RoadVitals

1986 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 31, 2000
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1986 Chevrolet C10, most frequently naming the fuel system, powertrain (other) and seat belts 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

  • Fuel system457.1%
  • Powertrain (other)114.3%
  • Seat belts114.3%
  • Transmission114.3%

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

Fuel system
Filed Aug 31, 2000

STEEL FUEL FILTER ADAPTER THREADS STRIPED CARB BODY CAUSING FUEL LEAK ONTO ENGINE

NHTSA ID
729621
Incident
Jul 20, 2000
Fuel system
Filed Aug 31, 2000

PLASTIC COVER ON FUEL TANK ALLOWED SAND TO COLECT CAUSING RUST THRU OF FUEL TANK AND FUEL LEAKAGE

NHTSA ID
729620
Incident
Jan 10, 2000
Transmission
Filed Jul 11, 1999
Fire reported

MY 1986 CHEVY 1/2 TON PU TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE WHILE TRAVELLING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH WITH ME AND MY 71 YEAR OLD FATHER IN IT. I AM CONVINCED THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING AND PRESSURE BLOWING THE FLUID OUT THE DIPSTICK TUBE. AT THE TIME WE WERE PULLING A BOAT (18' PONTOON BOAT) DOWN ALABAMA INTERSTATE 65 SOUTH WHEN WE HEARD SEVERAL EXPLOSIONS UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IT WAS APPROX. 4:45 AM ON 6/18/99. I LOOKED OUT MY SIDE WINDOW AND SAW LARGE BRIGHT ORANGE AND YELLOW REFLECTIONS ON THE PAVEMENT INDICATING A SEVERE FIRE UNDERNEATH OUR VEHICLE (THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF A PROBLEM BEFORE THE EXPLOSIONS OCCURRED). WE WERE APPROACHING AN OVERPASS WITH AN 18 WHEELER DIRECTLY BEHIND US AND ANOTHER VEHICLE OVERTAKING US IN THE LEFT PASSING LANE. THERE WAS NO SAFE PLACE (SHOULDER) TO STOP. I PROCEEDED ACROSS THE OVERPASS AND PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. WE FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE NOT INJURED AND THAT THE ENTIRE VEHICLE AND BOAT DID NOT BURN TOTALLY. ONCE I GOT STOPPED, I POPPED THE HOOD, SAW THE FLAMES THROUGH THE DENSE SMOKE, RACED TO THE BOAT, RETRIEVED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER, RACED BACK AND PUT MOST OF THE FIRE OUT. AFTER COMPLETELY EXPELLING THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER, SMALL FLAMES WERE STILL VISIBLE. I QUICKLY RETRIEVED 2 GALLONS OF WATER THAT WE HAD IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK AND PUT THE REMAINDER OF THE FIRE OUT WITH IT. THERE IS CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE UNDER THE HOOD BUT APPARENTLY NOT ENOUGH FOR THE TRUCK TO BE CONSIDERED "TOTALED" BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY. AFTER WALKING TO THE NEAREST PHONE I DIALED 911. A LOCAL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT. WAS DISPATCHED. A FIRE TRUCK AND FIREMAN ARRIVED SHORTLY THEREAFTERE AND INSPECTED UNDER THE DASH AND HOOD THOROUGHLY TO MAKE SURE THE FIRE WAS TOTALLY OUT. A REPORT WAS FILLED OUT BY THE FIREMAN. THE TRUCK AND BOAT WERE TOWED BACK TO MY DAD'S RESIDENT THAT MORNING BY TATE'S WRECKER SERVICE IN ATHENS AL. (NOTE: THE TRUCK IS A 2 OWNER. IT HAS BEEN VERY DEPENDABLE, WELL MAINTAINED AND WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.)

NHTSA ID
708488
Incident
Jun 18, 1999
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 7, 1997

SPEEDOMETER FAILED, A MUCH LOWER MILEAGE WAS INDICATED THAN VEHICLE ACTUALLY TRAVELED. *AK

NHTSA ID
518669
Fuel system
Filed Sep 11, 1996

STARTED TO SMELL GAS AND DISCOVERED THAT THE GAS TANK SUPPORTS HAD RUSTED THROUGHAND CAUSED THE GAS TANK TO COME LOOSE/VIBRATE WHICH RUBBED A HOLE IN THE TANK. *AK

NHTSA ID
800015
Incident
Jul 23, 1996
Fuel system
Filed Jan 25, 1996

THE GAS TANK COLLECTS WATER AND HOLDS IT AND THE GAS TANK RUSTS OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ID
978183
Incident
Jan 20, 1996
Seat belts
Filed May 25, 1995

DRIVER'S SHOULDER/LAP BELT BUCKLE WON'T RELEASE, ALSO PASSENGER BUCKLE POPS OPEN. TT

NHTSA ID
965897
Incident
May 25, 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—
1986Viewing722—
1985722—
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.