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CarsLore / Chevrolet / Cavalier / 1986

1986 Chevrolet Cavalier

18 owner complaints — #19 of 24 Cavalier model years. 2 recalls, 1 service bulletin.

18complaints · 2 crashes, 6 fires
2recalls
1manufacturer bulletins
189,654 mimedian mileage at failure

Problems owners report

Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1986 Chevrolet Cavalier, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.

  • Engine and engine cooling6
  • Electrical system5
  • Steering3
  • Seats2
  • Tires1
  • Structure1
  • Visibility1
  • Seat belts1

NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 4 injuries and 1 deaths reported

Compared with other years

’82’85’86’88’91’94’97’00’0318’82’85’86’88’91’94’97’00’0318
19841986198719881989199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005

NHTSA ODI complaints by model year

New York safety inspections

At its first New York inspection the 1986 Chevrolet Cavalier failed the safety check 1.49% of the time — 95% more often than the average 1986 passenger car (0.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 61,975 miles.

67first inspections
1.49%failed on safety
61,975 mimedian odometer
0.0%1.4%2.8%’86’88’90’92’94’96’98’00’02’04’051.5%0.0%1.4%2.8%’86’89’92’95’98’01’04’051.5%

NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count

Recalls in Canada

1 Transport Canada recall for the 1986 Chevrolet Cavalier.

1986051
6 May 1986		Lights And Instruments
On certain vehicles, the push-pull headlight switch may have been manufactured with electrical contacts which allow an intermittent headlight circuit. An interm…

Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada

Recalls

86V131000 · Exterior lighting19 Sept 1986 · 106,111 vehicles

THE PUSH PULL HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY HAVE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH ALLOW AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO FLICKER OR SUDDENLY GO OUT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SUDDEN LOSS OF THE HEADLIGHTS UNDER SEVERE WEATHER OR NIGHTTIME DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE DRIVER VISIBILITY WHICH MIGHT RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

86V056000 · Exterior lighting28 Apr 1986 · 93,317 vehicles

THE PUSH-PULL HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY HAVE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH ALLOW AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO FLICKER OR SUDDENLY GO OUT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SUDDEN LOSS OF THE HEADLIGHTS UNDER SEVERE WEATHER OR NIGHTTIME DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE DRIVER VISIBILITY WHICH MIGHT RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. NOTE: ALSO, SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 86V131000.

Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words

Service bulletins

What Chevrolet told its dealers about the 1986 Chevrolet Cavalier: known faults, fixes and updates.

BulletinSummary
613590INFORMATION REGARDING SNOW INTRUSION INTO REAR DRUM BRAKE ASSEMBLIES. **MR

NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)

NHTSA investigations

EA87006 · Steeringopened 16 Dec 1986 · closed 19 Sept 1988

POWER ST. ASSIST

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation