Reported: 1987-05-26 (May 26, 1987) · Model years: 1985, 1986
VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE PERFORATION OF THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM. EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL CONTENT IN THE FUEL PROMOTES DEGRADATION OF THE DIAPHRAGM COATING RESULTING IN RADIAL CRACKING OF THE DIAPHRAGM.
Consequence: A PERFORATED DIAPHRAGM CAN ALLOW FUEL TO LEAK FROM THEFUEL PUMP INTO THE UNDERHOOD AREA. THIS COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN ANUNDERHOOD FIRE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. SUCH A FIRE COULD SPREAD TO THEPASSENGER COMPARTMENT.
Remedy: A FUEL VENTILATION HOSE KIT WILL BE INSTALLED TO PREVENT FUEL FROM ESCAPING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IF THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM LEAKS AND THEREBY REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗88V036000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap
Reported: 1988-03-23 (March 23, 1988) · Model years: 1987, 1988
PERFORATION OF THE FUEL TANK OR THE ATTACHED FUEL FEED PIPE DUE TO CORROSION OF THE TANK OR FUEL FEED PIPE MATERIALS.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE FUELTANK AND ULTIMATELY RESULT IN A FIRE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. SUCH A FIRE COULDSPREAD TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.
Remedy: THE FUEL TANK WILL BE REPLACED ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES.
Reported: 1988-03-29 (March 29, 1988) · Model years: 1987, 1988
THE POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION VALVE MAY PROVIDE INADEQUATE AIR FLOW UNDER LOW ENGINE LOAD CONDITIONS.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN ALLOW WATER/OIL MIXTURE TO BUILD UPIN THE HOSE FROM THE OIL SEPARATOR TO THE AIR INLET DUCT. AFTER THE ENGINE ISSTOPPED, THIS WATER/OIL MIXTURE CAN, UNDER COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS, FREEZE ANDCOMPLETELY BLOCK THE OIL SEPARATOR AIR DUCT HOSE. THIS BLOCKAGE WILL RESULT ININCREASED PRESSURE WITHIN THE CRANKCASE. THIS CAN CAUSE OIL LEAKS, IF ASUFFICIENT QUANTITY OF OIL CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM AN ENGINECOMPARTMENT FIRE COULD RESULT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: THE PCV VALVE WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW VALVE.
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
20 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.
0.0%Usable mileage0 / 20 records
100.0%Valid incident date20 / 20 records
100.0%Valid filing date20 / 20 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates20 / 20 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.
I PURCHASED THIS 1986 CHEVROLET SPECTRUM FROM AN INLAW WHO COULDN'T GET IT TO RUN. HE PURCHASED THE CAR FROM SOMEONE ELSE WHO COULDN'T GET IT TO RUN. I PERSONALLY HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS, AND MONEY TRING TO GET THE CAR TO STAY RUNNING. WITH NO POSITIVE RESULT. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER, FUEL PUMP, SPAK PLUGS, WIRES, ROTOR, CAP, 2 DIFFERENT CARBERATORS, THEN A CARBORATOR KIT, DID A COMPRESSION CHECK,( FINE) NO WATER IN THE OIL , TIMING BELT FINE, TIMING EXCELLENT, HOSES IN PLACE AND GOOD. HAVE TAKEN TO MECHANICS AND NO POSITIVE END…
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
No usable records for this analysis.
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
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
Complaints
Campaigns announced
Examples
2024-10
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2024-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2024-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-10
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-09 (partial)
0
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.
1988: 1 complaints · 1989: 0 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
1988
1
1
1
1989
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
5
0
0
1989
3
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
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System
Power Train:Clutch Assembly
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Hoses/Lines/Piping/Fittings
Power Train:Clutch Assembly:Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle)
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Hoses/Lines/Piping/Fittings
0
0
0
0
—
0
0
0
Power Train:Clutch Assembly:Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle)
0
0
0
0
0
—
0
0
Seat Belts
0
0
0
0
0
0
—
0
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
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.
2 patterns with matching reports.
Stalling or loss of power
3 mentions · 15.0% of complaints
Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).
ODI 714516
I PURCHASED THIS 1986 CHEVROLET SPECTRUM FROM AN INLAW WHO COULDN'T GET IT TO RUN. HE PURCHASED THE CAR FROM SOMEONE ELSE WHO COULDN'T GET IT TO RUN. I PERSONALLY HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS, AND MONEY TRING TO GET THE CAR TO STAY RUNNING. WITH NO POSITIVE RESULT. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER, FUEL PUMP, SPAK PLUGS, WIRES, ROTOR, CAP, 2 DIFFERENT CARBERATORS, THEN A CARBORATOR KIT, DID A COMPRESSION CHECK,( FINE) NO WATER IN THE OIL , TIMING BELT FINE, TIMING EXCELLENT, HOSES IN PLACE AND GOOD. HAVE TAKEN TO MECHANICS AND NO POSITIVE END…