Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1986 Chevrolet Cavalier
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Engine & Cooling
733.3%
0 crashes, 4 fires
Electrical System
523.8%
0 crashes, 2 fires · median 189,654 mi
Steering
314.3%
Seats
29.5%
2 crashes, 0 fires
Seat Belts
14.8%
Tires
14.8%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
14.8%
Body & Structure
14.8%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 1995peak 3Oct 2009
NHTSA investigations into the 1986 Chevrolet Cavalier
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA87006Opened 16 Dec 1986Closed 19 Sep 1988STEERING
POWER ST. ASSIST
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER:GM HAS DEVELOPED A SPLITRING FIELD REPAIR KIT AND IS EXTENDING THE WARRANRY ON ALL 1982-84 A,J, AND X, BODY CARS AND 1985 C,BODY CARS.THE WARRANTY APPLIES TO CARSTHAT ARE FOR 50,000 MILES OR 5 YRS.IT INCLUDES REIMBURSEMENT FOR PREVIOUSREPAIRS.ANALYSIS:WEARING OF THE RACK AND PINION HOUSING AND LOW AMBIENT TEMPCAN CAUSE TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER ASSIST.TEFLON O RINGS FAIL TO SEALOFF INTERNAL PRESSURE.STATUS:EVALUATING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OFFER BY GM.======
Recalls on the 1986 Chevrolet Cavalier
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 198605123,158 units in Canada
Lights And Instruments
On certain vehicles, the push-pull headlight switch may have been manufactured with electrical contacts which allow an intermittent headlight circuit. An intermittent circuit could cause the headlights to suddenly go out. Under severe weather or nighttime driving conditions, driver visibility could be reduced, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Round Lake Park, ILCrash2 injured
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
BACK OF DRIVERS SEAT WENT DOWN, AND DRIVER HIT A CEMENT WALL AND FLIPPED CAR OVER.
NHTSA complaint #704710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Willsboro, NYFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE CAUGHT ONN FIRE. CAUSE UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #534769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Youngstown, OHFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE FIRE.(OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
NHTSA complaint #508891 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Youngstown, OHFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
NHTSA complaint #488972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Poland, OHFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE OVERHEATED, RESULTING IN A FIRE (OHIO STATE POLICE ACCIDENT REPORT).
NHTSA complaint #484835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dover, DECrash2 injured1 killed
SEATS
VEHICLE WAS HIT BROADSIDE, PASSENGER WAS EJECTED, WAS BELTED, BUT SEAT BROKE. TT
NHTSA complaint #974177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 189,654 milesMarengo, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON MY 1986 CHEVY CAVALIER Z24 V6 IF THE ENGINE IS OFF OR ON THE DIGITAL DASH THE LIGHTS GO OUT AND SO DOES THE DOME LIGHT IF THE HEAD LIGHT IS PUSH O PANEL OR BOTH.
NHTSA complaint #10289653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Takoma, WA
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SPARE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE HAS CRACK MARKS ALL OVER THE TIRE. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. MR
NHTSA complaint #8020461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Louisville, KY
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
ADJUSTED STEERING COLUMN IS COMING LOOSE AT COLLAPSE/HINGE AREA DUE TO LOOSENESS OF BOLTS. THIS CAUSES MECHANISM NOT TO WORK PROPERLY ON STEERING COLUMN RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #879969 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Round Lake Park, ILCrash2 injured
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
BACK OF DRIVERS SEAT WENT DOWN, AND DRIVER HIT A CEMENT WALL AND FLIPPED CAR OVER.
NHTSA complaint #704710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Willsboro, NYFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE CAUGHT ONN FIRE. CAUSE UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #534769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bedford, HI
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SHOULDER BELT HARNESS FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, WILL NOT PULL OUT TO LOCK/ LATCH TO BUCKLE.
NHTSA complaint #806650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Berwick, PA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN INOPERATIVE.( 2ND VEHICLE ON 506736)
NHTSA complaint #601640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Berwick, PA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
OIL LEAK.
NHTSA complaint #601640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Berwick, PA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #601640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Youngstown, OHFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE FIRE.(OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
NHTSA complaint #508891 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Youngstown, OH
STRUCTURE:BODY
ERRATIC OPERATION OF DASHBOARD, CONSOLE LOSES PROPER READING.
NHTSA complaint #802764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Youngstown, OHFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
NHTSA complaint #488972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Poland, OHFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE OVERHEATED, RESULTING IN A FIRE (OHIO STATE POLICE ACCIDENT REPORT).
NHTSA complaint #484835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dover, DECrash2 injured1 killed
SEATS
VEHICLE WAS HIT BROADSIDE, PASSENGER WAS EJECTED, WAS BELTED, BUT SEAT BROKE. TT
NHTSA complaint #974177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Amherst, NY
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
STIFF POWER STEERING DUE TO POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK, ALSO POWER STEERING RACK/PUMP/HOSE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #489652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Holland, OH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
DASHBOARD DISPLAY INTERMITTENTLY DISAPPEARED AND CAME BACK ON; NOW, COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE; VEHICLE UNKNOWINGLY RAN OUT OF GAS, OVERHEATED, CANNOT TELL SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #971389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Holland, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
DASHBOARD DISPLAY INTERMITTENTLY DISAPPEARED AND CAME BACK ON; NOW, COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE; VEHICLE UNKNOWINGLY RAN OUT OF GAS, OVERHEATED, CANNOT TELL SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #971389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fremont, OH
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
REAR WINDOW CRACKED AND BLEW OUT OF VEHICLE, OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT.
NHTSA complaint #481496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Grand BAY, ALFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
DASH FIRE AND THE CAR WAS TOTALLY BURNT UP. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
NHTSA complaint #961326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Peidmont, SCFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ELECTRICAL FIRE. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #480591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marysville, PA
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
THE STEERING IS REAL STIFF WHEN IT IS COLD MAKING CAR HARD TO TURN. TT
NHTSA complaint #958262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.