1986 Chevrolet CORVETTE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
83,200 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1986 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 7 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 71.4% |
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 | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
Seat Belts: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder: 2; Service Brakes: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2011: 1; 2014: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 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 10127660 · 2005-07-06 (July 6, 2005)
DT: IN 1991 THE CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN RECALL 91V143000 CONCERNING SAFETY BELTS. THE RECALL STATED THAT WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH THE VEHICLE IT WILL BE FIXED. TODAY THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE AMERICAN CHEVROLET, THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE RECALL. AT THAT POINT, THE CONSUMER CALLED GENERAL MOTORS AND THEY CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY REFUSED TO HELP. THE CONSUMER HAS A FILE NUMBER AT GM 1-347-363-013. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED AP…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10127660 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160867 · 2006-06-27 (June 27, 2006)
MY BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER STARTED TO LEAK. THE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 83,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160867 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10188736 · 2007-04-24 (April 24, 2007)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKED AND WOULD NOT RETRACT. RECALL #91V143000 WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD NO INFORMATION ABOUT THE RECALL, AND THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE CONTACT MAINTAINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 88,132. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 88,132 miles reported. Look up ODI 10188736 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10392374 · 2011-03-21 (March 21, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1986 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING ABNORMALLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 86V120000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10392374 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10607163 · 2014-06-30 (June 30, 2014)
REFERENCE NUMBERS: ?CHEVROLET RECALLS 91C25 AND 91C26 ISSUED NOVEMBER 1991 ?NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #: 91V143000 ?CHEVROLET CLAIM# [XXX] (FROM RECENT CONVERSATIONS) ?VIN# [XXX]. OUR 1986 CORVETTE'S SEATBELTS INTERMITTENTLY LOCKUP AND DO NOT MOVE; THEN WHEN THEY DO EVENTUALLY RELEASE WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THEY DO NOT CONSISTENTLY GRAB WHEN NEEDED. AFTER ONE RECENT QUICK STOP THE PASSENGER BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN. THAT EXPERIENCE PROMPTED US TO SEARCH ONLINE FOR REPLACEMENT SEATBELTS. DURING THAT SEARCH WE FOUND A RECALL NOTICE, SO WE CHECKED…
Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10607163 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10855588 · 2016-04-14 (April 14, 2016)
BRAKES LOCK UP IN REAR FRONT KEEPS SPINING WAS TOLD MY ABS MODULE WAS BAD UNABLE TO EVEN FIND REPLACEMENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 2 miles reported. Look up ODI 10855588 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11006679 · 2017-07-21 (July 21, 2017)
SEAT BELTS DON'T TIGHTEN UPON FAST BODY MOVEMENT OR FAST BRAKING. THEY DON'T WORK PROPERLY.I HAD THE BELTS REPLACE AT A CHEVROLET DEALER, BUT THEY STILL DON'T WORK PROPERLY.
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11006679 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.
86V056000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch
Reported: 1986-04-28 (April 28, 1986)
THE PUSH-PULL HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY HAVE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH ALLOW AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO FLICKER OR SUDDENLY GO OUT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SUDDEN LOSS OF THE HEADLIGHTS UNDER SEVERE WEATHER OR NIGHTTIME DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE DRIVER VISIBILITY WHICH MIGHT RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. NOTE: ALSO, SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 86V131000.
Remedy: REPLACE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AS NECESSARY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗86V120000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder
Reported: 1986-08-26 (August 26, 1986)
SEVERE AND UNUSUAL BRAKING CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER CENTER VALVE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF SUFFICIENT DAMAGE OCCURS, LOSS OF FRONT BRAKES MAY OCCUR WITH INCREASED PEDAL TRAVEL AND REDUCED BRAKING ABILITY. THE REDUCTION OF BRAKING ABILITY AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE IS REQUIRED COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: NEW MASTER CYLINDER CENTER VALVE AND RELATED PARTS WILL BE INSTALLED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗91V143000 · Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
Reported: 1991-09-04 (September 4, 1991)
UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE OPERATIONS AND OCCUPANT USAGE CONDITIONS, THE SAFETY BELTS CAN LOCKUP OR JAM IN THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR.
Consequence: IF LOCKUP OCCURS, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL BELT OUT OFTHE RETRACTOR. THE OCCUPANT OF A SEAT WITH AN UNUSABLE SAFETY BELT ISSUBJECT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE SAFETY BELTS IF THE LOCKUP OCCURS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗