RoadVitals

1985 Vehicles: Recalls, Complaints & Safety Data

Every 1985 model-year vehicle in our database with enough NHTSA data to publish, ranked by the number of complaints owners have filed. Because all of these vehicles are the same model year, they have had the same amount of time in which reports could accumulate.

Complaints 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.

Vehicles listed1985 model years that clear the threshold at which we publish a vehicle page.
961
across 239 makes
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.
1,542
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.
489
distinct campaigns naming a vehicle of this year
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.
416

1985 vehicles by owner-reported complaint volume

60 vehicles of 961, most-reported first

1985 model-year vehicles ranked by owner-reported complaint count
#VehicleComplaintsComplaints 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.90 daysRecallsInvestigationsIssue IndexThe Vehicle Issue Index is our own informational metric, not an official safety rating and not a reliability prediction.
1Nissan 300ZX7502271.7
2Automatic Equipment Automatic Equipment6301040.5
3Nissan Maxima5402271.4
4Dodge Caravan4906768.0
5Chevrolet Camaro46061064.1
6Plymouth Voyager3106970.2
7Ford Tempo3004771.6
8Chevrolet Blazer2902264.4
9Ford F-1502801260.8
10Ford Ranger2703167.6
11Ford Escort2603973.4
12Ford Crown Victoria2100257.4
13Mercury Grand Marquis2101161.1
14Lincoln Town Car2101263.3
15Ford F-2502102369.7
16Ford Bronco2001161.6
17Cadillac Deville1902455.8
18Oldsmobile Cutlass1803668.5
19Pontiac Fiero1804671.0
20Ford LTD1703270.9
21Jeep Cherokee1707465.4
22Pontiac Firebird1606971.5
23Chevrolet Corvette1603453.5
24Ford Mustang1603470.8
25Lincoln Continental1502370.0
26Honda Civic1502059.8
27Chevrolet Celebrity1503458.0
28Audi 50001408569.4
29Ford Thunderbird1401163.1
30Toyota Camry1300147.7
31Honda Accord1301256.5
32Ford Bronco Ii1301364.0
33Volkswagen Jetta1304363.1
34Chevrolet S101103369.7
35Mercury Cougar1001149.7
36Dodge Ram1000041.8
37Renault Alliance1003260.8
38Volkswagen Golf1006164.9
39Ford Econoline1006060.3
40Volvo 7401003055.6
41Chrysler Lebaron1006465.5
42Cadillac Eldorado1002260.6
43Mercedes-Benz 1901002466.3
44Buick Park Avenue1000029.1
45Toyota Pickup9000—
46Chevrolet Suburban9001—
47Buick Regal9096—
48Oldsmobile 989015—
49Oldsmobile Ciera8004—
50Mercedes-Benz 3807002—
51Toyota Celica7000—
52BMW 318I7000—
53Buick Century7014—
54Oldsmobile 887022—
55Subaru Gl7033—
56Honda Prelude7010—
57Chrysler New Yorker7031—
58Chevrolet C107022—
59Mazda 6266000—
60Nissan 200SX6000—

Showing the 60 most-reported of 961 1985 vehicles. The rest are reachable through their make and model pages.

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.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

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.