Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1985 Chevrolet Corvette
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Seat Belts
850.0%
Median failure at 75,000 miles
Steering
212.5%
Transmission & Drivetrain
212.5%
Other & Unspecified
16.3%
Lights
16.3%
Suspension
16.3%
Median failure at 178,397 miles
Brakes
16.3%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
50,000 – 74,999 miles
125.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
125.0%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
125.0%
150,000+ miles
125.0%
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.
Feb 1995peak 2Dec 2019
NHTSA investigations into the 1985 Chevrolet Corvette
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.
DP96006Opened 14 May 1996Closed 18 Oct 1996SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE PULL
THE PETITIONS STATED THAT:WE REPRESENT THE OWNER OF A 1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE WHICH, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, SUDDENTLY, VIOLENTLY, AND UNEXPECTEDLY PULLS TO THE LEFT.THIS IS A INTERMITTENT DEFECT WHICH DOES NOT OCCUR WITH AN REGULARITY.
EA92005Opened 30 Jan 1992Closed 29 Jan 1993VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
THROTTLE STICKING
EA90033Opened 11 Jun 1990Closed 9 Sep 1991SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR FAIL
PE90032Opened 12 Jan 1990Closed 22 Mar 1990SUSPENSION
TIE ROD SOCKET FAILURE
Recalls on the 1985 Chevrolet Corvette
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 199112610,758 units in Canada
Seats And Restraints
NOTE: OWNER SELF INSPECTION - REPAIR ONLY IF PROBLEM OCCURS. THE SEAT BELT MAY LOCK-UP OR JAM IN THE RETRACTOR. IF THIS OCCURS, VEHICLE OCCUPANTS WILL BE UNABLE TO USE THE SEAT BELT. THUS, IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, UNBELTED OCCUPANTS WILL BE MORE AT RISK OF INJURY. CORRECTION: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND ANY RETRACTOR SIDE BELTS LOCKING UP OR JAMMED WILL BE REPLACED.
Recall 19860924,497 units in Canada
Engine
Certain Camaro, Firebird, Monte Carlo and Grand Prix equipped with a 5.0L engine, and 5.7L Corvettes. High ignition coil temperatures combined with the stress of higher voltage may break down the coating of the high output ignition coil secondary windings. Declining ignition voltage may lead to engine misfire, hesitation sags or no re-start. Depending on road condition, this could result in a significant safety hazard. Correction: High output ignition coil will be replace, spark plug gap will be revised and a spark plug gap revision label will be installed.
Recall 198510145 units in Canada
CORROSION AND DETERIORATION OF AN ELECTRONIC COMPONENT WITHIN THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR RESULTS IN A LOW SIGNAL VOLTAGE TO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE REDUCING FUEL DELIVERY. THIS CAUSES STALLING AT ENGINE IDLE OR A NO-START CONDITION.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 75,000 milesPunta Gorda, FL
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. UPON BRAKING, THE SEAT BELT SENSORS FOR BOTH SEATS DID NOT ENGAGE AND WERE INOPERATIVE. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 91V143000 (SEAT BELTS). THE MANUFACTURER AND GETTEL CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (1901 TAMIAMI TRAIL, PUNTA GORDA, FL 33950) WERE NOTIFIED, BUT COULD NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.
NHTSA complaint #11291295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Richmond Hill, GA
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT PULL OUT TO SAFELY SECURE THE DRIVER. THE CONTACT CALLED DAN VADEN CHEVROLET SAVANNAH (9393 ABERCORN ST, SAVANNAH, GA 31406, (912) 925-9393) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11139301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 70,000 milesRoseville, MI
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IN HIS VEHICLE. SHORTLY AFTER, THE SEAT BELT BEGAN TO FAIL. WHENEVER HE WOULD BUCKLE THE SEAT BELT, IT FAILED TO RELEASE. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR; THEREFORE, THE DEALER REFUSED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE FAILURE SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY SINCE A RECALL WAS ISSUED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000. UPDATED 6/15/09 *CN UPDATED 06/16/09
NHTSA complaint #10269373 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 178,397 milesLAS Vegas, NV
SUSPENSION:REAR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE REAR WHEELS FELT AS IF THEY HAD TURNED IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED TO THE RIGHT. THIS SENT THE VEHICLE INTO A REAR SKID. A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP WAS CONSULTED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10176036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 109,000 milesTrona, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
DT:DITTO CONTACT STATES THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO USE THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT THE LAP PORTION OF THE BELT BECAME STUCK WITHIN THE FRONT ANCHORAGE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE SEAT BELT AND OFFERED TO PUT ON ANOTHER STRAP. THE STRAP WAS IN A DIFFERENT COLOR THAN THE PREVIOUS STRAP, AND HE DID NOT WANT IT. THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL 91V143000 ON A SIMILAR PROBLEM THAT THE DEALER HAD PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED REPAIRS. HOWEVER THE CONTACT WANTED THIS PROBLEM TO BE COVERED BY THE RECALL AS WELL. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AT TIME. *AK UPDATED 01/04/06.
NHTSA complaint #10141742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pittsburg, KS
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #766678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Jose, CA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE 4+3 OVERDRIVE DESIGN PROBLEMS AND NEW PARTS TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. DOES GM REIMBURSE FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS?
NHTSA complaint #759008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
League City, TX
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 91V143000. DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RELEASE FROM RETRACTORS, CAUSING THE SEAT BELTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE.
NHTSA complaint #8001120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pittsburg, KS
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #748325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Warwick, RI
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA complaint #729452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lexington, KY
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING AND THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN "FISHTAILING" ACROSS THREE LANES BECAUSE THE LEFT REAR OUTER TIE ROD HAD BROKEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE THREADS.
NHTSA complaint #538271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LA Mirada, CA
POWER TRAIN
ODOMETER FRAUD.
NHTSA complaint #513308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Beaverton, OR
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
'COLD POWER STEERING'.
NHTSA complaint #485651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Daytona Beac, FL
PARKING BRAKE
THE EMERCENCY BRAKE LINE FALLS OFF OF THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #967901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oceanside, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE HEADLIGHT MOTORS ARE DEFECTIVE AND DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
NHTSA complaint #966742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Glenwood, WA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT PERFORM SEAT BELT RECALL WITH NO REASON GIVEN (91V-143). TT
NHTSA complaint #960011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.