Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1986 Pontiac 6000
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Brakes
937.5%
Steering
625.0%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
28.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain
28.3%
Seats
14.2%
Seat Belts
14.2%
Fuel & Propulsion
14.2%
Body & Structure
14.2%
Engine & Cooling
14.2%
0 crashes, 1 fires
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 5Feb 2001
NHTSA investigations into the 1986 Pontiac 6000
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.
PE94048Opened 21 Jun 1994Closed 30 Dec 1994ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
SUB-FRAME ABSORBER FAILURE
PE91120Opened 30 Aug 1991Closed 4 Nov 1991SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FRONT BRAKE DISC/HUB SEP
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 Pontiac 6000
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 198706556 units in Canada
Brakes
6000 STE MODELS ONLY. ON VEHICLES WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, THE ABS RELAY AND/OR THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR RELAY MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE DUE TO CORROSION. AN INOPERATIVE ABS RELAY COULD CAUSE THE LOSS OF THE ABS FUNCTION. ALSO, A LOSS OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR RELAY COULD CAUSE THE LOSS OF THE REAR BRAKES AS WELL AS POWER ASSIST TO THE FRONT BRAKES. THIS COULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES AND VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CORRECTION: RELAYS WILL BE REPLACED.
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.
Youngstown, OHFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO ENGINE OVERHEATING AND LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE ONTO HOT ENGINE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT).
NHTSA complaint #484827 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Anchorage, AK
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE LEFT AND RIGHT SUB-FRAME THAT SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION BROKE (RUSTED OUT MAYBE) AT THE FRONT ,AROUND THE ISOLATORS. THIS DROPPED EVERYTHING DOWN ABOUT 6-8INCHES. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED AT A VERY LOW SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD TO STEER AND REALLY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DRIVEN ANYWHERE. I WAS A MILE OR TWO FROM A MECHANIC SHOP, SO I DROVE IT THERE.
NHTSA complaint #740534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fenton, MI
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
GEN MOTORS RACK AND PINION GEARS HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE SINCE1980 WHEN THEY WERE FIRST PRODUCED. I AM A RETIRED FACTORY SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE FOR GENERAL MOTORS AND I KNOW THIS FOR A FACT. WHEN I WAS IN THE "FIELD" I WAS TOLD UNOFFICIALLY TO MAKE A 'GOODWILL" ADJUSTMENT FOR ANY COMPLAINTS OF RACK AND PINION STEERING GEARS THAT WOULD "LOCK-UP" DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. THE DEFECT IS DUE TO THE DESIGN OF A STEEL SPOOL VALVE PINION IN AN ALUMINUM RACK ASSEMBLY. PRESENTLY THE MANUFACTURERS HAVE CORRECTED THE DEFECT BY INSTALLING A STEEL SLEEVE IN THE PINION SECTION OF THE RACK ASSEMBLY SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS A 'TOP HAT" RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY. COMPARISONS FORM EARLIER DESIGNS AND PRESENT WILL CONFIRM THIS TO BE TRUE. I BELIEVE MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE DUE TO THIS INHERENT MANUFACTURER DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #727330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Peralta, NM
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
MASTER CYLINDER FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #541442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Peralta, NM
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #541442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sprucew, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKES: REAR BRAKES AND CALIPERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT WORK AFTER HAVING REAR BRAKES ,ROTORS , CALIPERS AND PARKING BRAKE CABLES REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #813002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sprucew, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
BRAKES: REAR BRAKES AND CALIPERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT WORK AFTER HAVING REAR BRAKES ,ROTORS , CALIPERS AND PARKING BRAKE CABLES REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #813002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sprucew, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
BRAKES: REAR BRAKES AND CALIPERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT WORK AFTER HAVING REAR BRAKES ,ROTORS , CALIPERS AND PARKING BRAKE CABLES REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #813002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sprucew, MI
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
BRAKES: REAR BRAKES AND CALIPERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT WORK AFTER HAVING REAR BRAKES ,ROTORS , CALIPERS AND PARKING BRAKE CABLES REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #813002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lenexa, KS
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELTS: THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ON DRIVER'S SIDE. SEIZES, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO BE INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #812852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ST David, IL
SEATS
DRIVER SIDE SEAT TRACK AND ANCHORS BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO FALL BACK.
NHTSA complaint #811971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Huntington, NY
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
'COLD POWER STEERING.'
NHTSA complaint #513928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cranston, RI
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE.(OTHER VEHICLES ON 506366,601615)
NHTSA complaint #601616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cranston, RI
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RACK AND PINION FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #601616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NHTSA complaint #501730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dallas, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
RECEIVED RECALL 9 YEARS AGO AND STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
NHTSA complaint #978976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Youngstown, OHFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO ENGINE OVERHEATING AND LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE ONTO HOT ENGINE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT).
NHTSA complaint #484827 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Powell, OH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CALLER INVOLVED IN RECALLED NO. 87V093000, ON ABS BRAKES - HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR FAILURE, REPAIRED VEHICLE IN 1990, SAME PART HAS FAILED AGAIN 9/95. TT THE MANUFACTURER NO LONGER MAKES REPLACEMENT PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #972873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Stamford, CT
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN DRIVING CAR IT WOULDN'T SHIFT GEARS UP . TT
NHTSA complaint #970683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Thousand OAK, CA
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RACK AND PINION STEERING HAS GONE OUT AT 57K MILES. TT
NHTSA complaint #959489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.