1985 Chevrolet Camaro 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 Camaro, 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
- Seat belts2750.9%
- Body & structure815.1%
- Brakes611.3%
- Engine35.7%
- Visibility35.7%
- Steering23.8%
- Electrical11.9%
- Suspension11.9%
- Transmission11.9%
- Interior & seats11.9%
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
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 CHEVROLET CAMARO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 85V169000 (SEAT BELTS: FRONT: BUCKLE ASSEMBLY) IN 1991 AND 1994. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR REPAIRS BOTH YEARS IN WHICH THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT DISPLAY A FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT MOST RECENTLY, THE SEAT BELT HAD BEEN DEFECTIVE FOR TWO YEARS BECAUSE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PARTS NEEDED FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE REGIONAL MANAGER WERE CONTACT AND CONFIRMED THAT THEY COULD NOT LOCATE THE PARTS FOR THE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.
THE FOLLOWING SAFETY RECALLS AND TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ARE LISTED BELOW, BUT A LOOKUP OF MY VIN NUMBER ON THE GM WEBSITE OR A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP (HOSELTON) REVEALS NO OPEN RECALLS ON IT, AND THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR IT WITHOUT CHARGE. THESE ISSUES ARE STILL CURRENT. TSB NUMBERS IN PARENTHESIS: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 90V105000, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 85V169000, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 91V055000, PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL ENGINE MISS/HESITATION/ROUGHNESS (93-35-6D) CRUISE CONTROL INTERMITTENT DROP-OUT/FAIL (92-107-8A) DAMAGE TO WIRING TERMINAL ON ENGINE SENSORS (88-101-8A) STARTER GRINDS/CLASHES ON CRANKING 1985-88 (88-305-6D) REDUCED P/S ASSIST AT LOW TEMPS (91-208-3B) WHEEL HUB FRACTURES (85V-018); 6/91 RECALL-REDUCED PARKING BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS (86C285) 7/86 CAMPAIGN-FLEX VANE WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP (85211). *NM
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND FRAME BROKE. WHEN SHE WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WENT INTO OTHER LANES. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
DUE TO VEHICLE'S DESIGN (NOT HAVING A CROSSMEMBER BRACE), THE FRAME CRACKED.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE FOLLOWING SAFETY RECALLS AND TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ARE LISTED BELOW, BUT A LOOKUP OF MY VIN NUMBER ON THE GM WEBSITE OR A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP (HOSELTON) REVEALS NO OPEN RECALLS ON IT, AND THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR IT WITHOUT CHARGE. THESE ISSUES ARE STILL CURRENT. TSB NUMBERS IN PARENTHESIS: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 90V105000, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 85V169000, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 91V055000, PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL ENGINE MISS/HESITATION/ROUGHNESS (93-35-6D) CRUISE CONTROL INTERMITTENT DROP-OUT/FAIL (92-107-8A) DAMAGE TO WIRING TERMINAL ON ENGINE SENSORS (88-101-8A) STARTER GRINDS/CLASHES ON CRANKING 1985-88 (88-305-6D) REDUCED P/S ASSIST AT LOW TEMPS (91-208-3B) WHEEL HUB FRACTURES (85V-018); 6/91 RECALL-REDUCED PARKING BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS (86C285) 7/86 CAMPAIGN-FLEX VANE WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP (85211). *NM
I FOUND OUT THROUGH THIS WEBSITE THAT THERE ARE RECALLS ON THIS CAR. WHEN MY HUSBAND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT-IT WAS TOO OLD. ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TOLD US THAT THERE WEREN'T ANY OPEN ORDERS ON THIS CAR BUT WE HAVE THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. THE SEAT BELT WON'T STAY TIGHT, AND THE CAR SOMETIMES ROLLS WHEN IN PARK. PLEASE HELP US GET THE RECALL TAKEN CARE OF! NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK
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
THE FOLLOWING SAFETY RECALLS AND TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ARE LISTED BELOW, BUT A LOOKUP OF MY VIN NUMBER ON THE GM WEBSITE OR A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP (HOSELTON) REVEALS NO OPEN RECALLS ON IT, AND THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR IT WITHOUT CHARGE. THESE ISSUES ARE STILL CURRENT. TSB NUMBERS IN PARENTHESIS: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 90V105000, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 85V169000, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 91V055000, PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL ENGINE MISS/HESITATION/ROUGHNESS (93-35-6D) CRUISE CONTROL INTERMITTENT DROP-OUT/FAIL (92-107-8A) DAMAGE TO WIRING TERMINAL ON ENGINE SENSORS (88-101-8A) STARTER GRINDS/CLASHES ON CRANKING 1985-88 (88-305-6D) REDUCED P/S ASSIST AT LOW TEMPS (91-208-3B) WHEEL HUB FRACTURES (85V-018); 6/91 RECALL-REDUCED PARKING BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS (86C285) 7/86 CAMPAIGN-FLEX VANE WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP (85211). *NM
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE FOLLOWING SAFETY RECALLS AND TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ARE LISTED BELOW, BUT A LOOKUP OF MY VIN NUMBER ON THE GM WEBSITE OR A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP (HOSELTON) REVEALS NO OPEN RECALLS ON IT, AND THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR IT WITHOUT CHARGE. THESE ISSUES ARE STILL CURRENT. TSB NUMBERS IN PARENTHESIS: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 90V105000, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 85V169000, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 91V055000, PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL ENGINE MISS/HESITATION/ROUGHNESS (93-35-6D) CRUISE CONTROL INTERMITTENT DROP-OUT/FAIL (92-107-8A) DAMAGE TO WIRING TERMINAL ON ENGINE SENSORS (88-101-8A) STARTER GRINDS/CLASHES ON CRANKING 1985-88 (88-305-6D) REDUCED P/S ASSIST AT LOW TEMPS (91-208-3B) WHEEL HUB FRACTURES (85V-018); 6/91 RECALL-REDUCED PARKING BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS (86C285) 7/86 CAMPAIGN-FLEX VANE WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP (85211). *NM
WHEN DRIVING FOR LONGER THAN 30 MINUTES IN THE RAIN, WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING. *DSH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE GEAR BOX FOR POWER STEERING IS TORQUING THE BOX ACROSS THE FRAME OF VEHICLE, CAUSING IT TO CRACK. HOUSING FOR SEAT BELT HAS FALLEN APART AFTER BEING REPAIRED UNDER RECALL (85V-169). *AK
WHILE DRIVING COMSUMER SAYS STEERING WHEEL WOBBLES WHILE DRIVING 2 BOLTS ARE LOOSE . HE CALLS THE DEALER THEY SAID THEY WOULD FIX THE CAR BUT NOT FOR FREE. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE BATTERY WAS BEING RECHARGED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHAT A NIGHTMARE, 33000 ORIGINAL MILES AND IT'S STILL A DEATH TRAP. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
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
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE EXPRIENCED FIRE UNDER THE DASH WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY; MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD AND NOTHING WOULD BE DONE. VEHICLE IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION IF NEEDED. *AK
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 .