Total Complaints
2 filings
CHEVROLET SPECTRUM · model year
1986 CHEVROLET SPECTRUM
2 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1986CHEVROLETSPECTRUM carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 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 1986 SPECTRUM is seat belts:rear/other with 1 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (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 1986 SPECTRUM, 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
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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 |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
19991109ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I PURCHASED THIS 1986 CHEVROLET SPECTRUM FROM AN INLAW WHO COULDN'T GET IT TO RUN. HE PURCHASED THE CAR FROM SOMEONE ELSE WHO COULDN'T GET IT TO RUN. I PERSONALLY HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS, AND MONEY TRING TO GET THE CAR TO STAY RUNNING. WITH NO POSITIVE RESULT. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER, FUEL PUMP, SPAK PLUGS, WIRES, ROTOR, CAP, 2 DIFFERENT CARBERATORS, THEN A CARBORATOR KIT, DID A COMPRESSION CHECK,( FINE) NO WATER IN THE OIL , TIMING BELT FINE, TIMING EXCELLENT, HOSES IN PLACE AND GOOD. HAVE TAKEN TO MECHANICS AND NO POSITIVE END RESULT. THE CAR STALLS EVERYWHERE ANYWHERE, I HAVE BEEN STRANDED COUNTLESS TIMES. EMBARRASING AND A TOTAL HAZARD TO THE ROAD. THE CAR HAS CAUSED COUNTLESS TRAFFIC JAMS AND I PERSONALLY HAVE HAD TO RUN STOP SIGNS TO KEEP THE CAR GOING. ITS SCARY AND FRUSTRANIG. I SURE WOULDN'T TAKE MY NEICE WITH ME FOR A DRIVE. AND I SURE MISS MY NEICE. I REALLY FEEL THAT ITS A CRIME FOR THE MANUFACTURES NOT TO FIX THE DEFECTIVE PART. IF THEY KNOW IT IS D
19950206CrashSEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
BOTH REAR SEAT BELTS CAME UNDONE DURING AN ACCIDENT. TT
Compare 1986CHEVROLETSPECTRUM 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 SPECTRUM have?▼
The 1986 CHEVROLET SPECTRUM has 2 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 CHEVROLET SPECTRUM?▼
The most-complained component for the 1986 CHEVROLET SPECTRUM is SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1986 CHEVROLET SPECTRUM 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.