Total Complaints
2 filings
CHEVROLET EL CAMINO · model year
1983 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO
2 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1983CHEVROLETEL CAMINO carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 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 1983 EL CAMINO is vehicle speed control with 1 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (1). 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 1983 EL CAMINO, 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.
2
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
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 |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20050426VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1983 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE EQUIPMENT AND ENGINE REVVING.*MR THE CONSUMER HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE, HOWEVER THE REAR WHEELS STARTED TO SPIN. WHEN THE CONSUMER SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVE EVERYTHING RETURNED TO NORMAL. IN JUNE OF 2000 THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED AND AGAIN IN 2004. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND. THE CONSUMER DID GET A PARK NEUTRAL SWITCH FAULT CODE A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE LAST INCIDENT BUT IT WENT OUT. *JB *NM
20050426ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1983 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE EQUIPMENT AND ENGINE REVVING.*MR THE CONSUMER HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE, HOWEVER THE REAR WHEELS STARTED TO SPIN. WHEN THE CONSUMER SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVE EVERYTHING RETURNED TO NORMAL. IN JUNE OF 2000 THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED AND AGAIN IN 2004. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND. THE CONSUMER DID GET A PARK NEUTRAL SWITCH FAULT CODE A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE LAST INCIDENT BUT IT WENT OUT. *JB *NM
Compare 1983CHEVROLETEL CAMINO 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 1983 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO have?▼
The 1983 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1983 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO?▼
The most-complained component for the 1983 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 1983 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO 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.