RoadVitals

1986 Chevrolet C15

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.
5
Latest Nov 3, 1999
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.
1
Latest Sep 19, 1986
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.
1
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1986 Chevrolet C15, most frequently naming the fuel system category. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 1 NHTSA investigation names 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 system5100.0%

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

1 campaign 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
86V131000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

Sep 19, 1986
106,111 units potentially affected
The defect: THE PUSH PULL HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY HAVE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH ALLOW AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO FLICKER OR SUDDENLY GO OUT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SUDDEN LOSS OF THE HEADLIGHTS UNDER SEVERE WEATHER OR NIGHTTIME DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE DRIVER VISIBILITY WHICH MIGHT RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
The remedy: REPLACE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AS NECESSARY.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

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 Nov 3, 1999

DUAL GAS TANKS ARE LEAKING. THE OTHER ONE IS RUSTED FROM MUD BUILD UP. CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO NAPA, AND THEY SAID THAT THE TANK WAS OBSOLETE AND WOULD HAVE TO PUCHASE ONE USED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
852524
Incident
Oct 26, 1999
Fuel system
Filed Nov 3, 1999

DUAL GAS TANKS ARE LEAKING ,THE OTHER ONE IS RUSTED DUE TO MUD BUILD UP. TOOK TRUCK TO NAPA, AND CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THOSE TANKS ARE NOW OBSOLETE, AND THAT THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO GET ONE USED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFOMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
852523
Incident
Oct 26, 1999
Fuel system
Filed Oct 26, 1999

ONE OF THE DUAL TANKS WAS LEAKING. THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
851826
Incident
Oct 26, 1999
Fuel system
Filed Oct 26, 1999

FUEL PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ID
851825
Fuel system
Filed Nov 20, 1995

LEAKING FUEL TANK. TT THE PLASTIC ROCK GUARD DOES NOT COVER THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE TANK MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR SAND, ROCK, DIRT AND OTHER DEBRIS TO GET BETWEEN THE PLASTIC GUARD AND THE TANK CAUSING THE TANK TO RUST COMPLETELY AND LEAK THE FUEL. IT COULD BE A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD. *YH

NHTSA ID
975143
Incident
Oct 1, 1994

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet C15 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1996260041.7
1995600046.8
1994410039.9
1993350045.3
1992140032.9
1991100046.4
1990810—
1989120039.4
1988901—
1987200—
1986Viewing511—
1985201—
1984101—
1983001—
1982001—
1981001—

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.