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Engine coolingPart report

1986 Chevrolet Cavalier Engine cooling Problems

Complaints
6about this part
Share
33%of 18 total for the year
Median mileage
—not reported
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the engine cooling of the 1986 Chevrolet Cavalier, 33% of the 18 complaints for this model year. 4 a fire, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Dashboard display intermittently disappeared and came back on; now, completely inoperative; vehicle unknowingly ran out of gas, overheated, cannot tell speed.”

NHTSA complaint #971389, filed 1995-08

Engine cooling: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
200562%
2004155%
2003436%
20022211%
20012912%
20005417%
19994418%
19985516%
199710620%
199611723%
19958230%
19945626%
19934128%
19921511%
1991815%
1990713%
19891023%
1986633%
1984113%

Other parts of the 1986 Chevrolet Cavalier

Electrical system
5 complaints
Steering
3 complaints
Seats
2 complaints
Seat belts
1 complaints
Body and structure
1 complaints
Tires
1 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 1986 Chevrolet Cavalier

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology