IllustrationPOWER STEERING FAILURE.
1986 Chevrolet Celebrity
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 Celebrity years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 2 of 33 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.
- Steering. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. 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.
5 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
33 reportsVEHICLE 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
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. ONCE THE VEHICLE START ROLLING, THE SEAT BELT DISENGAGED ITSELF. *AK
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
INSIDE DOOR HANDLES BROKE; DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AND STOPPING AT LIGHT THE CAR VIBRATES , CAR SOMETIMES WOULDN'T DOWN SHIFT . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
COMPUTER FAILURE.
DRIVER'S SEAT BACK RECLINES ON ITS OWN. *SD
WHILE IN AN ACCIDENT THE SHOULDER HARNESS SPLIT IN HALF. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL BY PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
Official recalls
286V131000 · 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.
86V056000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
Apr 28, 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. NOTE: ALSO, SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 86V131000.
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
3PE94048 · SUB-FRAME Absorber Failure
Opened Jun 21, 1994 · Closed Dec 30, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available
PE91120 · Front Brake Disc/hub Sep
Opened Aug 30, 1991 · Closed Nov 4, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
EA87006 · Power St. Assist
Opened Dec 16, 1986 · Closed Sep 19, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER:GM HAS DEVELOPED A SPLITRING FIELD REPAIR KIT AND IS EXTENDING THE WARRANRY ON ALL 1982-84 A,J, AND X, BODY CARS AND 1985 C,BODY CARS.THE WARRANTY APPLIES TO CARSTHAT ARE FOR 50,000 MILES OR 5 YRS.IT INCLUDES REIMBURSEMENT FOR PREVIOUSREPAIRS.ANALYSIS:WEARING OF THE RACK AND PINION HOUSING AND LOW AMBIENT TEMPCAN CAUSE TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER ASSIST.TEFLON O RINGS FAIL TO SEALOFF INTERNAL PRESSURE.STATUS:EVALUATING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OFFER BY GM.======