1985 Chevrolet C10 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1985 Chevrolet C10, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- 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.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD, FOUND AREA NEAR CARBURETOR ON FIRE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
FUEL TANKS ARE BUILT OUTSIDE THE FRAME, CAUSING SERIOUS RISK OF FIRE IN CASE OF BEING HIT FROM THE SIDE. *DSH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .