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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

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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

What owners actually said

15 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 1996
Seat BeltsInjury

SEAT BELTS IN FRONT SEAT FAILED TO HOLD DRIVER/PASSENGER IN PLACE IN REAR END COLLISION, CAUSING INJURIES.

NHTSA ODI #508563

Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 1996
Latches/locks/linkages

THE HOOD ON THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STAY LATCHED. TT

NHTSA ODI #979374

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 1995
Power Train

THE CASE ON THE TRANSMISSION BROKE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ODI #976671

Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 1995
Power Train

DIFFERENTIAL BROKE WHICH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK, CAUSED TRANSMISSION TO FAILED. TT

NHTSA ODI #966627

Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 1995
Seat Belts

FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE. TT

NHTSA ODI #960173

Official recalls

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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.