U.S. public vehicle records

Chevrolet NOVA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

32 owner complaints analyzed

16 distinct recall campaigns

209,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1965 to 1990 model years. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 32 complaints (21.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Transmission and shifting	6	18.8%
Braking behavior	2	6.3%
Electrical and battery issues	1	3.1%
Fuel system concerns	1	3.1%

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.

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly

Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers

Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch

Power Train:Axle Assembly

Tires

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	7
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly	4
Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers	2
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch	2
Power Train:Axle Assembly	2
Tires	2
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe	1

Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 4; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 2; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch: 2; Power Train:Axle Assembly: 2; Tires: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 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: 0; 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

150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 31 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.

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2005

2006

1995: 8; 1996: 5; 1997: 4; 1998: 3; 1999: 2; 2000: 3; 2001: 4; 2002: 1; 2005: 1; 2006: 1

Pattern summary

Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 824311 · 1998-06-15 (June 15, 1998)

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.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 824311 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 833757 · 1999-01-20 (January 20, 1999)

WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE OR PULL. DEALER SAYS TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REBUILT 12 TIMES. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 833757 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 729106 · 2000-08-25 (August 25, 2000)

RAYBESTO FRONT BRAKE PADS FAILED AFTER ONLY 8000 MILES.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 729106 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 540289 · 1998-08-23 (August 23, 1998)

OWNER CLAIMS RAYBESTOS BRAND BRAKE HOSES MIDDLE MOUNTING SECTION MANUFACTURED BACKWARDS. HOSE CANNOT BE MOUNTED AS DESIGNED, DANGEROUS BYPASSING OF MIDDLE MOUNT LIKELY.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 540289 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 513371 · 1997-01-06 (January 6, 1997)

TAIL LIGHTS' WIRING HARNESS BURNED OUT/MELTED, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 513371 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 502837 · 1996-03-26 (March 26, 1996)

FUEL TANK REPLACED 2 TIMES DUE TO GASOLINE LEAKING FROM SEAM. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 502837 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.

1974

1975

1977

1978

1984

1986

1987

1988

1990

1974: 3; 1975: 3; 1977: 3; 1978: 1; 1984: 0; 1986: 0; 1987: 0; 1988: 0; 1990: 0

First model yearSecond model year

Year-by-year records

Chevrolet NOVA model-year comparison
Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Change in recalls
1965	0	1	Not available
1966	0	1	0
1967	0	1	0
1968	0	1	0
1969	0	2	+1
1971	0	1	Not available
1972	0	1	0
1973	0	4	+3
1974	0	3	-1
1975	0	3	0
1977	0	3	Not available
1978	0	1	-2
1984	1	0	Not available
1986	4	0	Not available
1987	15	0	0
1988	11	0	0
1990	1	0	Not available

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

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

Data completeness

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

3.1%Usable mileage1 / 32 records

71.9%Valid incident date23 / 32 records

100.0%Valid filing date32 / 32 records

71.9%Ordered incident and filing dates23 / 32 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	1977	1978	1984	1986	1987	1988	1990
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	0Unavailable 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.	426.7% ODI 824311 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. Look up ODI 824311 at NHTSA ↗	327.3% ODI 500929 VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS WHILE IN PARK, KILLING OWNER. *DSH Look up ODI 500929 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly	0Unavailable 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.	16.7% ODI 960173 FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE. TT Look up ODI 960173 at NHTSA ↗	327.3% ODI 604429 SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE. Look up ODI 604429 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers	0Unavailable 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.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	218.2% ODI 513371 TAIL LIGHTS' WIRING HARNESS BURNED OUT/MELTED, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK Look up ODI 513371 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch	0Unavailable 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.	16.7% ODI 979374 THE HOOD ON THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STAY LATCHED. TT Look up ODI 979374 at NHTSA ↗	19.1% ODI 745547 VEHICLE HOOD LATCH FAILED DUE TO TIRE VIBRATION AT 65 MPH, CAUSING HOOD TO CRUMPLE INTO WINDSHIELD. *AK Look up ODI 745547 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Power Train:Axle Assembly	0Unavailable 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.	213.3% ODI 559798 THE TRANSAXLE FLUID WAS 1.5 QUARTS LOW (EMPTY) CAUSING THE TRANSAXLE TO LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING. NLM Look up ODI 559798 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Tires	0Unavailable 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.	16.7% ODI 10142343 · 209,000 mi {1}NORTH BOUND FREEWAY WORK RIGHT LANE FROM, LINDON EXIT TO SALT LAKE CITY. THERE ARE SEVERAL GROOVES, HOLES AND UNEVEN LANES. I PURCHASED NEW TIRES THIS YEAR, MY RIGHT FRONT AXLE IS BAD AS WELL AS THE INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS I NEED NEW TIRES AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE FREEWAY PROBLEMS. WILL YOU HELP? *JB Look up ODI 10142343 at NHTSA ↗	19.1% ODI 745547 VEHICLE HOOD LATCH FAILED DUE TO TIRE VIBRATION AT 65 MPH, CAUSING HOOD TO CRUMPLE INTO WINDSHIELD. *AK Look up ODI 745547 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	125.0% ODI 966416 LOUD WHINING NOISE IS HEARD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT Look up ODI 966416 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe	0Unavailable 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.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 535715 TIRES WEARING DUE TO MISALIGNMENT OF THE FRAME. Look up ODI 535715 at NHTSA ↗

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	209,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10142343 · 209,000 mi {1}NORTH BOUND FREEWAY WORK RIGHT LANE FROM, LINDON EXIT TO SALT LAKE CITY. THERE ARE SEVERAL GROOVES, HOLES AND UNEVEN LANES. I PURCHASED NEW TIRES THIS YEAR, MY RIGHT FRONT AXLE IS BAD AS WELL AS THE INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS I NEED NEW TIRES AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE FREEWAY PROBLEMS. WILL YOU HELP? *JB Look up ODI 10142343 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

1988: 1 complaints · 1990: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
1988	0	0	1
1990	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
1988	9	2	0
1990	0	1	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	Power Train:Automatic Transmission	Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly	Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers	Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch	Power Train:Axle Assembly	Tires	Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	—	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly	0	—	0	0	0	0	0	0
Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	0
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch	0	0	0	—	0	1 ODI 745547 VEHICLE HOOD LATCH FAILED DUE TO TIRE VIBRATION AT 65 MPH, CAUSING HOOD TO CRUMPLE INTO WINDSHIELD. *AK Look up ODI 745547 at NHTSA ↗	0	0
Power Train:Axle Assembly	0	0	0	0	—	0	0	0
Tires	0	0	0	1 ODI 745547 VEHICLE HOOD LATCH FAILED DUE TO TIRE VIBRATION AT 65 MPH, CAUSING HOOD TO CRUMPLE INTO WINDSHIELD. *AK Look up ODI 745547 at NHTSA ↗	0	—	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe	0	0	0	0	0	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.