IllustrationTHE TRANSAXLE FLUID WAS 1.5 QUARTS LOW (EMPTY) CAUSING THE TRANSAXLE TO LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING. NLM
1987 Chevrolet Nova
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 Nova 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: 1 of 15 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.
- Power Train. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Latches/locks/linkages. 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.
0 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
Power Train complaints
7 reportsVEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FRONT WHEEL LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING AT 50-55 MPH. VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIRS SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT LOCK UP WAS DUE TO LACK OF FRONT AXLE LUBRICATION. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN SPEEDOMETER CABLE SNAPPED. 10 MILES LATER, ENTIRE FRONT END LOCKED UP DUE A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. *AK THE MECHANIC DETERMIND THAT THE TRANS CASE, ALL GEARS AND RIGHT AND LEFT C.V. SHAFTS WERE BROKEN AS THE RESULT OF FRONT END LOCK UP. *YH
WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE OR PULL. DEALER SAYS TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REBUILT 12 TIMES. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MINOR SERVICE OF CHECKING THE OIL LEVEL IN DEFFERENTIAL FOR FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES. 80-90 OIL IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE EXTRA RESERVOIR, RESULTING IN LOW OIL LEVEL THAT WILL BURN UP THE TRANMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, AND THE DEALERS HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROB…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MINOR SERVICE OF CHECKING THE OIL LEVEL IN DEFFERENTIAL FOR FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES. 80-90 OIL IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE EXTRA RESERVOIR, RESULTING IN LOW OIL LEVEL THAT WILL BURN UP THE TRANMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, AND THE DEALERS HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM.
THE CASE ON THE TRANSMISSION BROKE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
DIFFERENTIAL BROKE WHICH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK, CAUSED TRANSMISSION TO FAILED. TT
Official recalls
0No 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 ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.