1986 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 1986 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
- 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.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
STEEL FUEL FILTER ADAPTER THREADS STRIPED CARB BODY CAUSING FUEL LEAK ONTO ENGINE
PLASTIC COVER ON FUEL TANK ALLOWED SAND TO COLECT CAUSING RUST THRU OF FUEL TANK AND FUEL LEAKAGE
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
SPEEDOMETER FAILED, A MUCH LOWER MILEAGE WAS INDICATED THAN VEHICLE ACTUALLY TRAVELED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER'S SHOULDER/LAP BELT BUCKLE WON'T RELEASE, ALSO PASSENGER BUCKLE POPS OPEN. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.)
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 .