Chevrolet CorvetteModel year report

1985 Chevrolet Corvette Problems

Complaints: 16filed with NHTSA
Median mileage: 92,000miles, 4 complaints with mileage
Recalls: 1campaigns on record
Trend: StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating: —overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy: 17 mpgcombined, 5.7L 8-cyl RWD · 15 city / 21 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1985 Chevrolet Corvette (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 1985 Chevrolet Corvette. The part named most often is seat belts, with 8 complaints (50% of the total), followed by steering (2) and transmission and drivetrain (2). 4 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 92,000 miles. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year. Seat belts complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the anchorage and 1 NHTSA investigation filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Seat belts: “Dt:ditto contact states that while attempting to use the front driver's seat belt the lap portion of the belt became stuck within the front anchorage. He took the vehicle to a dealer. The dealer inspected the seat belt and offered to put on another strap. The strap was in a different color than the previous strap, and he did not want it. The manufacturer will not offer any assistance. There was NHTSA recall 91v143000 on a similar problem that the dealer had previously performed repairs. However the contact wanted this problem to be covered by the recall as well. …”

NHTSA complaint #10141742, filed 2005-11, 109,000 miles

Steering: “Vehicle was accelerating and the driver heard a loud noise. The vehicle began fishtailing across three lanes because the left rear outer tie rod had broken in the middle of the threads.”

NHTSA complaint #538271, filed 1998-07

Mileage when problems were reported

0% of the 4 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 75,000 and 109,000 miles.

Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (4 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 92,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1985 Chevrolet Corvette version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

Version	Engine	Transmission	City	Hwy	Comb.	Fuel / yr
Corvette RWD	5.7L 8-cyl	4-speed automatic	15	21	17	$3,950
Corvette RWD	5.7L 8-cyl	4-speed manual	15	20	17	$3,950

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

91V143000Sep 4, 1991
Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
Covers: Chevrolet Corvette 1984–1991
Under certain vehicle operations and occupant usage conditions, the safety belts can lockup or jam in the safety belt retractor.

Recall details for the 1985 Chevrolet Corvette → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

DP96006BRAKE PULLClosed · May 14, 1996
EA90033Safety belt retractor failClosed · Jun 11, 1990
PE90032Tie rod socket failureClosed · Jan 12, 1990

Technical service bulletins

No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1985 Chevrolet Corvette.

Other model years of the Chevrolet Corvette

Year	Complaints	Median mi	Recalls	Crash ★	MPG	Score (50 = typical)	Trend
2025	11	25	3	—	14	—	Too new
2024	21	500	2	—	15	—	Too new
2023	27	812	1	—	15	43 · Typical	Too new
2022	21	9,250	1	—	19	—	Stable
2021	13	12,500	2	—	19	—	Not enough data
2020	34	1,100	4	—	19	69 · More	Falling
2019	148	7,953	1	—	17	99 · More	Falling
2018	51	10,000	1	—	18	52 · Typical	Falling
2017	257	14,000	4	—	19	100 · More	Falling
2016	104	14,500	2	—	20	69 · More	Falling
2015	65	12,000	5	—	20	69 · More	Falling
2014	63	7,700	5	—	21	73 · More	Stable
2013	82	18,250	0	—	18	24 · Fewer	Falling
2012	56	25,000	1	—	18	22 · Fewer	Falling
2011	85	28,900	1	—	18	22 · Fewer	Falling
2010	84	35,202	0	—	18	10 · Fewer	Falling
2009	151	38,500	0	—	18	35 · Fewer	Falling
2008	541	48,300	0	—	18	48 · Typical	Falling
2007	341	43,000	2	—	19	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2006	365	36,750	5	—	19	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2005	533	40,000	6	—	19	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2004	217	33,100	2	—	20	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2003	85	30,544	1	—	20	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2002	157	42,500	1	—	20	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
2001	205	42,000	1	—	20	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2000	278	39,000	2	—	19	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
1999	308	45,000	2	—	20	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
1998	399	46,140	2	—	19	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
1997	153	42,258	5	—	19	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
1996	44	100,000	0	—	18	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
1995	32	94,000	0	—	18	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
1994	29	92,000	0	—	18	Not compared (before 2008)	Rising
1993	22	77,452	1	—	18	—	Falling
1992	7	34,000	1	—	18	—	Not enough data
1991	24	89,450	1	—	17	—	Falling
1990	34	57,999	2	—	17	Not compared (before 2008)	Rising
1989	15	76,700	2	—	18	—	Stable
1988	16	57,000	3	—	18	—	Stable
1987	21	99,000	1	—	17	—	Stable
1986	15	83,200	3	—	18	—	Stable
1985	16	92,000	1	—	17	—	Stable
1984	14	94,000	5	—	15	—	Not enough data
1981	6	84,000	0	—	—	—	Not enough data

All Chevrolet Corvette model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1985 Chevrolet Corvette have?

NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 1985 Chevrolet Corvette as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1985 Chevrolet Corvette is reported most often?

Seat belts is named most often, in 8 complaints (50% of the total), followed by steering with 2.

Has the 1985 Chevrolet Corvette been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1985 Chevrolet Corvette get?

The EPA rates the 1985 Chevrolet Corvette (Corvette, 5.7L 8-cyl) at 17 mpg combined, 15 city and 21 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,950 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1985 Chevrolet Corvette reported?

Among the 4 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 92,000 miles and the middle half falls between 75,000 and 109,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

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. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.