The 1987 Chevrolet Spectrum has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 15,903 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING88V0460001988-03-298,238 affected
Defect
THE POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION VALVE MAY PROVIDE INADEQUATE AIR FLOW UNDER LOW ENGINE LOAD CONDITIONS.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION CAN ALLOW WATER/OIL MIXTURE TO BUILD UPIN THE HOSE FROM THE OIL SEPARATOR TO THE AIR INLET DUCT. AFTER THE ENGINE ISSTOPPED, THIS WATER/OIL MIXTURE CAN, UNDER COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS, FREEZE ANDCOMPLETELY BLOCK THE OIL SEPARATOR AIR DUCT HOSE. THIS BLOCKAGE WILL RESULT ININCREASED PRESSURE WITHIN THE…
PERFORATION OF THE FUEL TANK OR THE ATTACHED FUEL FEED PIPE DUE TO CORROSION OF THE TANK OR FUEL FEED PIPE MATERIALS.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE FUELTANK AND ULTIMATELY RESULT IN A FIRE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. SUCH A FIRE COULDSPREAD TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.
Remedy
THE FUEL TANK WILL BE REPLACED ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
2
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1
SEAT BELTS
1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
1
Total complaints12
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Rear passenger's restraint belt sticks. Belt will not extend. *ak”
“The clucth would not lock out of gear caused the consumer to have a near accident. *ak”
“The clucth would not lock out of gear caused the consumer to have a near accident. *ak”
“Sudden acceleartion when force is not applied to the gas pedal. *ak”
“Sudden acceleartion when force is not applied to the gas pedal. *ak”
“Defective carburetor, causing high idle prior to service recall. *ak”
“Idle set for 1987 spectrum is not adjustable-will not hold. Tt”
“Engine failure due to 'non free wheeling' design of engine which causes parts to bind when timing belt fails.”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1987 Chevrolet Spectrum as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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