RoadVitals

1986 Chevrolet C30

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.
1
Latest Nov 14, 1997
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.
3
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.
6
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 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1986 Chevrolet C30, most frequently naming the engine category. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 6 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

  • Engine1100.0%

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

3 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
91V217000

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

Dec 13, 1991
166,624 units potentially affected
The defect: THE LEFT HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM CAN CRACK STARTING AT THE REAR FLANGE AND PROGRESSING TO THE BALL JOINT MOUNTING HOLE AND EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE LOWER BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE FROM THE CONTROL ARM.
The risk: IF THE BALL JOINT SEPARATES FROM THE CONTROL ARM, A LOSSOF VEHICLE CONTROL COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
The remedy: INSTALL A RESINFORCED BRACE TO THE LEFT HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
87V002000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Jan 20, 1987
86,152 units potentially affected
The defect: TRUCKS FAILED TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 301, FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY, DURING A 30 MPH FRONTAL BARRIER TEST.
The risk: GREATER THAN ACCEPTABLE FUEL SPILLAGE DURING AND AFTER ACOLLISION COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The remedy: INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL SHIELD TO THE FRONT OF THE ORIGINAL SHIELD TO PROTECT THE FUEL TANK.
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
EA88016ClosedEngineering Analysis

HIGH TEMP & FUEL EXP

Opened Jan 19, 1988
Closed Jun 30, 1988

There is no summary currently available

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
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
EA88007ClosedEngineering Analysis

LOWER CONTROL ARM

Opened Nov 6, 1987
Closed Oct 24, 1988

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:MANUFACTURER IS IN RECEIPT OFONE COMPLAINT AND FIVE FIELD REPORTS.PRODUCT REPORT ANALYSIS STATES THELOWER CONTROL ARM FROM WAGGONER CORPORATION APPEARS TO HAVE A SMALL RADIUSAT THE TRANSITION OF THE SIDE WALL TO THE BALL STUD NOSE.CURRENT STAMPINGSOURCE, S.K.D., ALSO HAS A SMALL RADIUS IN THE SAME AREA.S.K.D. HASCHANGED THE TRIM TO INCREASE THE RADIUS TO 1 INCH AND PROVIDE ADDITIONALSTRENGTH IN THE BALL STUD AREA.ANALYSIS:FAILURE DATA INDICATES THE LEFT CONTROL ARM AND DIESEL ENGINEAPPLICATION ARE OVER REPRESENTED.ALL KNOWN FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED AT LOWSPEEDS, OR HAVE BEEN LOCATED AS A RESULT OF AN INCREASE IN THE FREQUENCY OFMAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS.BALL JOINT SEPARATION COULD RESULT IN COLLAPSE OFFRONT WHEEL SUSPENSION AND LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.ACTION: IR TO GM SENT 11/19/87 CONTACT FLEET OWNERS.===

SUSPENSIONLed to recall 88V110001

Recent owner complaints

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

Engine
Filed Nov 14, 1997

ENGINE HAS BLOWN ON THREE OCCASIONS.

NHTSA ID
524785
Incident
Jun 1, 1995

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet C30 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1999000—
1998210—
1997410—
1996560—
1995981—
1994791—
1993432—
1992221—
1991123—
1990232—
1989022—
1988135—
1987205—
1986Viewing136—
1985056—
1984144—
1983012—
1982012—
1981012—
1980021—
1979041—
1978021—
1977331—
1976241—
1975231—
1974021—
1973011—
1972001—
1971031—
1970011—
1967010—

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.