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Chevrolet NovaYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 32 owner complaints and 16 safety recalls on record for the Chevrolet Nova.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints32Top: Power trainSafety recalls161965–1990 model years

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

Best & worst years

Chevrolet Nova 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 Nova median. Tap a year for its full report.

'65'66'67'68'69'71'72'73'74'75'77'78'84'86'87'88'90
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1990Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1988Not rated–/10011 complaints · 0 recalls1987Not rated–/10015 complaints · 0 recalls1986Not rated–/1004 complaints · 0 recalls1984Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1978Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1977Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1975Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1974Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1973Not rated–/1000 complaints · 4 recalls1972Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1971Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1969Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1968Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1967Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1966Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1965Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Chevrolet Nova problems

All model years combined: 32 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
Power train113
Seat belts82
Service brakes, hydraulic30
Steering21
Engine and engine cooling20
Electrical system21
Latches/locks/linkages20
Tires20
Fuel system, gasoline10
3 other systems31
16 recalls

Chevrolet Nova recalls

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

–Suspension: rear77V-163 · 1977–1978 · Sep 27, 1977 · 31,979 vehicles–Wheels: hubcap/cover77V-074 · 1977 · May 16, 1977 · 15,246 vehicles–Steering: steering wheel/handle bar76V-132 · 1977 · Sep 7, 1976 · 55,564 vehicles–Steering: steering wheel/handle bar75V-094 · 1975 · May 21, 1975 · 3,069 vehicles–Front assembly: recliner74V-162 · 1975 · Sep 26, 1974 · 358 vehicles–Control arm: lower arm74V-159 · 1975 · Sep 23, 1974 · 11,962 vehicles–Spindle: arm74V-034 · 1974 · Feb 26, 1974 · 260 vehicles–Power assist: vacuum74V-027 · 1973–1974 · Feb 15, 1974 · 1,218,387 vehicles–Leaf spring assembly: u-bolt, leaf spring to axle73V-245 · 1974 · Dec 19, 1973 · 12,703 vehicles–Front: warning light/devices72V-305 · 1973 · Dec 11, 1972 · 3,225 vehicles–Control arm: upper arm72V-290 · 1973 · Nov 24, 1972 · 330 vehicles–Steering: linkages72V-265 · 1973 · Oct 31, 1972 · 544 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 16 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.