C6 doors open with electronic push-button releases instead of mechanical handles. When the battery is low or dead, the doors may not open from outside or inside with the normal buttons. Manual releases exist inside the car, and the owner's manual explains how to get in and how to reach the battery. Many owners only learn this when they're locked out.

From the C4 onward, Corvettes have many electronic modules that draw small amounts of power with the car off. Add aging batteries, aftermarket accessories, or a module that doesn't go to sleep, and the battery can go flat in days or weeks. Storage without a maintainer is the most common cause.

The C5 uses an electronic steering column lock. When the lock motor or its sensing fails, the Driver Information Center can show "Service Column Lock" and the car may refuse to start or keep the steering locked. It's one of the best-known C5 problems.

Under the fiberglass body, C2 and C3 Corvettes have a steel inner structure often called the "birdcage." It surrounds the cabin and windshield. Water leaks from windshield and roof seals can rust it, especially at the windshield pillars and the lower windshield frame. Repairs can be extensive because the body may need to come off.