1987 Chevrolet CORVETTE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
16 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
99,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 16 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 1 | 6.3% |
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 | 8 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 3 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 |
| Seats | 1 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
Seat Belts: 8; Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage: 3; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 3; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Seats: 1; Steering:Rack And Pinion: 1; Suspension: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 6 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 |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 2 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
1996: 2; 2000: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2009: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts leads the component reports. Steering behavior 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 10007942 · 2003-02-21 (February 21, 2003)
FRONT STEERING LOCKS UP . AFTER CAR WARMS UP IT'S FINE ..I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON LATER MODLE YEAR CORVETTE . SAME PROBLEM FOR ALL 1987'S I HAVE LOOK AT . THEY GM NEEDS TO RECALL ALL 1987 CORVETTE AND FIX THIS STEERING PROBLEM .
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007942 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10087712 · 2004-08-11 (August 11, 2004)
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE BEGAN TO RAPIDLY ACCELERATE WHEN WAS LOW MOTION, CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY HAD TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH TO STOP THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER WE NEVER HEARD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS ONE, CALL NHTSA.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10087712 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10155393 · 2006-04-14 (April 14, 2006)
THERE IS A RECALL ON MY 1987 CORVETTE THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS ARE BROKEN I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER I CONTACTED CHEVROLET THEY TOLD ME THE CAR IS TO OLD IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WAS NO TIME LIMIT ON THEM FIXING THEM THE CAR ONLY HAS 63,000 MILES. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155393 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10197446 · 2007-07-25 (July 25, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1987 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT HAS BECOME LOCKED IN THE RETRACTOR AND WILL NOT RELEASE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED BEFORE, BUT THE SEAT BELT RELEASED ITSELF. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 124,376.
Owner-reported narrative. 124,376 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197446 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10266694 · 2009-04-25 (April 25, 2009)
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED CAR THAT HAS A SEAT BELT SAFETY RECALL THAT HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED..CHEVROLET IS TELLING ME THAT I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE BELTS/RETRACTORS REPLACED AT MY COST . THEY SAY THEY DO NOT HAVE THE INFORMATION THROUGH THE VIN NUMBER OF MY CAR OF WHETHER IT HAS BEEN DONE OR NOT... MY BELTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF CAR IS IN PRISON SO WAS NEVER NOTIFIED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL. HIS PROPERTY WAS SEIZED AND SOLD AT AUCTION. THEY SAY DUE TO THE YEAR OF THE CAR THEY CANNOT TELL. MY OTHER TWO CARS HAD R…
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10266694 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10423827 · 2011-09-06 (September 6, 2011)
THE SEAT BELTS DON`T RETRACT PROPERLY WHEN LATCHED,SO THEY ARE LOOSE AND HAVE NO TENSION TO THEM,THEY STAY TIGHT ACROSS THE WAIST,BUT NOT ACROSS THE CHEST. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10423827 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10475061 · 2012-09-11 (September 11, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1987 CHEVROLET CORVETTE KIT Z52. THE CONTACT STATED BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS FAILED TO OPEN ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED OF RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 91V143000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE) THAT MIGHT BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,332 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,342. UPDATED 9/26/12 *CN UPDATED 09/27/12
Owner-reported narrative. 113,332 miles reported. Look up ODI 10475061 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10560795 · 2014-01-21 (January 21, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1987 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED ON THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATS. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO EXIT THE SEAT BELT ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATELY FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 143,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10560795 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
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 ↗