IllustrationDUAL GAS TANKS ARE LEAKING. THE OTHER ONE IS RUSTED FROM MUD BUILD UP. CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO NAPA, AND THEY SAID THAT THE TANK WAS OBSOLETE AND WOULD HAVE TO PUCHASE ONE USED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
1986 Chevrolet C15
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all C15 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 5 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
5 reportsDUAL GAS TANKS ARE LEAKING ,THE OTHER ONE IS RUSTED DUE TO MUD BUILD UP. TOOK TRUCK TO NAPA, AND CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THOSE TANKS ARE NOW OBSOLETE, AND THAT THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO GET ONE USED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFOMATION. *AK
ONE OF THE DUAL TANKS WAS LEAKING. THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE. *AK
FUEL PROBLEMS. *AK
LEAKING FUEL TANK. TT THE PLASTIC ROCK GUARD DOES NOT COVER THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE TANK MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR SAND, ROCK, DIRT AND OTHER DEBRIS TO GET BETWEEN THE PLASTIC GUARD AND THE TANK CAUSING THE TANK TO RUST COMPLETELY AND LEAK THE FUEL. IT COULD BE A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD. *YH
Official recalls
186V131000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
Sep 19, 1986
THE PUSH PULL HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY HAVE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH ALLOW AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO FLICKER OR SUDDENLY GO OUT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SUDDEN LOSS OF THE HEADLIGHTS UNDER SEVERE WEATHER OR NIGHTTIME DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE DRIVER VISIBILITY WHICH MIGHT RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: REPLACE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AS NECESSARY.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE88016 · Exhaust Manifold Leaks
Opened Jan 14, 1988 · Closed Mar 31, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
SUMMARY:SOME 1981-86 TRUCKS WITH 7.4L ENGINES AND CAST IRON EXHAUSTMANIFOLDS MAY EXPERIENCE A CONDITION WHERE AN EXHAUST LEAK DEVELOPSBETWEEN THE MANIFOLD AND THE CYLINDER HEAD MATING SURFACE CAUSING A NOISECONDITION. MOST OF THE REPORTS (AND ALL OF THE INJURIES AND THEMANIFOLD FIRE) ARE FROM THE P30 MOTORHOME CHASSIS.GM STATES THAT A WARPEDOR CRACKED MANIFOLD WOULD PERMIT SMALL AMOUNTS OF EXHAUST GAS LEAKAGEGENERALLY RESULTING IN NOTICEABLE NOISE AND FUMES.THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDSARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO EXTREME HEAT CONDITIONS (SUCH AS OPERATING UNDER SEVEREENGINE/VEHICULAR LOAD CONDITIONS AND HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES).THEMOTORHOME APPLICATION IS PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS ALLEGED DEFECTSINCE THE VEHICLE IS NEARLY ALWAYS AT OR NEAR THE GVWR OF THE VEHICLE.THEFEW NUMBER OF REPORTS RECEIVED BY ODI FOR A PROBLEM WHICH BEGAN 8 YEARS AGOSUGGESTS THAT THE DEFECT EITHER OCCURS INFREQUENTLY OR IS NOT PERCEIVED ASA SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD.THE SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED TO IDENTIFYTHE HIGH TEMPERATURE PROBLEM AND PROVIDE A REMEDY AGAINST REOCCURRENCE.===