RoadVitals

1985 Chevrolet Chevette

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 Aug 9, 1995
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 Apr 4, 1988
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.
3
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
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1985 Chevrolet Chevette, most frequently naming the interior & seats category. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 3 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

  • Interior & seats1100.0%

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
88V050000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

Apr 4, 1988
370,831 units potentially affected
The defect: THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER BUTTON MECHANISM MAY WEAR TO THE POINT THAT THE BUTTON ON THE SHIFT LEVER NO LONGER NEEDS TO BE DEPRESSED TO SHIFT GEARS.
The risk: A LEVER WITH THIS CONDITION COULD BE INADVERTENTLY BUMPEDOR MOVED FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE BY THE DRIVER OR A PASSENGER WHILE THE VEHICLEIS BEING DRIVEN. A SUDDEN UNEXPECTED SHIFTING COULD CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: A NEWLY DESIGNED TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER WILL BE INSTALLED ON ALL VEHICLES.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

PE88023ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

SHIFTER FAILURE

Opened Feb 5, 1988
Closed Apr 8, 1988

===

POWER TRAINLed to recall 88V050000
DP87009ClosedDefect Petition

SAFETY BELTS

Opened Dec 30, 1986
Closed Feb 10, 1987

SAFETY BELTS

SEAT BELTS
EA85018ClosedEngineering Analysis

CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT

Opened Mar 13, 1985
Closed Sep 4, 1987

SUMMARY: GM ADMITS THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM AND HAS DESIGNED A MODIFICATIONKIT INTENDED TO PREVENT PULLEY BOLT FAILURES BY KEEPING THE PULLEY INPROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE CRANKSHAFT AND THEREBY REDUCING THE BENDINGSTRESS ON THE BOLT. GM DOES NOT BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS SAFETY RELATEDAND WILL CONDUCT A SERVICE CAMPAIGN.ANALYSIS:THE HIGHEST FAILURE RATES HAVE OCCURRED ON VEHICLES EQUIPPEDWITH AC AND PS WHICH USE A TRIPLE SHEAVE PULLEY. THE MODIFICATION KITSHOULD REDUCE THE FAILURE RATE ON THESE VEHICLES.STATUS: GM LAUNCHED A SERVICE CAMPAIGN IN FEBRUARY 1987 APPLICABLE TO185,000 T BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TRIPLE PULLEYS. (PRODUCT CAMPAIGN84C27)EA CLOSED 9/4/87===

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Recent owner complaints

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

Interior & seats
Filed Aug 9, 1995
Crash reported2 injuries reported

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT REAR END BOTH FRONT SEATS RECLINED BACKWARD . TT

NHTSA ID
970046

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet Chevette by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1987002—
1986332—
1985Viewing113—
1984024—
1983114—
1982325—
1981537—
1980137—
1979004—
1978002—
1977012—
1976043—

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.