Total Complaints
64 filings
CHEVROLET CAMARO · model year
1985 CHEVROLET CAMARO
64 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1985CHEVROLETCAMARO carries 64 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 3 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1985 CAMARO is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 16 filings, followed by structure:frame and members (8) and seat belts:front:retractor (5). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1985 CAMARO, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
64
Complaints
1
Crashes
3
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 16 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 8 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 5 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 4 |
| PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING | 3 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20110503SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 CHEVROLET CAMARO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 85V169000 (SEAT BELTS: FRONT: BUCKLE ASSEMBLY) IN 1991 AND 1994. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR REPAIRS BOTH YEARS IN WHICH THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT DISPLAY A FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT MOST RECENTLY, THE SEAT BELT HAD BEEN DEFECTIVE FOR TWO YEARS BECAUSE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PARTS NEEDED FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE REGIONAL MANAGER WERE CONTACT AND CONFIRMED THAT THEY COULD NOT LOCATE THE PARTS FOR THE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.
Mileage: 43,000
20060113SEAT BELTS
THE FOLLOWING SAFETY RECALLS AND TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ARE LISTED BELOW, BUT A LOOKUP OF MY VIN NUMBER ON THE GM WEBSITE OR A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP (HOSELTON) REVEALS NO OPEN RECALLS ON IT, AND THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR IT WITHOUT CHARGE. THESE ISSUES ARE STILL CURRENT. TSB NUMBERS IN PARENTHESIS: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 90V105000, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 85V169000, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 91V055000, PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL ENGINE MISS/HESITATION/ROUGHNESS (93-35-6D) CRUISE CONTROL INTERMITTENT DROP-OUT/FAIL (92-107-8A) DAMAGE TO WIRING TERMINAL ON ENGINE SENSORS (88-101-8A) STARTER GRINDS/CLASHES ON CRANKING 1985-88 (88-305-6D) REDUCED P/S ASSIST AT LOW TEMPS (91-208-3B) WHEEL HUB FRACTURES (85V-018); 6/91 RECALL-REDUCED PARKING BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS (86C285) 7/86 CAMPAIGN-FLEX VANE WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP (85211). *NM
Mileage: 69,000
20060113PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
THE FOLLOWING SAFETY RECALLS AND TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ARE LISTED BELOW, BUT A LOOKUP OF MY VIN NUMBER ON THE GM WEBSITE OR A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP (HOSELTON) REVEALS NO OPEN RECALLS ON IT, AND THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR IT WITHOUT CHARGE. THESE ISSUES ARE STILL CURRENT. TSB NUMBERS IN PARENTHESIS: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 90V105000, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 85V169000, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 91V055000, PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL ENGINE MISS/HESITATION/ROUGHNESS (93-35-6D) CRUISE CONTROL INTERMITTENT DROP-OUT/FAIL (92-107-8A) DAMAGE TO WIRING TERMINAL ON ENGINE SENSORS (88-101-8A) STARTER GRINDS/CLASHES ON CRANKING 1985-88 (88-305-6D) REDUCED P/S ASSIST AT LOW TEMPS (91-208-3B) WHEEL HUB FRACTURES (85V-018); 6/91 RECALL-REDUCED PARKING BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS (86C285) 7/86 CAMPAIGN-FLEX VANE WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP (85211). *NM
Mileage: 69,000
20060113ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE FOLLOWING SAFETY RECALLS AND TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ARE LISTED BELOW, BUT A LOOKUP OF MY VIN NUMBER ON THE GM WEBSITE OR A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP (HOSELTON) REVEALS NO OPEN RECALLS ON IT, AND THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR IT WITHOUT CHARGE. THESE ISSUES ARE STILL CURRENT. TSB NUMBERS IN PARENTHESIS: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 90V105000, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 85V169000, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 91V055000, PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL ENGINE MISS/HESITATION/ROUGHNESS (93-35-6D) CRUISE CONTROL INTERMITTENT DROP-OUT/FAIL (92-107-8A) DAMAGE TO WIRING TERMINAL ON ENGINE SENSORS (88-101-8A) STARTER GRINDS/CLASHES ON CRANKING 1985-88 (88-305-6D) REDUCED P/S ASSIST AT LOW TEMPS (91-208-3B) WHEEL HUB FRACTURES (85V-018); 6/91 RECALL-REDUCED PARKING BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS (86C285) 7/86 CAMPAIGN-FLEX VANE WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP (85211). *NM
Mileage: 69,000
20060113VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
THE FOLLOWING SAFETY RECALLS AND TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ARE LISTED BELOW, BUT A LOOKUP OF MY VIN NUMBER ON THE GM WEBSITE OR A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP (HOSELTON) REVEALS NO OPEN RECALLS ON IT, AND THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR IT WITHOUT CHARGE. THESE ISSUES ARE STILL CURRENT. TSB NUMBERS IN PARENTHESIS: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 90V105000, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 85V169000, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 91V055000, PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL ENGINE MISS/HESITATION/ROUGHNESS (93-35-6D) CRUISE CONTROL INTERMITTENT DROP-OUT/FAIL (92-107-8A) DAMAGE TO WIRING TERMINAL ON ENGINE SENSORS (88-101-8A) STARTER GRINDS/CLASHES ON CRANKING 1985-88 (88-305-6D) REDUCED P/S ASSIST AT LOW TEMPS (91-208-3B) WHEEL HUB FRACTURES (85V-018); 6/91 RECALL-REDUCED PARKING BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS (86C285) 7/86 CAMPAIGN-FLEX VANE WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP (85211). *NM
Mileage: 69,000
20050929SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DT: THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL 90V105000 CONCERNING THE SEAT BELT LATCHES BACK IN 1990. HE TOOK THE CAR TO SERVICE DEALER, AND THE SERVICE DEALER TOLD HIM IF THE LATCHES BROKE, TO BRING VEHICLE IN. AT THAT TIME THE LATCHES WERE NOT BROKEN, AND HE WAS NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEMS WITH THEM. THEY BROKE ON 9-26-05. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO GM DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD HIM IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS CLOSED, AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE VIN IN THEIR DATA SYSTEM. AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL THE CAR WAS ONLY FIVE YEARS OLD. HE WAS JUST FOLLOWING THE DEALER'S INSTRUCTIONS IN 1990. *AK
Mileage: 50,000
20011218CrashSUSPENSION:FRONT
WHAT A NIGHTMARE, 33000 ORIGINAL MILES AND IT'S STILL A DEATH TRAP. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
20011214SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
RECALL 85V169000 CONCERNING SHOULDER BELTS. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS REMEDIED UNDER THIS CAMPAIGN, CONSUMER STATED THAT RECALL LETTER FROM 1994 STATED THAT VEHICLE HAS YET TO BE REPAIRED. CONSUMER STILL HAS POSSESSION OF LETTER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
20011002PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
I FOUND OUT THROUGH THIS WEBSITE THAT THERE ARE RECALLS ON THIS CAR. WHEN MY HUSBAND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT-IT WAS TOO OLD. ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TOLD US THAT THERE WEREN'T ANY OPEN ORDERS ON THIS CAR BUT WE HAVE THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. THE SEAT BELT WON'T STAY TIGHT, AND THE CAR SOMETIMES ROLLS WHEN IN PARK. PLEASE HELP US GET THE RECALL TAKEN CARE OF! NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK
20001106STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND FRAME BROKE. WHEN SHE WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WENT INTO OTHER LANES. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
19991107PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
THE CAMAROS WITH REAR DSK BRAKES/MANUAL TRANNY WERE RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOT THE ONES W/ REAR DRUM BRAKES, WHICH I DON'T UNDERSTAND. THE PERSON WHO OWNED THIS CAR AT TIMES OF RECALLS DIDN'T FOLLOW THROUGH WITH ANY OF THEM, I DON'T KNOW TIME OF FAILURE OF E-BRAKE, BUT IT HASN'T EVER WORKED SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR. I'LL CHECK WITH A GM DEALER AND SEE IF THEY'LL FIX IT FOR ME, BUT THOUGHT I'D REPORT THIS FIRST, I'VE BEEN MEANING TO GET THIS FIXED, BUT HAVE PROCRASTINATED ABOUT IT. IF YOU LIKE, YOU CAN E-MAIL A RESPONSE TO ME-UFNUT@AOL.COM.
19991029SEAT BELTS:FRONT
DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT, AND THE BUCKLES RELEASE WITHOUT WARNING. NLM
19991029SEAT BELTS:FRONT
DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT, AND THE BUCKLES RELEASE WITHOUT WARNING. NLM
19991029SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT, AND THE BUCKLES RELEASE WITHOUT WARNING. NLM
19991029SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT, AND THE BUCKLES RELEASE WITHOUT WARNING. NLM
19991015SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE FRONT SEAT BELTS FOR DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S ARE BROKEN & ARE NOT USABLE. THE RED BUTTON ON DRIVER'S BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT ACCEPT THE LATCH PLATE TO LOCK. THE LOCKING MECHANISM ON THE PASSENGER'S ALSO BROKE. CHECKED ON INTERNET & FOUND RECALL INFORMATION #90V105000, BUT NOT FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
19990823SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE DRIVER SIDE 05-21-99 & PASSENGER SIDE 06-13-99 SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED TO RELEASE, PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE (90V105000). *YC
19990723UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY
19990305FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
VEHICLE EXPRIENCED FIRE UNDER THE DASH WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY; MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD AND NOTHING WOULD BE DONE. VEHICLE IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION IF NEEDED. *AK
19990217SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
RECALL 90V-105.000, SEAT BELT BUCKLES; THE RECALL NOTICE STATED WHENEVER THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELTS TO BRING THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP. BUT MS. NOWAK IS TRYING TO GET THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES REPLACED, AND GMC WILL NOT HONOR THE RECALL. *AK
Compare 1985CHEVROLETCAMARO to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1985 CHEVROLET CAMARO have?▼
The 1985 CHEVROLET CAMARO has 64 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 3 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1985 CHEVROLET CAMARO?▼
The most-complained component for the 1985 CHEVROLET CAMARO is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 16 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR.
Is the 1985 CHEVROLET CAMARO safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.