1987 Chevrolet Nova Problems
- Complaints
- 15filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 209,000miles, 1 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns 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
- 28 mpgcombined, 1.6L 4-cyl FWD · 25 city / 33 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1987 Chevrolet Nova (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 1987 Chevrolet Nova. The part named most often is transmission and drivetrain, with 7 complaints (47% of the total), followed by seat belts (4) and brakes (1). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 209,000 miles. Of all complaints, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
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.
- Seat belts4 27%
- Brakes1 6.7%
- Other or unknown1 6.7%
- Steering1 6.7%
- Tires1 6.7%
Example complaints
Transmission and drivetrain: “Consumer states that the minor service of checking the oil level in defferential for front wheel drive vehicles. 80-90 oil is the problem with the extra reservoir, resulting in low oil level that will burn up the tranmission. The transmission was replaced, and the dealers have not been notified of the description of the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #824311, filed 1998-06Seat belts: “1987 Chevrolet NOVA does not secure passenger properly. The consumer stated the seat belts do not catch and stop when he grabs them abruptly as he would expect in an accident.”
NHTSA complaint #10150817, filed 2006-02Brakes: “Owner claims raybestos brand brake hoses middle mounting section manufactured backwards. Hose cannot be mounted as designed, dangerous bypassing of middle mount likely.”
NHTSA complaint #540289, filed 1998-08Mileage when problems were reported
0% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 209,000 and 209,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1987 Chevrolet Nova 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nova FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 25 | 33 | 28 | $2,400 |
| Nova FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 24 | 29 | 26 | $2,600 |
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
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1987 Chevrolet Nova in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1987 Chevrolet Nova.
Other model years of the Chevrolet Nova
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 11 | — | 0 | — | 26 | — | Not enough data |
| 1987 | 15 | 209,000 | 0 | — | 28 | — | Stable |
All Chevrolet Nova model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1987 Chevrolet Nova have?
NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 1987 Chevrolet Nova as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1987 Chevrolet Nova is reported most often?
Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 7 complaints (47% of the total), followed by seat belts with 4.
Has the 1987 Chevrolet Nova been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1987 Chevrolet Nova get?
The EPA rates the 1987 Chevrolet Nova (Nova, 1.6L 4-cyl) at 28 mpg combined, 25 city and 33 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,400 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1987 Chevrolet Nova reported?
Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 209,000 miles and the middle half falls between 209,000 and 209,000 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.