IllustrationTHE DRIVER SIDE 05-21-99 & PASSENGER SIDE 06-13-99 SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED TO RELEASE, PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE (90V105000). *YC
1985 Chevrolet Camaro
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1985 Chevrolet Camaro do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 32.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Camaro 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: 3 of 46 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.
- Seat Belts. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Parking Brake. Review the 5 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 reports3 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
46 reportsNO SUMMARY
VEHICLE EXPRIENCED FIRE UNDER THE DASH WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY; MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD AND NOTHING WOULD BE DONE. VEHICLE IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION IF NEEDED. *AK
RECALL 90V-105.000, SEAT BELT BUCKLES; THE RECALL NOTICE STATED WHENEVER THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELTS TO BRING THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP. BUT MS. NOWAK IS TRYING TO GET THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES REPLACED, AND GMC WILL NOT HONOR THE RECALL. *AK
DUE TO VEHICLE'S DESIGN (NOT HAVING A CROSSMEMBER BRACE), THE FRAME CRACKED.
PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTER DOES NOT WORK AT ALL WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED UP HILL. DEALER HAS SEEN. OWNER WANTS THE PROBLEM SERVICED UNDER RECALL, HE IS NOT INCLUDED IN (91V-055). *AK
THE GEAR BOX FOR POWER STEERING IS TORQUING THE BOX ACROSS THE FRAME OF VEHICLE, CAUSING IT TO CRACK. HOUSING FOR SEAT BELT HAS FALLEN APART AFTER BEING REPAIRED UNDER RECALL (85V-169). *AK
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE BATTERY WAS BEING RECHARGED.
EVENFLOR COMPANY ISSUED A RECALL ON MODEL #224186P1, STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED RECALL PART.
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BELT BUCKLE CANNOT UNFASTEN, THE CONSUMER HAS HAD A HARD TIME RECEIVING RECALL REPAIRS FROM THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PARTICULAR RECALL ITEM.
Official recalls
391V055000 · Parking Brake:conventional
Apr 11, 1991
PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTER FAILS TO OPERATE AND DO NOT WORK AFTER BRAKE PAD WEAR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: PARKING BRAKES WILL NOT COMPLETELY HOLD A PARKED VEHICLEWHEN PARKED ON A SLOPE, CAUSING UNINTENDED VEHICLE ROLLAWAY WHICH COULD RESULTIN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE NONFUNCTIONING PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTERS.
90V105000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
May 14, 1990
PLASTIC COMPONENTS OF SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES DO NOT CONTAIN AN ULTRA VIOLET STABILIZER, AND EXPOSURE TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT AND ELEVATED INTERIOR TEMPERATURES COULD WEAKEN THE PLASTIC COMPONENTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF PLASTIC COMPONENTS WHICHCOULD PREVENT BUCKLE FROM LATCHING AND PROTECTING OCCUPANT IN A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE OR REPAIR SEAT BELT BUCKLE.
85V169000 · Seat Belts:front:webbing
Dec 20, 1985
DISLOCATION OF A SPRING COVER WILL NOT ALLOW THE SHOULDER BELT TO RETRACT AFTER BEING EXTENDED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: ALTHOUGH INERTIAL FEATURE THAT LOCKS THE LAP BELT AND SHOULDER BELT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT ARE NOT AFFECTED, IF SLACK IS MORE THAN RECOMMENDED IN OWNERS MANUAL, INJURIES TO UPPER BODY AND HEAD WOULD BE INCREASED IN AN ACCIDENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: INSTALL RETAINING SPRINGS ON SPRING COVER OF FRONT SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR AND, WHEN REQUIRED, RETRACTORS WILL BE REPLACED.
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
10EA92005 · Throttle Sticking
Opened Jan 30, 1992 · Closed Jan 29, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA90012 · Rear Axle Shaft Failure
Opened Feb 28, 1990 · Closed Apr 24, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
There is no summary currently available
C90001 · Rear Disc Brakes
Opened Feb 21, 1990 · Closed Jul 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
EA90001 · Safety Buckle Breakage
Opened Oct 3, 1989 · Closed Jul 10, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
There is no summary currently available
PE89148 · Safety Belt Buckle Breakag
Opened Aug 1, 1989 · Closed Oct 3, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
SUMMARY:REPORTEDLY THE PLASTIC BUCKLE COVER BREAKS AND PIECES FALLINTO THE BUCKLE MECHANISM MAKING THE BUCKLE INOPERATIVE.===
EA88036 · Rear Disc Brakes
Opened Jul 22, 1988 · Closed Aug 30, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
SUMMARY: CORROSION IN THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER PREVENTS AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT FOR PAD WEAR. THIS MAY EVENTUALLY CAUSE LOSS OF REAR SERVICE BRAKE AND PARKING BRAKE. GM HAS ADDED CORROSION PROTECTION AND CHANGED SPRING RATE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. SAME BASIC DESIGN USED ON ALL MODELS IDENTIFIED.
PE88070 · Frame Cracking
Opened Jun 28, 1988 · Closed Sep 22, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
SUMMARY: GM'S MAY '88 TSB CONCERNS REPAIR PROCEDURES FOR FRAME RAIL CRACKING ON 82-85 CAMAROS. ODI DATA BASE CONTAINS THREE REPORTS OF FRAME RAIL CRACKING ON CAMAROS AND FIREBIRDS.
EA88023 · Throttle Linkage Sticking
Opened Feb 2, 1988 · Closed Mar 6, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
===
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@
EA86019 · Rear Brake Failure
Opened Jun 17, 1986 · Closed Jul 22, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
SUMMARY: THE REAR DISC BRAKE ADJUST MECHANISM FAILS TO FUNCTION AFTER CORROSION OCCURS. GM HAS REDESIGNED CALIPER ASSM. SAME DESIGN AND PROBLEM ON GM'S E, F, AND P CARS. INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN COMBINED INTO ONE WITH ALL GM CARS USING SAME REAR DISC BRAKE DESIGN.===