Total Complaints
18 filings
CHEVROLET NOVA · model year
1987 CHEVROLET NOVA
18 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1987CHEVROLETNOVA carries 18 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, 4 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 1987 NOVA is power train:automatic transmission with 4 filings, followed by latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch (2) and power train:axle assembly (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 1987 NOVA, 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.
18
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
4
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 |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 4 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20060214SEAT BELTS:FRONT
1987 CHEVROLET NOVA DOES NOT SECURE PASSENGER PROPERLY. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT CATCH AND STOP WHEN HE GRABS THEM ABRUPTLY AS HE WOULD EXPECT IN AN ACCIDENT. *JB
20051109STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
{1}NORTH BOUND FREEWAY WORK RIGHT LANE FROM, LINDON EXIT TO SALT LAKE CITY. THERE ARE SEVERAL GROOVES, HOLES AND UNEVEN LANES. I PURCHASED NEW TIRES THIS YEAR, MY RIGHT FRONT AXLE IS BAD AS WELL AS THE INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS I NEED NEW TIRES AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE FREEWAY PROBLEMS. WILL YOU HELP? *JB
Mileage: 209,000
20051109TIRES
{1}NORTH BOUND FREEWAY WORK RIGHT LANE FROM, LINDON EXIT TO SALT LAKE CITY. THERE ARE SEVERAL GROOVES, HOLES AND UNEVEN LANES. I PURCHASED NEW TIRES THIS YEAR, MY RIGHT FRONT AXLE IS BAD AS WELL AS THE INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS I NEED NEW TIRES AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE FREEWAY PROBLEMS. WILL YOU HELP? *JB
Mileage: 209,000
20010327SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. *SLC
20010306POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
THE TRANSAXLE FLUID WAS 1.5 QUARTS LOW (EMPTY) CAUSING THE TRANSAXLE TO LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING. NLM
20010215POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FRONT WHEEL LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING AT 50-55 MPH. VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIRS SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT LOCK UP WAS DUE TO LACK OF FRONT AXLE LUBRICATION. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
20001006POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN SPEEDOMETER CABLE SNAPPED. 10 MILES LATER, ENTIRE FRONT END LOCKED UP DUE A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. *AK THE MECHANIC DETERMIND THAT THE TRANS CASE, ALL GEARS AND RIGHT AND LEFT C.V. SHAFTS WERE BROKEN AS THE RESULT OF FRONT END LOCK UP. *YH
20001006POWER TRAIN
WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN SPEEDOMETER CABLE SNAPPED. 10 MILES LATER, ENTIRE FRONT END LOCKED UP DUE A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. *AK THE MECHANIC DETERMIND THAT THE TRANS CASE, ALL GEARS AND RIGHT AND LEFT C.V. SHAFTS WERE BROKEN AS THE RESULT OF FRONT END LOCK UP. *YH
20000905UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE NHTSA HAS REPORTED TWO PROBLEMS WITH THE 1987 & 1988 CHEVROLET SPECTRUM. THESE PROBLEMS APPLY TO THE 1987 NOVA.
19990120POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE OR PULL. DEALER SAYS TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REBUILT 12 TIMES. *AK
19980823SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC
OWNER CLAIMS RAYBESTOS BRAND BRAKE HOSES MIDDLE MOUNTING SECTION MANUFACTURED BACKWARDS. HOSE CANNOT BE MOUNTED AS DESIGNED, DANGEROUS BYPASSING OF MIDDLE MOUNT LIKELY.
19980615POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MINOR SERVICE OF CHECKING THE OIL LEVEL IN DEFFERENTIAL FOR FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES. 80-90 OIL IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE EXTRA RESERVOIR, RESULTING IN LOW OIL LEVEL THAT WILL BURN UP THE TRANMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, AND THE DEALERS HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM.
19960930SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELTS IN FRONT SEAT FAILED TO HOLD DRIVER/PASSENGER IN PLACE IN REAR END COLLISION, CAUSING INJURIES.
19960220LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
THE HOOD ON THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STAY LATCHED. TT
19960220LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
THE HOOD ON THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STAY LATCHED. TT
19951215POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE CASE ON THE TRANSMISSION BROKE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
19950612POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
DIFFERENTIAL BROKE WHICH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK, CAUSED TRANSMISSION TO FAILED. TT
19950217SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE. TT
Compare 1987CHEVROLETNOVA 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 1987 CHEVROLET NOVA have?▼
The 1987 CHEVROLET NOVA has 18 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 CHEVROLET NOVA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1987 CHEVROLET NOVA is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH and POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1987 CHEVROLET NOVA 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.