IllustrationVEHICLE HAD BEEN TURNED OFF FOR A 1/2 AN HOUR. CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FORM FRONT HOOD. PARTS WERE TAKEN TO BE INVESTIGATED. DEALER WILL BE CONTACTED. *AK
1987 Chevrolet Corvette
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1987 Chevrolet Corvette do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 29.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →21Owner complaints
Model-year median: 29
1Recall campaignsView recall details →
5InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1987 Chevrolet Corvette
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 21 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 5 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Seat Belts: 13 reports
- Electrical System: 3 reports
- Steering: 2 reports
- Suspension: 2 reports
- Seats: 1 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Corvette years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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: 10 of 21 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.
- Seat Belts. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 2 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 reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
3 reportsINTERMITTENT NO-START PROBLEM. DEFECTIVE IGNITION PARTS INSTALLED AT FACTORY PER CHEVROLET BULLETIN 88-292-8A. CHEVROLET CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO COVER REPLACEMENT OF PARTS PER BULLETIN. FEE PAID TO GM FOR WARRATY TRANSFER AND EXTENSION TO 60,000 MILES. 25,000 MILES NOW ON VEHICLE. *AK
THE COMPUTER CHIP IN THE IGNITION KEY IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CUT OFF IN TRAFFIC AND THE COMPUTER IS NOT READING THE KEY.*AK
Recall campaigns
191V143000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Sep 4, 1991
UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE OPERATIONS AND OCCUPANT USAGE CONDITIONS, THE SAFETY BELTS CAN LOCKUP OR JAM IN THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF LOCKUP OCCURS, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL BELT OUT OFTHE RETRACTOR. THE OCCUPANT OF A SEAT WITH AN UNUSABLE SAFETY BELT ISSUBJECT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE SAFETY BELTS IF THE LOCKUP OCCURS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Defect investigations
5DP96006 · Brake Pull
Opened May 14, 1996 · Closed Oct 18, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE PETITIONS STATED THAT:WE REPRESENT THE OWNER OF A 1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE WHICH, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, SUDDENTLY, VIOLENTLY, AND UNEXPECTEDLY PULLS TO THE LEFT.THIS IS A INTERMITTENT DEFECT WHICH DOES NOT OCCUR WITH AN REGULARITY.
EA92005 · Throttle Sticking
Opened Jan 30, 1992 · Closed Jan 29, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA90033 · Safety Belt Retractor Fail
Opened Jun 11, 1990 · Closed Sep 9, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:retractor
There is no summary currently available
PE90041 · Safety Belt Retractor Fail
Opened Feb 8, 1990 · Closed Jun 11, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:retractor
There is no summary currently available
PE90032 · Tie Rod Socket Failure
Opened Jan 12, 1990 · Closed Mar 22, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.