Total Complaints
38 filings
CHEVROLET CELEBRITY · model year
1986 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY
38 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1986CHEVROLETCELEBRITY carries 38 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 2 fires, 4 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 1986 CELEBRITY is electrical system:ignition with 4 filings, followed by steering:rack and pinion (3) and steering (3). 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 1986 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.
38
Complaints
5
Crashes
2
Fires
4
Injuries
1
Deaths
Crashes Reported
5 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 |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 4 |
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION | 3 |
| STEERING | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING | 2 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 2 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20090109EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WENT TO AUTO RECALLS .ORG AND FOUND RECALL ON MY 1986 CHEVY CELEBRITY 33,000 MILES. CONTACTED DEALER KOOL CHEVROLET 3770 PLAINFIELD NE GRAND RAPIDS MICHIGAN 49505 (616)-364-9431 THEY SAID THEY COULD ONLY TRACE VIN NUMBERS BACK TO 1990.WAS REFERRED TO GM 1-800-222-1020 (SERVICE REQUEST 71-693324446) I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL AND I SHOULD TAKE IT IN AND PAY TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE SAME THING. I AM THE SECOND OWNER HAVING PURCHASED IT IN THE LAST YEAR. MIKE RUSSELL *TR
Mileage: 33,000
20080711TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1986 CHEVEROLET CELEBRITY STATION WAGON. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR DOUGLAS TIRES, SIZE 195/75R14. THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO A TIRE STORE FOR A ROUTINE REPLACEMENT OF THE FRONT TIRES. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, WHEN PURCHASING TIRES FROM WAL-MART, THE TIRES DID NOT FIT CORRECTLY DUE TO IMPROPER LUBRICATION AND MOUNTING. AS A RESULT, THE TIRES MADE A THUMPING SOUND WHEN DRIVING. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 350,000.
Mileage: 350,000
20010313CrashSEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
RECLINING BUCKET SEAT RECLINED ON ITS OWN. *AK
20001219EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
THE CONSUMER HAD CRUISE CONTROL INSTALLED ON VEHICLE, SHORTLY AFTER THE ADDITION, THE CRUISE CONTROL ACCELERATED THE ENGINE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED, THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE BRAKE SWITCH. *SLC
20000725SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
20000719STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET HEARD A NOISE, STEERING CAME LOOSE. PULLED INTO A SERVICE STATION, AND THE LOWER A FRAME ON THE LEFT FRONT WHICH IS BOLTED INTO THE CRADLE BROKE. MOUNT WHERE THE A FRAME BOLTS IN HAD CRACKED WHICH CAUSED THE A FRAME TO COME LOOSE AT THAT POINT. SINCE IT WAS NOT ATTACHED STEERING WAS NOT EFFECTIVE.*AK
20000719STEERING
WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET HEARD A NOISE, STEERING CAME LOOSE. PULLED INTO A SERVICE STATION, AND THE LOWER A FRAME ON THE LEFT FRONT WHICH IS BOLTED INTO THE CRADLE BROKE. MOUNT WHERE THE A FRAME BOLTS IN HAD CRACKED WHICH CAUSED THE A FRAME TO COME LOOSE AT THAT POINT. SINCE IT WAS NOT ATTACHED STEERING WAS NOT EFFECTIVE.*AK
19991129VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AFTER MARKET CRUISE CONTROL UNIT INSTALLED, SHORTLY AFTER THE INSTALLATION THE CRUISE CONTROL ACCELERATED THE ENGINE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED DUE TO DEFECTIVE BRAKE SWITCH, DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH ALL AFTER MARKET CRUISE CONTROL UNITS. MJS
19991129VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AFTER MARKET CRUISE CONTROL UNIT INSTALLED, SHORTLY AFTER THE INSTALLATION THE CRUISE CONTROL ACCELERATED THE ENGINE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED DUE TO DEFECTIVE BRAKE SWITCH, DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH ALL AFTER MARKET CRUISE CONTROL UNITS. MJS
19990122SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR
THE 86 CELEBRITY HAS DEFECTIVE ROTORS AND DRUMS. THE ROTORS DO NOT LAST MORE THAT A FEW THOUSAND MILE AND VEHICLE STARTS TO JERK WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE BRAKES SOMETIMES LOCK UP WITHOUT WARNING.
19980713STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT DUE TO THE LACK OF UNDERCOATING UNDER VEHICLE. OWNER IS VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY. *AK
19980127STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
INSIDE DOOR HANDLES BROKE, DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE. *AK
19980107STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILURE.
19971107CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT TO DISENGAGE, WHICH MEANT THAT THE DRIVER DID NOT HAVE ANY PROTECTION AROUND HER. DRIVER WAS HURT. *AK
19971106CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. ONCE THE VEHICLE START ROLLING, THE SEAT BELT DISENGAGED ITSELF. *AK
19971007CrashFatalSEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
REPETITIVE ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN TEETH OF RETRACTOR LOCKING MECHANISM AND EDGES OF WEBBING DURING EXTENSION/RETRACTION CAUSED 1/2 INCH TEAR IN DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WEBBING DURING A COLLISION. THE SHOULDER BELT FAILED, CAUSING DRIVER TO BE EJECTED FROM VEHICLE. DRIVER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. *AK
19970801STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
INSIDE DOOR HANDLES BROKE; DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. *AK
19961210ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
COMPUTER FAILURE.
19961210STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RACK AND PINION LOCK STEERING SYSTEM LOCKS IN POSITION.
19961021POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN DRIVING AND STOPPING AT LIGHT THE CAR VIBRATES , CAR SOMETIMES WOULDN'T DOWN SHIFT . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
Compare 1986CHEVROLETCELEBRITY 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 1986 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY have?▼
The 1986 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY has 38 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 2 fires, 4 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY?▼
The most-complained component for the 1986 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING:RACK AND PINION and STEERING.
Is the 1986 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 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.