VehicleVerdict

1985 Chevrolet Camaro problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 64 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 1.6 times the median Camaro year — the 1985 model ranks #21 of 49 Camaro years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list.

The trouble concentrates in one system: seat belts issues account for 50% of all reports (32 of 64), far ahead of body & structure at 9.

64

NHTSA complaints

6

Recalls

10

Investigations

1

Crash-involved

3

Fires reported

2

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 1985 compare to other Camaro years?

See all Camaro years to avoid →

What are the most common 1985 Chevrolet Camaro problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Seat Belts3250%
Body & Structure914%
Engine711%
Brakes69%
Visibility & Wipers35%
Steering23%
Electrical System23%
Other12%
Suspension12%
Transmission12%

Does the 1985 Chevrolet Camaro have recalls?

6 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

07E088000OtherOctober 24, 2007 · 121,680 units

Defect

CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. FRAM RACING HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS NOT BEARING A DATE CODE IN THIS RANGE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. THE GASKET OF THE OIL FILTER BECOMES MORE PLIABLE UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

Remedy

HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.

06E043000Fuel SystemMay 19, 2006 · 88,303 units

Defect

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy

HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

06E026000LightingMarch 23, 2006 · 61,944 units

Defect

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy

PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

91V055000BrakesApril 11, 1991 · 179,036 units

Defect

PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTER FAILS TO OPERATE AND DO NOT WORK AFTER BRAKE PAD WEAR.

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.

90V105000Seat BeltsMay 14, 1990 · 1,500,000 units

Defect

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

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.

85V169000Seat BeltsDecember 20, 1985 · 738,485 units

Defect

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.

Remedy

INSTALL RETAINING SPRINGS ON SPRING COVER OF FRONT SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR AND, WHEN REQUIRED, RETRACTORS WILL BE REPLACED.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

RECALL 85V169000 CONCERNING SHOULDER BELTS. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS REMEDIED UNDER THIS CAMPAIGN, CONSUMER STATED THAT RECALL LETTER FROM 1994 STATED THAT VEHICLE HAS YET TO BE REPAIRED. CONSUMER STILL HAS POSSESSION OF LETTER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Seat Belts · December 1, 2001

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND FRAME BROKE. WHEN SHE WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WENT INTO OTHER LANES. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Body & Structure · January 1, 2000

THE FOLLOWING SAFETY RECALLS AND TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ARE LISTED BELOW, BUT A LOOKUP OF MY VIN NUMBER ON THE GM WEBSITE OR A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP (HOSELTON) REVEALS NO OPEN RECALLS ON IT, AND THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR IT WITHOUT CHARGE. THESE ISSUES ARE STILL CURRENT. TSB NUMBERS IN…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · January 13, 2006

I FOUND OUT THROUGH THIS WEBSITE THAT THERE ARE RECALLS ON THIS CAR. WHEN MY HUSBAND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT-IT WAS TOO OLD. ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TOLD US THAT THERE WEREN'T ANY OPEN ORDERS ON THIS CAR BUT WE HAVE THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. THE SEAT BELT…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · August 31, 2001

THE FOLLOWING SAFETY RECALLS AND TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ARE LISTED BELOW, BUT A LOOKUP OF MY VIN NUMBER ON THE GM WEBSITE OR A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP (HOSELTON) REVEALS NO OPEN RECALLS ON IT, AND THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR IT WITHOUT CHARGE. THESE ISSUES ARE STILL CURRENT. TSB NUMBERS IN…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Visibility & Wipers · January 13, 2006

1985 Chevrolet Camaro — common questions

Is the 1985 Chevrolet Camaro reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 64 complaints put the 1985 model at #21 of 49 Camaro years. It is one of the Camaro years to avoid.

What are the most common 1985 Camaro problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are seat belts (32 complaints), body & structure (9 complaints), engine (7 complaints).

Does the 1985 Chevrolet Camaro have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 1985 Chevrolet Camaro. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 1985 Chevrolet Camaro under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 10 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Chevrolet Camaro years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Camaro years to avoid are 2010, 2015, 1995, 2014, 2011, 2017, 2013, 1998, 2016, 1994, 1996, 2012, 1999, 2000, 1991, 2018, 1992, 2002, 1997, 2019, 1985, 2001. The cleanest record among Camaro years belongs to 1980.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.