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1986 Chevrolet CelebrityProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 33 owner complaints about the 1986 Chevrolet Celebrity, most often about the steering. It is covered by 2 safety recalls.

48
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.1× the Celebrity median · #2 of 5 years by complaints
Safety recalls2Free fix at dealersOwner complaints3311 with a crash, fire or injuryTop problem9Steering

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through January 9, 2009. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1986 Chevrolet Celebrity has problems

33 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Steering90
Electrical system72
Seat belts54
Structure40
Seats21
Exterior lighting20
Service brakes, air20
Vehicle speed control10
Fuel system, gasoline10
4 other systems40

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

2 recalls

1986 Chevrolet Celebrity recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.

Best & worst years

1986 vs. every other Celebrity year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Celebrity median. How we score

'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
3 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1986 Chevrolet Celebrity, and the recalls they led to.

  1. POWER ST. ASSISTEA87006 · closed Sep 19, 1988
    No recall
  2. FRONT BRAKE DISC/HUB SEPPE91120 · closed Nov 4, 1991
    No recall
  3. SUB-FRAME ABSORBER FAILUREPE94048 · closed Dec 30, 1994
    No recall
In owners' words

What Celebrity owners report

Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET HEARD A NOISE, STEERING CAME LOOSE. PULLED INTO A SERVICE STATION, AND THE LOWER A FRAME ON THE LEFT FRONT WHICH IS BOLTED INTO THE CRADLE BROKE. MOUNT WHERE THE A FRAME BOLTS IN HAD CRACKED WHICH CAUSED THE A FRAME TO COME LOOSE AT THAT POINT. SINCE IT WAS NOT ATTACHED…
Complaint 865669 · Jul 19, 2000

Own a 1986 Celebrity?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.