PlainCars

CHEVROLET CELEBRITY · model year

1985 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY

25 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1985CHEVROLETCELEBRITY carries 25 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 0 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 CELEBRITY is engine and engine cooling:engine with 3 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (3) and power train:automatic transmission (2). 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 CELEBRITY, 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.

25
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

25 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE2
STEERING2
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW2
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE1
STEERING:RACK AND PINION1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES1
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY1

Recent Complaints

20111021FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

PURCHASED A USE 1985 CHEV. CELEBRITY CLASSIC 10-16-2007 THAT ONLY HAD 46,722 MILES. IT HAD A STRONG GAS SMELL THAT WOULD NOT LET ME DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE OF HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS. I DROVE THE CAR SHORT DISTANCE AND EVEN NOW ONLY HAVE 74, 912 MILES ON IT. I FEEL THE CAR CAME FROM THE FACTORY LIKE THIS BECAUSE AN OLD MAN THAT DIED HAD THE CAR. IT LOOKED LIKE NEW WHEN I PURCHASED IT. EVEN NOW IT DRIVE LIKE A NEW CAR. THE GAS IS LEAKING FROM SOME WHERE SO THE SMELL, LEAK AND COST OF GAS MAKE IT WHERE I CAN'T AFFORD TO DRIVE IT. RIGHT NOW I ONLY DRIVE IT TO KEEP THE BATTERY CHARGED. PLEASE HELP. *TR

20040204STEERING

EMAIL CONSUMER LETTER REGARDING GM POWER STEERING RECALL.*MR 1985 EUROSPORT WAGON DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WHERE POWER STEERING WAS LOST WHILE MAKING LEFT TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS.*MR

20020514VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW

REPLACED FUSE FOR REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER AND SMELLED BURNING. THE PLASTIC PIECE THAT COVERS THE CONTACT TO THE WINDOW WAS BEGINING TO MELT. THE OEM SPACER WAS A PIECE OF FOAM THAT HAD LONG SINCE CRUMBED TO NOTHING. YD

20011030VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW

REPLACED FUSE FOR REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER AND SMELLED BURNING. THE PLASTIC PIECE THAT COVERS THE CONTACT TO THE WINDOW WAS BEGINING TO MELT. THE OEM SPACER WAS A PIECE OF FOAM THAT HAD LONG SINCE CRUMBED TO NOTHING. YD

20010301POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

WELL MAINTAINED/RUSTPROOFED AT PURCHASE /REAR AXAL LET LOOSE WHILE TURN IN DRIVEWAY OF HOME. *AK

20001201POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. CONSUMER WILL FILL OUT MORE INFORMATION IF NEEDED. *AK

19990514ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE CATALYITC CONVERTER ,AND THE VEHICLE IS STALLING. ALSO, HAS PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. *AK

19990514STEERING

THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE CATALYITC CONVERTER ,AND THE VEHICLE IS STALLING. ALSO, HAS PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. *AK

19990514ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE CATALYITC CONVERTER ,AND THE VEHICLE IS STALLING. ALSO, HAS PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. *AK

19990430FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS

19980323STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

STRUCTURE RUSTED THROUGH WHERE THE REAR AXLE AND THE UNIBODY CONNECTS.

19980323VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

LOCATION OF CRUISE CONTROL CAUSED ACCIDENTAL ENGAGEMENT OF R/A SWITCH ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENT.

19970627ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MOTOR MOUNT FAILED AND REPLACED.

19970627SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

REAR ROTORS FAILED AND REPLACED.

19970627ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

ELECTRONIC MODULE FAILED AND REPLACED.

19970627ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

TAIL PIPE FAILED AND REPLACED.

19970627SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

BRAKE CABLE EXTENSION FAILED AND REPLACED.

19960904ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

MUFFLER FELL OFF WHILE TRAVELING. *DH

19960314ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

COOLANT ESCAPING FROM ENGINE DUE TO BROKEN HEAD BOLT. *SD

19960122STEERING:RACK AND PINION

FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. TT

Compare 1985CHEVROLETCELEBRITY to Similar Vehicles

CELEBRITY vs FORDF-150 → CELEBRITY vs FORDEXPLORER → CELEBRITY vs JEEPGRAND CHEROKEE → CELEBRITY vs FORDESCAPE →

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

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1985 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY have?▼
The 1985 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY has 25 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1985 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY?▼
The most-complained component for the 1985 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1985 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY 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

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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.