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 Corvette
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Brakes
850.0%
Median failure at 41,601 miles
Seat Belts
743.8%
Median failure at 84,000 miles
Electrical System
16.3%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
120.0%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
120.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
360.0%
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.
Dec 1996peak 2Jul 2017
NHTSA investigations into the 1986 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
PE90041Opened 8 Feb 1990Closed 11 Jun 1990SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR FAIL
PE90032Opened 12 Jan 1990Closed 22 Mar 1990SUSPENSION
TIE ROD SOCKET FAILURE
Recalls on the 1986 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 1986095659 units in Canada
Brakes
CERTAIN SEVERE AND UNUSUAL BRAKING CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER CENTRE VALVE. IF SUFFICIENT DAMAGE ACCUMULATES, LOSS OF FRONT BRAKES MAY OCCUR WITH ACCOMPANYING INCREASED PEDAL TRAVEL AND REDUCED BRAKING ABILITY. A REDUCTION OF BRAKING ABILITY AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE IS REQUIRED COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CORRECTION: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER PISTON KIT ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES.
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.
Medesto, CA1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
DT: IN 1991 THE CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN RECALL 91V143000 CONCERNING SAFETY BELTS. THE RECALL STATED THAT WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH THE VEHICLE IT WILL BE FIXED. TODAY THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE AMERICAN CHEVROLET, THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE RECALL. AT THAT POINT, THE CONSUMER CALLED GENERAL MOTORS AND THEY CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY REFUSED TO HELP. THE CONSUMER HAS A FILE NUMBER AT GM 1-347-363-013. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED APPROXIMATELY A WEEK AGO. CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER WAS HURT WHEN SHE WAS RIDING IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT AND THE BRAKES HAD TO BE APPLIED QUICKLY.
NHTSA complaint #10127660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 23,000 milesRYE Brook, NY
SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELTS DON'T TIGHTEN UPON FAST BODY MOVEMENT OR FAST BRAKING. THEY DON'T WORK PROPERLY.I HAD THE BELTS REPLACE AT A CHEVROLET DEALER, BUT THEY STILL DON'T WORK PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #11006679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2 milesRices Landing, PA
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKES LOCK UP IN REAR FRONT KEEPS SPINING WAS TOLD MY ABS MODULE WAS BAD UNABLE TO EVEN FIND REPLACEMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10855588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 84,000 milesColorado Springs, CO
SEAT BELTS
REFERENCE NUMBERS: ?CHEVROLET RECALLS 91C25 AND 91C26 ISSUED NOVEMBER 1991 ?NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #: 91V143000 ?CHEVROLET CLAIM# [XXX] (FROM RECENT CONVERSATIONS) ?VIN# [XXX]. OUR 1986 CORVETTE'S SEATBELTS INTERMITTENTLY LOCKUP AND DO NOT MOVE; THEN WHEN THEY DO EVENTUALLY RELEASE WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THEY DO NOT CONSISTENTLY GRAB WHEN NEEDED. AFTER ONE RECENT QUICK STOP THE PASSENGER BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN. THAT EXPERIENCE PROMPTED US TO SEARCH ONLINE FOR REPLACEMENT SEATBELTS. DURING THAT SEARCH WE FOUND A RECALL NOTICE, SO WE CHECKED OUR OWN RECORDS AND FOUND THE ORIGINAL RECALL NOTICE THAT CHEVROLET MAILED TO US IN 1991, AND AN APRIL 1991 NOTE THAT THEY REFUSED TO PERFORM THE SERVICE BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE ALL OF THE VEHICLE?S SERVICE RECORDS AND THERE IS NO RECORD, OR RECOLLECTION, THAT THE REPAIR WAS EVER PERFORMED. WE CALLED CHEVROLET?S CUSTOMER SERVICE AND LEARNED THAT ONE DATABASE SHOWS THAT OUR 1986 CORVETTE IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE REPAIR, BUT ANOTHER DATABASE (OPEN RECALL DATABASE?) DOES NOT SHOW OUR VIN# SO THEY WON?T PERFORM THE REPAIR. IN JUNE 2014 A LOCAL DEALER, WHO ALSO REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL SERVICE, SURMISED THAT OUR VIN# DOES NOT APPEAR BECAUSE IN APRIL 1992, WHEN THE RECALL SERVICE WAS ORIGINALLY REFUSED, THE DEALER PROBABLY REMOVED IT FROM THE RECALL DATABASE (BUT WE WERE NOT INFORMED OF THIS NOR DOES CHEVROLET HAVE ANY RECORD OF IT.) OF COURSE THE MISSING VIN# MIGHT ALSO BE A DATA ACCURACY PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET?S DATABASE. ARE YOU IN A POSITION TO ADVISE/ENCOURAGE CHEVROLET TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE SEAT BELTS? IF NOT, AT LEAST FILE THIS AS A SAFETY COMPLAINT AGAINST CHEVROLET. THANK YOU. PS: WE HAVE A LOG OF ALL CALLS TO GM AND PICTURES OF THE SEAT BELT SERIAL NUMBERS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10607163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jefferson City, MO
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1986 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING ABNORMALLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 86V120000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
NHTSA complaint #10392374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 88,132 milesHampton, VA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKED AND WOULD NOT RETRACT. RECALL #91V143000 WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD NO INFORMATION ABOUT THE RECALL, AND THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE CONTACT MAINTAINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 88,132.
NHTSA complaint #10188736 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 83,200 milesArvada, CO
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
MY BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER STARTED TO LEAK. THE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP.
NHTSA complaint #10160867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Medesto, CA1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
DT: IN 1991 THE CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN RECALL 91V143000 CONCERNING SAFETY BELTS. THE RECALL STATED THAT WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH THE VEHICLE IT WILL BE FIXED. TODAY THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE AMERICAN CHEVROLET, THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE RECALL. AT THAT POINT, THE CONSUMER CALLED GENERAL MOTORS AND THEY CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY REFUSED TO HELP. THE CONSUMER HAS A FILE NUMBER AT GM 1-347-363-013. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED APPROXIMATELY A WEEK AGO. CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER WAS HURT WHEN SHE WAS RIDING IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT AND THE BRAKES HAD TO BE APPLIED QUICKLY.
NHTSA complaint #10127660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
South Lebanon, OH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
THE CENTER VALVE ON THE MASTER CYLINDER LEAKS BRAKE FLUID.THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE CENTER VALVE HAD TO BE REPLACED.THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM.I CONTACTED THE CHEVROLET CO. BUT THEY SAID THERE ISNT A RECALL .BUT YOU SAY THERE IS. WHO IS TELLING THE TRUTH???PLEASE HELP.TIM THE CAMPAIGN # IS 86V120000
NHTSA complaint #714678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pipe Creek, TX
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
DEALERS REFUSE TO COMPLY WITH SEAT BELT RECALL
NHTSA complaint #712078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marietta, GA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE BRAKES LOCK AND UP THE VEHICLE SKIDS AND WHEN THE BBRAKES WOULDN'T RELEASE.
NHTSA complaint #837642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Jose, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER SEAT BELT AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SHOULDER SEAT BELT GET STUCK. SHOULDER BELTS CAN'T COME OUT AND GO OVER THE CONSUMERS IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THEM WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #837216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
South Leba, OH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #539615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Livermore, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
THERE IS AN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL SHORT SOMEWHERE IN THE VEHICLE THAT THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO LOCATE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT MAY BE RELATED TO THE MOVEMENT OF THE ADJUSTABLE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNALS AND/OR THE BRAKES, THE FUSE OR FUSES BLOW, LEAVING THE CAR WITHOUT BRAKING LIGHTS AND/OR TURN INDICATORS. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #537620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palm BAY, FL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
AT HIGH SPEED, APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, HAD TO MAKE A PANIC STOP, BUT BRAKES FAILED. CONSUMER CLAIMS PROBLEM RELATES TO MASTER CYLINDER. INQUIRES WHETHER HIS VEHICLE IS COVERED UNDER RECALL 86V-120, MASTER CYLINDER.
NHTSA complaint #523920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palm BAY, FL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
AT HIGH SPEED, APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, HAD TO MAKE A PANIC STOP, BUT BRAKES FAILED. CONSUMER CLAIMS PROBLEM RELATES TO MASTER CYLINDER. INQUIRES WHETHER HIS VEHICLE IS COVERED UNDER RECALL 86V-120, MASTER CYLINDER.
NHTSA complaint #523920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Antonio, TX
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELTS JAMMED AND FAILED TO RETRACT PRIOR TO RECALL; RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DEALER CLAIMING BELT FAILURE NOT RELATED TO RECALL. (91V-143).
NHTSA complaint #512142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.