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1986 Chevrolet Celebrity

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
33Owner complaints

Model-year median: 7

2Recall campaigns

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3Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
19838
198415
198533
198644
198739
198839
1989
Compare all Celebrity years →

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

What owners reported most

Steering
9Electrical System
7Seat Belts
5Structure
4Exterior Lighting
2
All reported categories
Seats
2Service Brakes, Air
2Engine And Engine Cooling
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Power Train
1Suspension
1Tires
1Vehicle Speed Control
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: 2 of 33 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.

  • Steering. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. 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.

5 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

2 reports
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33,000 miles · Jan 9, 2009
Exterior Lighting

I WENT TO AUTO RECALLS .ORG AND FOUND RECALL ON MY 1986 CHEVY CELEBRITY 33,000 MILES. CONTACTED DEALER KOOL CHEVROLET 3770 PLAINFIELD NE GRAND RAPIDS MICHIGAN 49505 (616)-364-9431 THEY SAID THEY COULD ONLY TRACE VIN NUMBERS BACK TO 1990.WAS REFERRED TO GM 1-800-222-1020 (SERVICE REQUEST 71-693324446) I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RE…

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I WENT TO AUTO RECALLS .ORG AND FOUND RECALL ON MY 1986 CHEVY CELEBRITY 33,000 MILES. CONTACTED DEALER KOOL CHEVROLET 3770 PLAINFIELD NE GRAND RAPIDS MICHIGAN 49505 (616)-364-9431 THEY SAID THEY COULD ONLY TRACE VIN NUMBERS BACK TO 1990.WAS REFERRED TO GM 1-800-222-1020 (SERVICE REQUEST 71-693324446) I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL AND I SHOULD TAKE IT IN AND PAY TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE SAME THING. I AM THE SECOND OWNER HAVING PURCHASED IT IN THE LAST YEAR. MIKE RUSSELL *TR

NHTSA ODI #10254355

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 1999
Exterior Lighting

THE CONSUMER HAD CRUISE CONTROL INSTALLED ON VEHICLE, SHORTLY AFTER THE ADDITION, THE CRUISE CONTROL ACCELERATED THE ENGINE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED, THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE BRAKE SWITCH. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #783622

Official recalls

2

86V131000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

Sep 19, 1986

THE PUSH PULL HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY HAVE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH ALLOW AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO FLICKER OR SUDDENLY GO OUT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SUDDEN LOSS OF THE HEADLIGHTS UNDER SEVERE WEATHER OR NIGHTTIME DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE DRIVER VISIBILITY WHICH MIGHT RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: REPLACE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AS NECESSARY.

86V056000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

Apr 28, 1986

THE PUSH-PULL HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY HAVE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH ALLOW AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO FLICKER OR SUDDENLY GO OUT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SUDDEN LOSS OF THE HEADLIGHTS UNDER SEVERE WEATHER OR NIGHTTIME DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE DRIVER VISIBILITY WHICH MIGHT RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. NOTE: ALSO, SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 86V131000.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: REPLACE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AS NECESSARY.

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

3

PE94048 · SUB-FRAME Absorber Failure

Opened Jun 21, 1994 · Closed Dec 30, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

There is no summary currently available

PE91120 · Front Brake Disc/hub Sep

Opened Aug 30, 1991 · Closed Nov 4, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available

EA87006 · Power St. Assist

Opened Dec 16, 1986 · Closed Sep 19, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER:GM HAS DEVELOPED A SPLITRING FIELD REPAIR KIT AND IS EXTENDING THE WARRANRY ON ALL 1982-84 A,J, AND X, BODY CARS AND 1985 C,BODY CARS.THE WARRANTY APPLIES TO CARSTHAT ARE FOR 50,000 MILES OR 5 YRS.IT INCLUDES REIMBURSEMENT FOR PREVIOUSREPAIRS.ANALYSIS:WEARING OF THE RACK AND PINION HOUSING AND LOW AMBIENT TEMPCAN CAUSE TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER ASSIST.TEFLON O RINGS FAIL TO SEALOFF INTERNAL PRESSURE.STATUS:EVALUATING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OFFER BY GM.======