Recall 20V581 affects 5 2020 Chevrolet Corvette vehicles for a driver's seat-belt retractor that can fail to lock. Free repair at a franchised Chevrolet dealer.
Chevrolet is recalling 5 2020 Corvette vehicles because the driver's seat belt retractor can fail to lock as intended during a crash. If the belt does not lock, the driver faces an increased risk of injury, and Chevrolet dealers will replace the seat belt retractor free of charge.
Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?
The official, free per-VIN recall check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly — and add you to a free watchlist so you hear about new recalls for your vehicle.
Check my VIN at NHTSARecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.
Watch this vehicle for recalls
Add it to your free watchlist and we will alert you as new federal recalls are posted for your year, make and model. New-recall alerts are rolling out now.
You are on the watchlist.
We will email you as new federal recalls are posted for your vehicle.
What's wrong?
The seat belt retractor in the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette is the spool mechanism that winds the driver's belt back into the trim and locks the belt during a crash. In normal use, it lets the belt extend and retract as you move. In a crash, the pretensioner tightens the belt and the retractor locks so the belt can hold the driver in position.
On these Corvettes, the pretensioner tube inside the driver's seat belt assembly was not secured correctly during supplier manufacturing. That allowed the tube to deform. After the pretensioner deploys, the deformed tube can keep the locking mechanism from fully engaging, so the retractor does not lock as intended.
There is no warning sign before failure. The belt can look and feel normal in daily driving because the problem shows up when the pretensioner and locking mechanism are needed in a crash.
Who's affected?
| 2020 Chevrolet Corvette | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2020 Chevrolet Corvette | seat belt |
| Units affected | 5 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2020 Chevrolet Corvette is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific car is included.
What's the safety risk?
If your VIN is included, the driver's seat belt retractor can fail to lock during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Use the seat belt on every trip and schedule the repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Chevrolet dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2020 Chevrolet Corvette is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Chevrolet dealer to schedule the free driver's seat-belt retractor replacement, which fixes the retractor so the belt locks as intended during a crash.
- Bring the recall notice if Chevrolet sent one. If not, reference recall number 20V581 when you call.
- Drive only as needed until the repair, and keep the driver's seat belt buckled on every trip.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Chevrolet technician replaces the driver's side seat belt retractor, the part that locks the belt during a crash. The replacement parts and labor are covered under the recall, so the repair is free. GM is not offering reimbursement for this campaign because owners would not have known about this seat belt retractor issue before the recall.
| Reimbursement | No separate reimbursement |
|---|
Timeline
| September 24, 2020 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| September 24, 2020 | Dealer notification began |
| September 24, 2020 | Dealer notification ended |
| October 15, 2020 | Owner notification mailed |
| November 9, 2020 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| November 9, 2020 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V581?
Recall 20V581 covers 5 2020 Chevrolet Corvette vehicles with a driver's seat-belt retractor that does not lock as intended during a crash. If the belt fails to lock, injury risk increases. Chevrolet dealers will replace the driver's side seat-belt retractor for free.
What should I do if my 2020 Chevrolet Corvette is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Corvette is included in recall 20V581. If it is, contact a franchised Chevrolet dealer and ask for the driver's side seat-belt retractor replacement. Reference recall number 20V581 or GM recall N202307690 when you call.
Is the Chevrolet Corvette recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Chevrolet dealers will replace the driver's side seat-belt retractor free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for vehicles included in recall 20V581.
Is it safe to drive my 2020 Chevrolet Corvette before the recall repair?
The recall does not include do-not-drive instructions. The safety issue is specific to the driver's seat belt retractor during a crash. Check your VIN, schedule the free dealer repair if your Corvette is included, and ask the Chevrolet service desk for guidance if you are concerned about driving before the appointment.
When did the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette recall repair start?
The recall repair began on October 15, 2020. Chevrolet dealers replace the driver's side seat-belt retractor for free on included vehicles. If you bought the Corvette used or never received a letter, the VIN check decides whether this recall applies to your car.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V581000 |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet customer service | 1-866-522-9559 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V581 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V581000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →