IllustrationDRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER SEAT BELT AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SHOULDER SEAT BELT GET STUCK. SHOULDER BELTS CAN'T COME OUT AND GO OVER THE CONSUMERS IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THEM WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. *AK
1986 Chevrolet Corvette
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
Compare all Corvette years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
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: 5 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.
- Seat Belts. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. 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 reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
15 reportsBRAKE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED.
THERE IS AN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL SHORT SOMEWHERE IN THE VEHICLE THAT THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO LOCATE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT MAY BE RELATED TO THE MOVEMENT OF THE ADJUSTABLE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNALS AND/OR THE BRAKES, THE FUSE OR FUSES BLOW, LEAVING THE CAR WITHOUT BRAKING LIGHTS AND/OR TURN INDIC…
Read full complaint
THERE IS AN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL SHORT SOMEWHERE IN THE VEHICLE THAT THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO LOCATE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT MAY BE RELATED TO THE MOVEMENT OF THE ADJUSTABLE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNALS AND/OR THE BRAKES, THE FUSE OR FUSES BLOW, LEAVING THE CAR WITHOUT BRAKING LIGHTS AND/OR TURN INDICATORS. *SLC
AT HIGH SPEED, APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, HAD TO MAKE A PANIC STOP, BUT BRAKES FAILED. CONSUMER CLAIMS PROBLEM RELATES TO MASTER CYLINDER. INQUIRES WHETHER HIS VEHICLE IS COVERED UNDER RECALL 86V-120, MASTER CYLINDER. *AK
SEAT BELTS JAMMED AND FAILED TO RETRACT PRIOR TO RECALL; RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DEALER CLAIMING BELT FAILURE NOT RELATED TO RECALL. (91V-143). *AK
Official recalls
391V143000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Sep 4, 1991
UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE OPERATIONS AND OCCUPANT USAGE CONDITIONS, THE SAFETY BELTS CAN LOCKUP OR JAM IN THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF LOCKUP OCCURS, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL BELT OUT OFTHE RETRACTOR. THE OCCUPANT OF A SEAT WITH AN UNUSABLE SAFETY BELT ISSUBJECT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE SAFETY BELTS IF THE LOCKUP OCCURS.
86V120000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
Aug 26, 1986
SEVERE AND UNUSUAL BRAKING CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER CENTER VALVE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF SUFFICIENT DAMAGE OCCURS, LOSS OF FRONT BRAKES MAY OCCUR WITH INCREASED PEDAL TRAVEL AND REDUCED BRAKING ABILITY. THE REDUCTION OF BRAKING ABILITY AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE IS REQUIRED COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: NEW MASTER CYLINDER CENTER VALVE AND RELATED PARTS WILL BE INSTALLED.
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
5DP96006 · Brake Pull
Opened May 14, 1996 · Closed Oct 18, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE PETITIONS STATED THAT:WE REPRESENT THE OWNER OF A 1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE WHICH, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, SUDDENTLY, VIOLENTLY, AND UNEXPECTEDLY PULLS TO THE LEFT.THIS IS A INTERMITTENT DEFECT WHICH DOES NOT OCCUR WITH AN REGULARITY.
EA92005 · 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
EA90033 · Safety Belt Retractor Fail
Opened Jun 11, 1990 · Closed Sep 9, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:retractor
There is no summary currently available
PE90041 · Safety Belt Retractor Fail
Opened Feb 8, 1990 · Closed Jun 11, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:retractor
There is no summary currently available
PE90032 · Tie Rod Socket Failure
Opened Jan 12, 1990 · Closed Mar 22, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available