Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1986 Chevrolet Corvette, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Seat belts7
- Service brakes, hydraulic6
- Electrical system1
- Service brakes1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 6 1986 Corvette vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 8 people died inside them. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1986 Chevrolet Corvette failed the safety check 0.55% of the time — 28% less often than the average 1986 passenger car (0.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 70,371 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
118 first registered in 1986 are on Dutch roads; 99% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde24
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen21
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm17
- Stofhoes fuseekogel beschadigd en dicht niet af8
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld5
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm5
- Band onvoldoende profiel4
- Remleiding door corrosie aangetast3
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In Finland
31 of these cars first registered in 1986 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 108,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
85 1986 cars are on the New Zealand register; 92% arrived as used imports, 4% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 1986 Chevrolet Corvette.
| 1991126 11 Sept 1991 | Seats And Restraints NOTE: OWNER SELF INSPECTION - REPAIR ONLY IF PROBLEM OCCURS. THE SEAT BELT MAY LOCK-UP OR JAM IN THE RETRACTOR. IF THIS OCCURS, VEHICLE OCCUPANTS WILL BE UNA… |
| 1986095 27 Aug 1986 | Brakes CERTAIN SEVERE AND UNUSUAL BRAKING CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER CENTRE VALVE. IF SUFFICIENT DAMAGE ACCUMULATES, LOSS OF FRONT BRAKES… |
| 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
UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE OPERATIONS AND OCCUPANT USAGE CONDITIONS, THE SAFETY BELTS CAN LOCKUP OR JAM IN THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR.
SEVERE AND UNUSUAL BRAKING CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER CENTER VALVE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF SUFFICIENT DAMAGE OCCURS, LOSS OF FRONT BRAKES MAY OCCUR WITH INCREASED PEDAL TRAVEL AND REDUCED BRAKING ABILITY. THE REDUCTION OF BRAKING ABILITY AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE IS REQUIRED COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
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 Corvette: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 39547 | REAR LIFT WINDOW HARD TO OPEN/HINGE LOOSE TO GLASS. *TW |
| 10006297 | NO SERIAL DATA COMMUNICATIONS USING THE TECH 1 WITH A 1986 OR NEWER CAMARO, FIREBIRD OR CORVETTE WITH A 5.0 OR 5.7 LITRE ENGINE. SIT BULLETIN 1450640. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
BRAKE PULL
THROTTLE STICKING
SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR FAIL
SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR FAIL
TIE ROD SOCKET FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation