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1985 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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 →
4Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

4Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1985 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 4 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 4 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)

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2 reports
  • Exterior Lighting: 1 reports
  • Seat Belts: 1 reports
  • Seats: 1 reports
  • Structure: 1 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    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

    Other model years Selected year
    2
    1982    1
    1983    3
    1984    4
    1985    6
    1986    5
    1987    3
    1988
    Compare all Monte Carlo years →

    Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

    What owners reported most

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    2    Exterior Lighting
    1    Seat Belts
    1    Seats
    1    Structure
    1
    All reported categories
    Tires
    1

    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: 1 of 4 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.

    • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Exterior Lighting. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Seat Belts. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

    NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

    1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

    2 reports
    Clear category filter
    Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2004
    Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

    THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE EXITING THE TURNPIKE. THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES BECAME INOPERATIVE. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE STRUCK A MEDIAN BARRIER AT A TOLLBOOTH. TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE'S MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE LINES REPLACED (OHIO TRA…

    Read full complaint

    THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE EXITING THE TURNPIKE. THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES BECAME INOPERATIVE. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE STRUCK A MEDIAN BARRIER AT A TOLLBOOTH. TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE'S MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE LINES REPLACED (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *PH *NM

    NHTSA ODI #10057818

    Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2002
    Exterior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic

    CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR AN INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT THE BRAKE LINE PROCEDURE THAT WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE WAS ILLEGAL, CONUSMER THEN CONTACTED THE BUSINESS THAT PERFORMED THE WORK AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROCEDURE THEY USED WAS CALLED COMPRESSION FITTINGS WHICH WAS USED ALL THE TIME, ALSO THE MARKER L…

    Read full complaint

    CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR AN INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT THE BRAKE LINE PROCEDURE THAT WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE WAS ILLEGAL, CONUSMER THEN CONTACTED THE BUSINESS THAT PERFORMED THE WORK AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROCEDURE THEY USED WAS CALLED COMPRESSION FITTINGS WHICH WAS USED ALL THE TIME, ALSO THE MARKER LIGHTS WERE OUT.*JB

    NHTSA ODI #8004468

    Recall campaigns

    0

    No recalls in this snapshot.

    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

    4

    PE89145 · Parking Brake Cable

    Opened Jul 21, 1989 · Closed Sep 22, 1989

    Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Parking Brake

    ===

    PE89104 · Jammed Steering Mechanism

    Opened Mar 17, 1989 · Closed May 12, 1989

    Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

    SUMMARY: THE OIL FILL TUBE MAY BECOME LOOSE, CAUSING IT TO FALL ANDPOSSIBLY BECOME LODGED NEAR THE STEERING GEAR.THIS MAY CAUSE THESTEERING MECHANISM TO BECOME JAMMED, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL.===

    C89001 · Throttle NON-RETURN

    Opened Mar 6, 1989 · Closed Jan 16, 1990

    Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

    There is no summary currently available

    EA86025 · Windshield Wipers

    Opened Aug 25, 1986 · Closed Mar 2, 1988

    Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility

    SUMMARY:GM BELIEVES THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED THROUGH ITS PUBLI-CATION OF 7 SERVICE BULLETINS CONCERNING THIS MATTER. IN ADDITION, GMDOES NOT BELIEVE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE REPRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD.ANALYSIS: THREE FAILURE MODES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED; INSULATING FILM MAYBUILD UP BETWEEN THE BRUSH FACE AND THE COMMUTATOR OF THE WIPER MOTOR,CORROSION MAY FORM IN THE WIPER MOTOR BRUSH AND DISENGAGEMENT OF THEWIPER ARMS MAY OCCUR. IN VIEW OF THE EXISTING LEGAL PRECEDENT, THE LARGENUMBER OF WARRANTY CLAIMS CONCERNING WIPER MOTOR FAILURES (114,000) ANDTHE HIGH WIPER MOTOR AND MOTOR KIT PART SALES (251,000), IT IS IMPERATIVETHAT THIS MATTER RECEIVE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT.STATUS: GM RESPONSE DATED 2/23/87. ANALYZING AS TIME PERMITS.EA CLOSED 3/2/88.=== D@

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.