today was just an abrupt failure with no warning. The dealer said it'll be Monday before they get to it. Now I'm super pissed because a $50k car marketed as a high performance track car should not have an issue like this after 16k miles of fairly easy driving. Not nearly the abuse most put this car through at regular track days. Also to make it worse, we're we're planning an anniversary trip tomorrow to Indy and instead of driving a car we both love (my wife's a gearhead too) we get a lovely grocery getter Equinox.

I know some early adopters that had issues with paint, rear diffs, etc. bitched to Chevy and got compensation for 1) paying for a car note on a "performance car" and getting a loaner BS car while theirs was in the shop (mine said it would be end of next week at the earliest before it's fixed) 2) just the overall headache that this should not happen on a car like this. I saw multiple people ended up with GM credits for performance parts in amounts up to $1000. I'm not normally one to bitch but this just has me heated. It's kinda jacked up our anniversary plans and plans we have for the upcoming weeks (car shows since the end of the season is nearing, LS fest coming up, and some local Camaro club shows and events). My car will be back up and running just in time for all that to be over.

Anyway sorry to all those still reading for the long rant... just kind of upset with everything. Will update as soon as I hear anything. Probably Monday when they get to it.

[Eric SS]

Sucks but that's what a warranty is for. Just relax.

And you likely had loose inner axle bolts that finally gave out. It happens occationally on our cars. Those bolts in your photo are from where the axle bolts to the pumpkin

[JBARRON]

driveshaft CV joint came apart. Looks like manufacture defect, loose bolts. shouldn't take much to fix

[Blam2526]

Thanks for the kind words guys.... I just felt like a jackass today, broke down in a new car with people staring (can't blame them tho) and then the dealer made me a little mad... one of the service guys basically was indirectly accusing me of doing something. He said "we had a guy bring a vette in with a smoked out clutch. Dude didn't know how to drive stick". Then he went to say that GM would def be looking into it to make sure that wasn't the case in the event it's a torn up trans/clutch. Made me feel like shit.

[Chutzpah]

If I were you (and your wife) I'd be heated too. I'm just glad you were going slow....can't imagine what would have happened under the wrong circumstances.

Chevy really should be performing a safety recall on affected, or assumed affected vehicles, before someone get's hurt. The same goes for the 1LE's and ZL1's end links.

[Blam2526]

Originally Posted by Chutzpah

If I were you (and your wife) I'd be heated too. I'm just glad you were going slow....can't imagine what would have happened under the wrong circumstances.

Chevy really should be performing a safety recall on affected, or assumed affected vehicles, before someone get's hurt. The same goes for the 1LE's and ZL1's end links.

Totally agree. While mad, I was thankful it happened where it did, off a main highway in a parking lot at like 10mph. 5 mins prior we're we're going 70-75 on the highway.

[camaro5]

Originally Posted by Blam2526

Thanks for the kind words guys.... I just felt like a jackass today, broke down in a new car with people staring (can't blame them tho) and then the dealer made me a little mad... one of the service guys basically was indirectly accusing me of doing something. He said "we had a guy bring a vette in with a smoked out clutch. Dude didn't know how to drive stick". Then he went to say that GM would def be looking into it to make sure that wasn't the case in the event it's a torn up trans/clutch. Made me feel like shit.

Sounds like a crappy experience that should not happen.

More and more reports of these bolts coming loose.

I'm guessing these need proper torquing and loctite on squeaky-clean threads.

Brake cleaner on the threads allows loctite to succeed.

[Blam2526]

Originally Posted by camaro5

Sounds like a crappy experience that should not happen.

More and more reports of these bolts coming loose.

I'm guessing these need proper torquing and loctite on squeaky-clean threads.

Brake cleaner on the threads allows loctite to succeed.

Have you seen other posts of something like this happening? I'm fairly active on the forum and don't remember seeing this specifically. I've seen the normal rear end groan and the scary ZL1 steering lockup.

[Eric SS]

Originally Posted by Blam2526

Have you seen other posts of something like this happening? I'm fairly active on the forum and don't remember seeing this specifically. I've seen the normal rear end groan and the scary ZL1 steering lockup.

Yes, like I mentioned above it has definitely more than a few times and posted on this board.

[LuvMI]

Bummer...

[Chutzpah]

You're at least the third person on this site that's had this issue.

[Zzzato]

Wow what the heck. Sorry to hear op. Hopefully you get more than just a fix and loaner. Something like his happens to me I'll be right back to my JDM side. I have no tolerance for stupid failures like this. Especially on a fairly new car.

[YLWJKT]

Did you have the driveshaft loose when you installed the exhaust?
No clunking noises to alert you beforehand?

[Corner carver]

Originally Posted by CreativeDawn

That's crazy! I agree about your comment how a 50k car should not have these type of problems! You'd expect a bucket to have these type of problems! I feel like quality control is a huge part in this since I've had plenty of issues with my 6th Gen and ZERO with my 5th. It's sad really...Makes you wonder.

Those crafty Canadians lol