1985 Chevrolet CAMARO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
30 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
50,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1985 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 30 complaints (30.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 6 | 20.0% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 10.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 9 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 6 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Parking Brake:Conventional | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Webbing | 2 |
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 9; Structure:Frame And Members: 6; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Parking Brake:Conventional: 2; Seat Belts: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Webbing: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 27 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 15 |
| 1996 | 8 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
1995: 15; 1996: 8; 2000: 1; 2001: 3; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10138169 · 2005-09-29 (September 29, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL 90V105000 CONCERNING THE SEAT BELT LATCHES BACK IN 1990. HE TOOK THE CAR TO SERVICE DEALER, AND THE SERVICE DEALER TOLD HIM IF THE LATCHES BROKE, TO BRING VEHICLE IN. AT THAT TIME THE LATCHES WERE NOT BROKEN, AND HE WAS NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEMS WITH THEM. THEY BROKE ON 9-26-05. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO GM DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD HIM IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS CLOSED, AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE VIN IN THEIR DATA SYSTEM. AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL THE CAR WAS ONLY FIVE YEARS OLD. HE …
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10138169 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10147704 · 2006-01-13 (January 13, 2006)
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/ROUGHNES…
Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147704 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10398749 · 2011-05-03 (May 3, 2011)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10398749 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 478157 · 1995-01-09 (January 9, 1995)
FRONT SEAT BELTS REPLACED DUE TO NOT OPERATING PROPERLY PRIOR TO RECALL. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 478157 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 480069 · 1995-01-24 (January 24, 1995)
CRACKS IN CHASSIS. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480069 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 480943 · 1995-01-12 (January 12, 1995)
FRONT LEFT FRAME SEPARATED FROM STEERING BOX. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480943 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 484618 · 1995-07-29 (July 29, 1995)
FRONT RIGHT SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO LATCH PRIOR TO RECALL (90V-105). *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484618 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 490574 · 1995-12-07 (December 7, 1995)
FRAME CRACKED NEAR STEERING BOX. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 490574 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
85V169000 · Seat Belts:Front:Webbing
Reported: 1985-12-20 (December 20, 1985)
DISLOCATION OF A SPRING COVER WILL NOT ALLOW THE SHOULDER BELT TO RETRACT AFTER BEING EXTENDED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: ALTHOUGH INERTIAL FEATURE THAT LOCKS THE LAP BELT AND SHOULDER BELT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT ARE NOT AFFECTED, IF SLACK IS MORE THAN RECOMMENDED IN OWNERS MANUAL, INJURIES TO UPPER BODY AND HEAD WOULD BE INCREASED IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSTALL RETAINING SPRINGS ON SPRING COVER OF FRONT SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR AND, WHEN REQUIRED, RETRACTORS WILL BE REPLACED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗90V105000 · Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
Reported: 1990-05-14 (May 14, 1990)
PLASTIC COMPONENTS OF SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES DO NOT CONTAIN AN ULTRA VIOLET STABILIZER, AND EXPOSURE TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT AND ELEVATED INTERIOR TEMPERATURES COULD WEAKEN THE PLASTIC COMPONENTS.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF PLASTIC COMPONENTS WHICHCOULD PREVENT BUCKLE FROM LATCHING AND PROTECTING OCCUPANT IN A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE OR REPAIR SEAT BELT BUCKLE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗91V055000 · Parking Brake:Conventional
Reported: 1991-04-11 (April 11, 1991)
PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTER FAILS TO OPERATE AND DO NOT WORK AFTER BRAKE PAD WEAR.
Consequence: PARKING BRAKES WILL NOT COMPLETELY HOLD A PARKED VEHICLEWHEN PARKED ON A SLOPE, CAUSING UNINTENDED VEHICLE ROLLAWAY WHICH COULD RESULTIN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE NONFUNCTIONING PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTERS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗