The 1986 Chevrolet Chevette has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 570,259 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
POWER TRAIN88V0500001988-04-04370,831 affected
Defect
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER BUTTON MECHANISM MAY WEAR TO THE POINT THAT THE BUTTON ON THE SHIFT LEVER NO LONGER NEEDS TO BE DEPRESSED TO SHIFT GEARS.
Consequence
A LEVER WITH THIS CONDITION COULD BE INADVERTENTLY BUMPEDOR MOVED FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE BY THE DRIVER OR A PASSENGER WHILE THE VEHICLEIS BEING DRIVEN. A SUDDEN UNEXPECTED SHIFTING COULD CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy
A NEWLY DESIGNED TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER WILL BE INSTALLED ON ALL VEHICLES.
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…
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…
Remedy
REPLACE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AS NECESSARY.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
1
Total complaints6
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Vehicle often loses power and unable to go above 20 mph, unless going downhill. Happens primarily when cruising on highway when suddenly vehicle slows down and there is little response from the accelerator. Problem cannot be determined.”
“Fuel pump failure, causing intermittent stalling; also replaced carburetor/transmission/engine. *ak”
“Fuel pump failure, causing intermittent stalling; also replaced carburetor/transmission/engine. *ak”
“Fuel pump failure, causing intermittent stalling; also replaced carburetor/transmission/engine. *ak”
“Fuel pump failure, causing intermittent stalling; also replaced carburetor/transmission/engine. *ak”
“Brakes failed after recall repair.”
Defect investigations
InvestigationDP87009 Opened 1986-12-30 · closed 1987-02-10
SAFETY BELTS
SAFETY BELTS
InvestigationPE88023 Opened 1988-02-05 · closed 1988-04-08
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1986 Chevrolet Chevette as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.