RoadVitals

1985 Chevrolet C10

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
7
Latest Aug 6, 2007
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Oct 24, 2007
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
2
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1985 Chevrolet C10, most frequently naming the electrical, fuel system and body & structure categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 2 NHTSA investigations name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical225.0%
  • Fuel system225.0%
  • Body & structure112.5%
  • Brakes112.5%
  • Engine112.5%
  • Tires & wheels112.5%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
07E088000

EQUIPMENT

Oct 24, 2007
121,680 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. FRAM RACING HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS NOT BEARING A DATE CODE IN THIS RANGE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. THE GASKET OF THE OIL FILTER BECOMES MORE PLIABLE UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES.
The risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
87V043000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

Apr 1, 1987
32 units potentially affected
The defect: IMPROPER SIZE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLIES WERE INSTALLED.
The risk: TRUCKS COULD EXCEED THE MAXIMUM STOPPING DISTANCEPERMITTED BY FMVSS 105, HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR AVEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: REPLACE REAR AXLE BRAKE ASSEMBLIES WITH PROPER SIZE ASSEMBLIES.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA92041ClosedEngineering Analysis

FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY

Opened Dec 8, 1992
Closed Mar 9, 1995

There is no summary currently available

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
PE88016ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAKS

Opened Jan 14, 1988
Closed Mar 31, 1988

SUMMARY:SOME 1981-86 TRUCKS WITH 7.4L ENGINES AND CAST IRON EXHAUSTMANIFOLDS MAY EXPERIENCE A CONDITION WHERE AN EXHAUST LEAK DEVELOPSBETWEEN THE MANIFOLD AND THE CYLINDER HEAD MATING SURFACE CAUSING A NOISECONDITION. MOST OF THE REPORTS (AND ALL OF THE INJURIES AND THEMANIFOLD FIRE) ARE FROM THE P30 MOTORHOME CHASSIS.GM STATES THAT A WARPEDOR CRACKED MANIFOLD WOULD PERMIT SMALL AMOUNTS OF EXHAUST GAS LEAKAGEGENERALLY RESULTING IN NOTICEABLE NOISE AND FUMES.THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDSARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO EXTREME HEAT CONDITIONS (SUCH AS OPERATING UNDER SEVEREENGINE/VEHICULAR LOAD CONDITIONS AND HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES).THEMOTORHOME APPLICATION IS PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS ALLEGED DEFECTSINCE THE VEHICLE IS NEARLY ALWAYS AT OR NEAR THE GVWR OF THE VEHICLE.THEFEW NUMBER OF REPORTS RECEIVED BY ODI FOR A PROBLEM WHICH BEGAN 8 YEARS AGOSUGGESTS THAT THE DEFECT EITHER OCCURS INFREQUENTLY OR IS NOT PERCEIVED ASA SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD.THE SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED TO IDENTIFYTHE HIGH TEMPERATURE PROBLEM AND PROVIDE A REMEDY AGAINST REOCCURRENCE.===

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Aug 6, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 CHEVROLET C10. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE EMISSIONS STATION THAT THE REAR BRAKES ON HIS VEHICLE DO NOT OPERATE. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS AN AXLE BRAKE ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 02/01/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE SYSTEM HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE THE YEAR HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WILL NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL MANUFACTURER CAN REMEDY THE DEFECT. UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

NHTSA ID
10198611
Incident
Aug 6, 2007
Fuel system
Filed Jan 30, 2001

CONSUMER HAS SMELLED GAS FUME ODORS OUTSIDE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED TANK WAS LEAKING FUEL FROM SIDE SADDLE TANK DUE TO COVER WHICH WAS NOT MOUNTED TO TANK, ALLOWING FOREIGN OBJECTS TO ENTER TANK AND CAUSING TANK TO RUST OUT. TWENTY GALLON TANK. *AK

NHTSA ID
879307
Incident
Jan 20, 2001
Electrical
Filed Sep 9, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported

I HAVE REPLACED SEVEN COILS, FOUR IGNITION MODULES, AND 1 COMPLETE DISTRIBUTOR, ALSO I HAVE REPLACED THE CAP AND ROTOR THREE TIMES. THE TRUCK HAS LEFT ME AND MY ELDERLY PARENTS STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES AND HELPED IN CAUSING AN ACCIDENT THAT COULD HAD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. I HAVE PUT A LARGE SUM OF MONEY INTO THIS VEHICLE, BESIDE THE TIME IT TOOK TO WORK ON IT,PLUS THE TIME I MISSED AT WORK. I AM IN CONSTUCTION AND WHEN MY TRUCK DON'T I USSUALLY CAN'T WORK EITHER/.I FEEL THAT CHEVROLET CORP. SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM OR IN THE VERY LEAST NOTIFY THEIR VEHICLE OWNERS SO WE CAN SOLVE THE DEFECTS OURSELVES. OR NOT EVEN BUY THEM. I ENJOYED MY 1978 CHEVROLET PICKUP UP TO THE DAY IT WAS STOLEN. NOW I AM NOT SO SURE I CAN ENDORSE CHEVROLET AN MORE. I MUST ALSO STATE THAT OWNER BEFORE MY FATHER BOUGHT THE TRUCK HE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT.

NHTSA ID
730903
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 18, 2000

PE00 020; WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND THERE WAS NO NOISE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. CONTINENTAL GENERAL P235/75 R15 AND DOT # ACHL2V7077. FRONT RIGHT TIRE EXPLODED. SECOND TIRE WAS THE LEFT FRONT.*AK DURING THE FIRST TREAD SEPARATION, THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL CAUSING DAMAGE TO FENDER AND DOOR. THE SECOND TREAD SEPARATION OCCURED AGAIN WHILE TRAVELLING BUT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *YH

NHTSA ID
868154
Incident
May 24, 2000
Electrical
Filed May 15, 1996
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD, FOUND AREA NEAR CARBURETOR ON FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
984571
Fuel system
Filed Feb 17, 1996

FUEL TANKS ARE BUILT OUTSIDE THE FRAME, CAUSING SERIOUS RISK OF FIRE IN CASE OF BEING HIT FROM THE SIDE. *DSH

NHTSA ID
501645
Incident
Feb 17, 1996
Body & structureEngine
Filed Oct 10, 1995
Fire reported

UNDER VEHICLE CARRIAGE FIRE, CATALYTIC CONVERTER SUSPECTED OF CAUSING FIRE. TT AFTER SUDDEN EXPLOSION THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FROM UNDERNEATH THE REAR. THE POWER DOOR FAILED TO WORK AND THE CONSUMER IN TRYING TO GET OUT HAD HIS HAIR ON FIRE BUT PUT IT OUT BY ROLLING ON THE GROUND. *YH

NHTSA ID
973196
Incident
Oct 4, 1995

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet C10 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2001012—
2000112—
1999312—
1998160—
1997770—
19961611053.9
19954012157.1
19942015152.1
1993942—
1992941—
1991314—
1990322—
1989522—
1988756—
1987101—
1986722—
1985Viewing722—
1984312—
1983312—
1982432—
1981432—
1980111—
1979412—
1978111—
1977431—
1976322—
1975011—
1974031—
1973011—
1972001—
1971011—
1970011—
1968100—
1967010—
1961100—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.