1985 Chevrolet Corvette 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 Corvette, 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 belts853.3%
- Steering213.3%
- Exterior lighting16.7%
- Powertrain (other)16.7%
- Brakes16.7%
- Suspension16.7%
- Transmission16.7%
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 CORVETTE. UPON BRAKING, THE SEAT BELT SENSORS FOR BOTH SEATS DID NOT ENGAGE AND WERE INOPERATIVE. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 91V143000 (SEAT BELTS). THE MANUFACTURER AND GETTEL CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (1901 TAMIAMI TRAIL, PUNTA GORDA, FL 33950) WERE NOTIFIED, BUT COULD NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT PULL OUT TO SAFELY SECURE THE DRIVER. THE CONTACT CALLED DAN VADEN CHEVROLET SAVANNAH (9393 ABERCORN ST, SAVANNAH, GA 31406, (912) 925-9393) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING AND THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN "FISHTAILING" ACROSS THREE LANES BECAUSE THE LEFT REAR OUTER TIE ROD HAD BROKEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE THREADS.
'COLD POWER STEERING'. *DH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE HEADLIGHT MOTORS ARE DEFECTIVE AND DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
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
ODOMETER FRAUD.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE EMERCENCY BRAKE LINE FALLS OFF OF THE CAR. *AK
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
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE REAR WHEELS FELT AS IF THEY HAD TURNED IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED TO THE RIGHT. THIS SENT THE VEHICLE INTO A REAR SKID. A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP WAS CONSULTED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.
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
THE 4+3 OVERDRIVE DESIGN PROBLEMS AND NEW PARTS TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. DOES GM REIMBURSE FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS?*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 .