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1986 Chevrolet Spectrum

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
2Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1
19852
19869
19875
19883
1989
Compare all Spectrum years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
1Seat Belts
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: 0 of 2 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. 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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

1 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

I PURCHASED THIS 1986 CHEVROLET SPECTRUM FROM AN INLAW WHO COULDN'T GET IT TO RUN. HE PURCHASED THE CAR FROM SOMEONE ELSE WHO COULDN'T GET IT TO RUN. I PERSONALLY HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS, AND MONEY TRING TO GET THE CAR TO STAY RUNNING. WITH NO POSITIVE RESULT. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER, FUEL PUMP, SPAK PLUGS, WIRES,…

Read full complaint

I PURCHASED THIS 1986 CHEVROLET SPECTRUM FROM AN INLAW WHO COULDN'T GET IT TO RUN. HE PURCHASED THE CAR FROM SOMEONE ELSE WHO COULDN'T GET IT TO RUN. I PERSONALLY HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS, AND MONEY TRING TO GET THE CAR TO STAY RUNNING. WITH NO POSITIVE RESULT. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER, FUEL PUMP, SPAK PLUGS, WIRES, ROTOR, CAP, 2 DIFFERENT CARBERATORS, THEN A CARBORATOR KIT, DID A COMPRESSION CHECK,( FINE) NO WATER IN THE OIL , TIMING BELT FINE, TIMING EXCELLENT, HOSES IN PLACE AND GOOD. HAVE TAKEN TO MECHANICS AND NO POSITIVE END RESULT. THE CAR STALLS EVERYWHERE ANYWHERE, I HAVE BEEN STRANDED COUNTLESS TIMES. EMBARRASING AND A TOTAL HAZARD TO THE ROAD. THE CAR HAS CAUSED COUNTLESS TRAFFIC JAMS AND I PERSONALLY HAVE HAD TO RUN STOP SIGNS TO KEEP THE CAR GOING. ITS SCARY AND FRUSTRANIG. I SURE WOULDN'T TAKE MY NEICE WITH ME FOR A DRIVE. AND I SURE MISS MY NEICE. I REALLY FEEL THAT ITS A CRIME FOR THE MANUFACTURES NOT TO FIX THE DEFECTIVE PART. IF THEY KNOW IT IS DEFECTIVE THEN FIX THE PROBLEM SO THEY HAVE A GOOD NAME BEHIND THIER PRODUCTS. WHICH MEANS QUALITY INSTEAD OF CRAP. SAM RAMP

NHTSA ODI #714516

Official recalls

1

87V078000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

May 26, 1987

VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE PERFORATION OF THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM. EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL CONTENT IN THE FUEL PROMOTES DEGRADATION OF THE DIAPHRAGM COATING RESULTING IN RADIAL CRACKING OF THE DIAPHRAGM.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A PERFORATED DIAPHRAGM CAN ALLOW FUEL TO LEAK FROM THEFUEL PUMP INTO THE UNDERHOOD AREA. THIS COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN ANUNDERHOOD FIRE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. SUCH A FIRE COULD SPREAD TO THEPASSENGER COMPARTMENT.

Remedy: A FUEL VENTILATION HOSE KIT WILL BE INSTALLED TO PREVENT FUEL FROM ESCAPING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IF THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM LEAKS AND THEREBY REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

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

1

PE90062 · Safety Belt Cut By D-RING

Opened Mar 21, 1990 · Closed Jul 30, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

There is no summary currently available