RoadVitals

1987 Sterling 825

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.
2
Latest Jun 25, 1996
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.
2
Latest May 14, 1991
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 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1987 Sterling 825, most frequently naming the electrical and seat belts categories. 2 safety recalls have 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

  • Electrical150.0%
  • Seat belts150.0%

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

2 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
91V077000

SEAT BELTS

May 14, 1991
4,028 units potentially affected
The defect: AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLY MAY MALFUNCTION DURING ABRUPT BRAKING OR CORNERING. THE ASSEMBLY MAY TIGHTEN AGAINST THE OCCUPANT RESTRICTING MOVEMENT. ALSO, THE RETRACTOR DRIVER UNIT MAY STALL IN ANY POSITION, LEAVING THE BELT LOOSE. IN EITHER CASE, THE BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED.
The risk: THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER RESTRAINT SYSTEM WOULD NOT ALLOWSEAT OCCUPANT TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT DISCONNECTING THE SAFETY BELT.
The remedy: REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLIES.
STERLING MOTOR CARS.View on NHTSA.gov
87V177000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

Nov 17, 1987
14,900 units potentially affected
The defect: FAULT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN INTERRUPT POWER SUPPLY TO VARIOUS ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AND COMPONENTS.
The risk: ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, INCLUDING HEADLAMPS AND WINDSHIELDWIPERS, MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE, RESULTING IN REDUCED VISIBILITY WHICH COULDRESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy: REPLACE IGNITION SWITCH AND ATTACHED ELECTRICAL SUBHARNESS. ALSO, LUBRICATE IGNITION LOCK MECHANISM.
AUSTIN ROVER CARS NA, INCView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

EA88026ClosedEngineering Analysis

SUDDEN ACCELERATION

Opened Mar 8, 1988
Closed Jan 10, 1991

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:UNDER DP88-005 AMERICAN HONDAPROVIDED THE STATISTICS GIVEN ABOVE.HONDA ALSO VERIFIED THAT THE POWER-TRAIN INSTALLED IN THE ACCURA LEGEND IS ALSO SOLD TO AUSTIN ROVER AND USEDIN THE STERLING VEHICLE.A NUMBER OF THE COMPLAINTS REPORTED DIRECTLY TOHONDA HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATED BY FIELD PERSONNEL, WHO CONSISTENTLY HAVE NOTFOUND ANY APPARENT COMPONENT OR SUBSYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS TO WHICH THEINCIDENTS COULD BE ATTRIBUTED.ANALYSIS:THE RATES OF COMPLAINTS AND ACCIDENTS INVOLVING THE SUBJECTVEHICLES ARE SIGNIFICANT.FURTHER DETAILED REVIEW OF THIS MATTER ISAPPROPRIATE AND SHOULD INCLUDE THE ACQUISITION AND ANALYSIS OF INFORMATIONFROM AUSTIN ROVER REGARDING THE STERLING VEHICLE.STATUS:DETAILED ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION ARE BEING CONDUCTED.INVESTIGA-TION IS CONCENTRATED ON ACURA LEGEND.MEETINGS HAVE BEEN HELD WITH THEMANUFACTURER TO REVIEW AND ANALYZE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS FOR CLUES AS TOORIGIN OF THE PROBLEM.NO COMPONENT FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS HAVE BEENIDENTIFIED AS CAUSAL TO DATE.===

POWER TRAIN

Recent owner complaints

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

Electrical
Filed Jun 25, 1996

OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR THE IGNITION. CALLED MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE ONLY REPLACING THE SUB HARNESS. RECALL# 87V177000. *AK

NHTSA ID
986126
Seat belts
Filed May 23, 1995

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT CAME UNDONE WHILE DRIVING, HAD REPLACED. TT

NHTSA ID
965674
Incident
Mar 1, 1995

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Sterling 825 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1999100—
1988011—
1987Viewing221—
1986001—

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.