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Chevrolet EL CaminoYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 5 owner complaints and 19 safety recalls on record for the Chevrolet EL Camino.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints5Top: TiresSafety recalls191966–1987 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Chevrolet EL Camino years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the EL Camino median. Tap a year for its full report.

'66'67'68'70'73'74'75'77'78'79'80'81'83'84'86'87
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1987Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1986Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1984Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall1983Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall1981Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1980Not rated–/1001 complaint · 3 recalls1979Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1978Not rated–/1001 complaint · 4 recalls1977Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1975Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1974Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1973Not rated–/1000 complaints · 4 recalls1970Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1968Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1967Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1966Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Chevrolet EL Camino problems

All model years combined: 5 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
Tires20
Engine and engine cooling10
Seat belts10
Vehicle speed control10
19 recalls

Chevrolet EL Camino recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Lever and linkage: column shift87V-168 · 1987 · Oct 26, 1987 · 11,936 vehicles–Drum: wheel cylinders85V-048 · 1978–1980 · Apr 29, 1985 · 1,810,000 vehicles–Axle assembly: axle shaft84V-149 · 1978–1980 · Nov 24, 1984 · 3,100,000 vehicles–Front assembly: recliner84V-011 · 1984 · Feb 6, 1984 · 76,586 vehicles–Foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings83V-106 · 1983 · Oct 13, 1983 · 4,667 vehicles–Wheels: hubcap/cover81V-036 · 1981 · Mar 23, 1981 · 6,690 vehicles–Suspension: rear81V-025 · 1978–1981 · Feb 25, 1981 · 5,821,160 vehicles–Cooling system: fan78V-139 · 1978 · Jun 13, 1978 · 333,619 vehicles–Fuel system, gasoline: carburetor system76V-160 · 1966 · Oct 12, 1976 · 811,180 vehicles–Steering: steering wheel/handle bar76V-132 · 1977 · Sep 7, 1976 · 55,564 vehicles–Axle assembly: axle shaft75V-032 · 1975 · Feb 19, 1975 · 220,982 vehicles–Power assist: vacuum74V-027 · 1973 · Feb 15, 1974 · 1,218,387 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 19 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

1 investigation

NHTSA investigations of the EL Camino

  1. BRAKE BACKING PLATEEA86006 · 1978–1980 · closed Nov 28, 1988
    No recall