Total Complaints
25 filings
CHEVROLET CELEBRITY · model year
1985 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY
25 NHTSA complaints. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
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.
The most frequently selected component label in reports 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). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1985 CELEBRITY, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
25
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
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
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 2 |
| STEERING | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE | 1 |
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
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
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 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
Data vintage: August 2026. 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.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1985 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.