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 7 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.
Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. 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 reports2 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
7 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 CHEVROLET C10. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE EMISSIONS STATION THAT THE REAR BRAKES ON HIS VEHICLE DO NOT OPERATE. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS AN AXLE BRAKE ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 02/01/08. *L…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 CHEVROLET C10. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE EMISSIONS STATION THAT THE REAR BRAKES ON HIS VEHICLE DO NOT OPERATE. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS AN AXLE BRAKE ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 02/01/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE SYSTEM HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE THE YEAR HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WILL NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL MANUFACTURER CAN REMEDY THE DEFECT. UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR
NHTSA ODI #10198611
Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline
CONSUMER HAS SMELLED GAS FUME ODORS OUTSIDE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED TANK WAS LEAKING FUEL FROM SIDE SADDLE TANK DUE TO COVER WHICH WAS NOT MOUNTED TO TANK, ALLOWING FOREIGN OBJECTS TO ENTER TANK AND CAUSING TANK TO RUST OUT. TWENTY GALLON TANK. *AK
NHTSA ODI #879307
Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2000
Electrical SystemCrashInjury
I HAVE REPLACED SEVEN COILS, FOUR IGNITION MODULES, AND 1 COMPLETE DISTRIBUTOR, ALSO I HAVE REPLACED THE CAP AND ROTOR THREE TIMES. THE TRUCK HAS LEFT ME AND MY ELDERLY PARENTS STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES AND HELPED IN CAUSING AN ACCIDENT THAT COULD HAD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. I HAVE PUT A LARGE SUM OF MONEY INTO THIS VEHICLE, BESIDE T…
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I HAVE REPLACED SEVEN COILS, FOUR IGNITION MODULES, AND 1 COMPLETE DISTRIBUTOR, ALSO I HAVE REPLACED THE CAP AND ROTOR THREE TIMES. THE TRUCK HAS LEFT ME AND MY ELDERLY PARENTS STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES AND HELPED IN CAUSING AN ACCIDENT THAT COULD HAD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. I HAVE PUT A LARGE SUM OF MONEY INTO THIS VEHICLE, BESIDE THE TIME IT TOOK TO WORK ON IT,PLUS THE TIME I MISSED AT WORK. I AM IN CONSTUCTION AND WHEN MY TRUCK DON'T I USSUALLY CAN'T WORK EITHER/.I FEEL THAT CHEVROLET CORP. SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM OR IN THE VERY LEAST NOTIFY THEIR VEHICLE OWNERS SO WE CAN SOLVE THE DEFECTS OURSELVES. OR NOT EVEN BUY THEM. I ENJOYED MY 1978 CHEVROLET PICKUP UP TO THE DAY IT WAS STOLEN. NOW I AM NOT SO SURE I CAN ENDORSE CHEVROLET AN MORE. I MUST ALSO STATE THAT OWNER BEFORE MY FATHER BOUGHT THE TRUCK HE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT.
NHTSA ODI #730903
Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 2000
Tires
PE00 020; WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND THERE WAS NO NOISE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. CONTINENTAL GENERAL P235/75 R15 AND DOT # ACHL2V7077. FRONT RIGHT TIRE EXPLODED. SECOND TIRE WAS THE LEFT FRONT.*AK DURING THE FIRST TREAD SEPARATION, THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL CAUSING DAMAGE TO FENDER AND DOOR. THE SECOND T…
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PE00 020; WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND THERE WAS NO NOISE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. CONTINENTAL GENERAL P235/75 R15 AND DOT # ACHL2V7077. FRONT RIGHT TIRE EXPLODED. SECOND TIRE WAS THE LEFT FRONT.*AK DURING THE FIRST TREAD SEPARATION, THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL CAUSING DAMAGE TO FENDER AND DOOR. THE SECOND TREAD SEPARATION OCCURED AGAIN WHILE TRAVELLING BUT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *YH
NHTSA ODI #868154
Mileage unknown · May 15, 1996
Electrical SystemFire
WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD, FOUND AREA NEAR CARBURETOR ON FIRE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #984571
Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 1996
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL TANKS ARE BUILT OUTSIDE THE FRAME, CAUSING SERIOUS RISK OF FIRE IN CASE OF BEING HIT FROM THE SIDE. *DSH
NHTSA ODI #501645
Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 1995
Engine And Engine CoolingStructureFire
UNDER VEHICLE CARRIAGE FIRE, CATALYTIC CONVERTER SUSPECTED OF CAUSING FIRE. TT AFTER SUDDEN EXPLOSION THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FROM UNDERNEATH THE REAR. THE POWER DOOR FAILED TO WORK AND THE CONSUMER IN TRYING TO GET OUT HAD HIS HAIR ON FIRE BUT PUT IT OUT BY ROLLING ON THE GROUND. *YH
IMPROPER SIZE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLIES WERE INSTALLED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: TRUCKS COULD EXCEED THE MAXIMUM STOPPING DISTANCEPERMITTED BY FMVSS 105, HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR AVEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: REPLACE REAR AXLE BRAKE ASSEMBLIES WITH PROPER SIZE ASSEMBLIES.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
SUMMARY:SOME 1981-86 TRUCKS WITH 7.4L ENGINES AND CAST IRON EXHAUSTMANIFOLDS MAY EXPERIENCE A CONDITION WHERE AN EXHAUST LEAK DEVELOPSBETWEEN THE MANIFOLD AND THE CYLINDER HEAD MATING SURFACE CAUSING A NOISECONDITION. MOST OF THE REPORTS (AND ALL OF THE INJURIES AND THEMANIFOLD FIRE) ARE FROM THE P30 MOTORHOME CHASSIS.GM STATES THAT A WARPEDOR CRACKED MANIFOLD WOULD PERMIT SMALL AMOUNTS OF EXHAUST GAS LEAKAGEGENERALLY RESULTING IN NOTICEABLE NOISE AND FUMES.THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDSARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO EXTREME HEAT CONDITIONS (SUCH AS OPERATING UNDER SEVEREENGINE/VEHICULAR LOAD CONDITIONS AND HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES).THEMOTORHOME APPLICATION IS PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS ALLEGED DEFECTSINCE THE VEHICLE IS NEARLY ALWAYS AT OR NEAR THE GVWR OF THE VEHICLE.THEFEW NUMBER OF REPORTS RECEIVED BY ODI FOR A PROBLEM WHICH BEGAN 8 YEARS AGOSUGGESTS THAT THE DEFECT EITHER OCCURS INFREQUENTLY OR IS NOT PERCEIVED ASA SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD.THE SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED TO IDENTIFYTHE HIGH TEMPERATURE PROBLEM AND PROVIDE A REMEDY AGAINST REOCCURRENCE.===
1985 Chevrolet C10 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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