U.S. public vehicle records

Chevrolet EL CAMINO problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

5 owner complaints analyzed

19 distinct recall campaigns

106,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1966 to 1987 model years. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 2 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 5 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Transmission and shifting	1	20.0%
Braking behavior	1	20.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Tires

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Seat Belts:Front:Retractor

Unknown Or Other

Vehicle Speed Control

Tires: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 1; Unknown Or Other: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 3 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1998

2000

2003

2004

2005

1998: 1; 2000: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 1

Pattern summary

Tires leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10119102 · 2005-04-25 (April 25, 2005)

1983 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE EQUIPMENT AND ENGINE REVVING.*MR THE CONSUMER HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE, HOWEVER THE REAR WHEELS STARTED TO SPIN. WHEN THE CONSUMER SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVE EVERYTHING RETURNED TO NORMAL. IN JUNE OF 2000 THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED AND AGAIN IN 2004. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND. THE CONSUMER DID GET A PARK NEUTRAL SWITCH FAULT CODE A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE LAST INCIDENT BUT IT WENT OUT. *JB *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10119102 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1973

1974

1975

1977

1978

1979

1980

1981

1983

1984

1986

1987

1973: 4; 1974: 1; 1975: 1; 1977: 1; 1978: 4; 1979: 3; 1980: 3; 1981: 2; 1983: 1; 1984: 1; 1986: 0; 1987: 1

First model yearSecond model year

Year-by-year records

Chevrolet EL CAMINO model-year comparison
Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Change in recalls
1966	0	1	Not available
1967	0	1	0
1968	0	1	0
1970	0	1	Not available
1973	0	4	Not available
1974	0	1	-3
1975	0	1	0
1977	0	1	Not available
1978	1	4	+3
1979	0	3	-1
1980	1	3	0
1981	0	2	-1
1983	1	1	Not available
1984	1	1	0
1986	1	0	Not available
1987	0	1	+1

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

5 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

40.0%Usable mileage2 / 5 records

80.0%Valid incident date4 / 5 records

100.0%Valid filing date5 / 5 records

80.0%Ordered incident and filing dates4 / 5 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1973	1974	1975	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1983	1984	1986	1987
Tires	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 870071 CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO BALANCE TIRES ON A 1978, CHEVROLET, EL CAMINO. AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT; P205/75R14; DOT# UNAVAILABLE. AK BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT TIRES COULD NOT BE BALANCED AND ARE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE. THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED BY REPLACING THE TIRES. YH Look up ODI 870071 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 10103622 · 200,000 mi CONSUMER NOTICED THAT BUBBLES ACCUMULATED ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. UNIROYAK, SIZE P205/75R14. *AK Look up ODI 10103622 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 10119102 1983 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE EQUIPMENT AND ENGINE REVVING.MR THE CONSUMER HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE, HOWEVER THE REAR WHEELS STARTED TO SPIN. WHEN THE CONSUMER SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVE EVERYTHING RETURNED TO NORMAL. IN JUNE OF 2000 THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED AND AGAIN IN 2004. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND. THE CONSUMER DID GET A PARK NEUTRAL SWITCH FAULT CODE A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE LAST INCIDENT BUT IT WENT OUT. JB *NM Look up ODI 10119102 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 10042758 · 12,000 mi PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILURE. DEALER DIDN'T CARRY PART ANY MORE. CONSUMER POSED A QUESTION, SINCE IT WAS A SAFETY ITEM, WAS THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBLE TO FORCE MANUFACTURER TO SUPPLY CONSUMER PARTS? AK PH Look up ODI 10042758 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Unknown Or Other	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 780363 OWNER FOUND OUT ABOUT RECALLS ISSUED DURING 1981, 1984 AND 1985 AND WANTS TO KNOW IF THE MANUFACTURER HAS TO HONOR THE RECALLS. Look up ODI 780363 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Vehicle Speed Control	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 10119102 1983 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE EQUIPMENT AND ENGINE REVVING.MR THE CONSUMER HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE, HOWEVER THE REAR WHEELS STARTED TO SPIN. WHEN THE CONSUMER SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVE EVERYTHING RETURNED TO NORMAL. IN JUNE OF 2000 THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED AND AGAIN IN 2004. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND. THE CONSUMER DID GET A PARK NEUTRAL SWITCH FAULT CODE A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE LAST INCIDENT BUT IT WENT OUT. JB *NM Look up ODI 10119102 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
Tires	Too few reports for a range	200,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10103622 · 200,000 mi CONSUMER NOTICED THAT BUBBLES ACCUMULATED ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. UNIROYAK, SIZE P205/75R14. *AK Look up ODI 10103622 at NHTSA ↗
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor	Too few reports for a range	12,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10042758 · 12,000 mi PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILURE. DEALER DIDN'T CARRY PART ANY MORE. CONSUMER POSED A QUESTION, SINCE IT WAS A SAFETY ITEM, WAS THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBLE TO FORCE MANUFACTURER TO SUPPLY CONSUMER PARTS? AK PH Look up ODI 10042758 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

1986: 0 complaints · 1987: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
1986	0	0	0
1987	0	0	0

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
1986	1	0	0
1987	0	0	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Tires	Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	Seat Belts:Front:Retractor	Unknown Or Other	Vehicle Speed Control
Tires	—	0	0	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	0	—	0	0	1 ODI 10119102 1983 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE EQUIPMENT AND ENGINE REVVING.MR THE CONSUMER HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE, HOWEVER THE REAR WHEELS STARTED TO SPIN. WHEN THE CONSUMER SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVE EVERYTHING RETURNED TO NORMAL. IN JUNE OF 2000 THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED AND AGAIN IN 2004. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND. THE CONSUMER DID GET A PARK NEUTRAL SWITCH FAULT CODE A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE LAST INCIDENT BUT IT WENT OUT. JB *NM Look up ODI 10119102 at NHTSA ↗
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor	0	0	—	0	0
Unknown Or Other	0	0	0	—	0
Vehicle Speed Control	0	1 ODI 10119102 1983 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE EQUIPMENT AND ENGINE REVVING.MR THE CONSUMER HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE, HOWEVER THE REAR WHEELS STARTED TO SPIN. WHEN THE CONSUMER SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVE EVERYTHING RETURNED TO NORMAL. IN JUNE OF 2000 THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED AND AGAIN IN 2004. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND. THE CONSUMER DID GET A PARK NEUTRAL SWITCH FAULT CODE A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE LAST INCIDENT BUT IT WENT OUT. JB *NM Look up ODI 10119102 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

0 patterns with matching reports.

No narratives match the published patterns.