AutoStatsIQ
Data through Oct 2026
Model year

1985 Chevrolet Corvette

Coupe, gasoline, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from Feb 13, 1995 to Dec 26, 2019.

Recalls (3)Complaints (16)Investigations (4)Bulletins (1)
Recall campaigns covering this model year3442k vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints164.0 times the median 1985 coupe
Severity index0.0Crash, fire, injury or death per 100
First 24 months0Complaints in its first two years
Complaints over time

Complaints about the 1985 Chevrolet Corvette peaked in 1995, with 4 filed

Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.

01234199541998200120042007201020132016201920222026
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Components

50% of complaints about the 1985 Chevrolet Corvette name seat belts

Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.

Seat belts
8
Powertrain
2
Steering
2
Lighting
1
Brakes
1
Suspension
1
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls

3 recall campaigns cover the 1985 Chevrolet Corvette

Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.

Recall campaigns for the 1985 Chevrolet Corvette
CampaignFiledSubjectComponentVehiclesRemedy
07E-088Oct 24, 2007Certain honeywell fram racing brand hp4 and hp8 oil filters that were manufactured from may 25, 2006, through september 14, 2007, and sold for use…Equipment121,680Part replacement
06E-043May 19, 2006Certain replacement fuel filters, fram brand name p/n g3727, with date codes x52911 through x60801 sequentially or x600141 and a mexico country or…Fuel system88,303Part replacement
91V-143Sep 4, 1991Under certain vehicle operations and occupant usage conditions, the safety belts can lockup or jam in the safety belt retractorSeat belts231,833Part replacement
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Look up a VIN at NHTSA
Owner complaints

What owners reported about the 1985 Chevrolet Corvette

The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.

16 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.

  1. Filed Dec 26, 2019Failure Oct 1, 201975,000 milesPunta Gorda, FLSeat belts

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. UPON BRAKING, THE SEAT BELT SENSORS FOR BOTH SEATS DID NOT ENGAGE AND WERE INOPERATIVE. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 91V143000 (SEAT BELTS). THE MANUFACTURER AND GETTEL CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (1901 TAMIAMI TRAIL, PUNTA GORDA, FL 33950) WERE NOTIFIED, BUT COULD NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

    NHTSA complaint 11291295
  2. Filed Oct 9, 2018Failure Oct 9, 2018Richmond Hill, GASeat belts

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT PULL OUT TO SAFELY SECURE THE DRIVER. THE CONTACT CALLED DAN VADEN CHEVROLET SAVANNAH (9393 ABERCORN ST, SAVANNAH, GA 31406, (912) 925-9393) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

    NHTSA complaint 11139301
  3. Filed May 19, 2009Failure Jul 1, 200670,000 milesRoseville, MIAnchorage

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IN HIS VEHICLE. SHORTLY AFTER, THE SEAT BELT BEGAN TO FAIL. WHENEVER HE WOULD BUCKLE THE SEAT BELT, IT FAILED TO RELEASE. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR; THEREFORE, THE DEALER REFUSED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE FAILURE SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY SINCE A RECALL WAS ISSUED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000. UPDATED 6/15/09 *CN UPDATED 06/16/09

    NHTSA complaint 10269373
  4. Filed Dec 13, 2006Failure Dec 12, 2006178,397 milesLAS Vegas, NVRear

    DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE REAR WHEELS FELT AS IF THEY HAD TURNED IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED TO THE RIGHT. THIS SENT THE VEHICLE INTO A REAR SKID. A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP WAS CONSULTED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.

    NHTSA complaint 10176036
  5. Filed Nov 4, 2005Failure Oct 19, 2005109,000 milesTrona, CAAnchorage

    DT:DITTO CONTACT STATES THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO USE THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT THE LAP PORTION OF THE BELT BECAME STUCK WITHIN THE FRONT ANCHORAGE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE SEAT BELT AND OFFERED TO PUT ON ANOTHER STRAP. THE STRAP WAS IN A DIFFERENT COLOR THAN THE PREVIOUS STRAP, AND HE DID NOT WANT IT. THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL 91V143000 ON A SIMILAR PROBLEM THAT THE DEALER HAD PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED REPAIRS. HOWEVER THE CONTACT WANTED THIS PROBLEM TO BE COVERED BY THE RECALL AS WELL. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AT TIME. *AK UPDATED 01/04/06. *JB

    NHTSA complaint 10141742
  6. Filed Sep 4, 2002Pittsburg, KSAnchorage

    NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 766678
  7. Filed Mar 6, 2002Failure Jan 1, 2001SAN Jose, CAAutomatic transmission

    THE 4+3 OVERDRIVE DESIGN PROBLEMS AND NEW PARTS TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. DOES GM REIMBURSE FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS?*AK

    NHTSA complaint 759008
  8. Filed Dec 27, 2001Failure Dec 1, 2001League City, TXRetractor

    VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 91V143000. DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RELEASE FROM RETRACTORS, CAUSING THE SEAT BELTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE.*AK

    NHTSA complaint 8001120
  9. Filed Jul 12, 2001Failure Jan 15, 2001Pittsburg, KSAnchorage

    NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 748325
  10. Filed Aug 29, 2000Warwick, RIUnknown or other

    NO SUMMARY

    NHTSA complaint 729452
  11. Filed Jul 12, 1998Failure Mar 8, 1998Lexington, KYTie rod assembly

    VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING AND THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN "FISHTAILING" ACROSS THREE LANES BECAUSE THE LEFT REAR OUTER TIE ROD HAD BROKEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE THREADS.

    NHTSA complaint 538271
  12. Filed Dec 30, 1996Failure Dec 6, 1996LA Mirada, CAPower train

    ODOMETER FRAUD.

    NHTSA complaint 513308
  13. Filed Jun 30, 1995Failure Sep 1, 1994Beaverton, ORRack and pinion

    'COLD POWER STEERING'. *DH

    NHTSA complaint 485651
  14. Filed Jun 28, 1995Failure Jun 22, 1995Daytona Beac, FLParking brake

    THE EMERCENCY BRAKE LINE FALLS OFF OF THE CAR. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 967901
  15. Filed Jun 13, 1995Failure Nov 10, 1994Oceanside, CAHeadlights

    THE HEADLIGHT MOTORS ARE DEFECTIVE AND DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT

    NHTSA complaint 966742
  16. Filed Feb 13, 1995Failure Feb 13, 1995Glenwood, WAAnchorage

    DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT PERFORM SEAT BELT RECALL WITH NO REASON GIVEN (91V-143). TT

    NHTSA complaint 960011
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations

4 NHTSA investigations on file

  • DP96006 Defect petition, Brakes
    BRAKE PULL
    Opened May 14, 1996, closed Oct 18, 1996
  • EA92005 Engineering analysis, Speed control
    THROTTLE STICKING
    Opened Jan 30, 1992, closed Jan 29, 1993
  • EA90033 Engineering analysis, Seat belts
    SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR FAIL
    Opened Jun 11, 1990, closed Sep 9, 1991 · led to a recall
  • PE90032 Preliminary evaluation, Suspension
    TIE ROD SOCKET FAILURE
    Opened Jan 12, 1990, closed Mar 22, 1990 · led to a recall
Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
All investigations
Service bulletins

1 manufacturer communication cover this model year

Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.

  • 9313110 Mar 1, 1993 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    REAR LIFT WINDOW HARD TO OPEN/HINGE LOOSE TO GLASS. *TW
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.
About service bulletins