U.S. public vehicle records

1985 Pontiac 6000: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

5 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

200,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1985 model year. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 1 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

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 5 complaints (20.0%). 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%
Steering 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.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Steering

Tires

Vehicle Speed Control

Wheels

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Steering: 1; Tires: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 1; Wheels: 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). 4 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.

1996

1997

2010

1996: 3; 1997: 1; 2010: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering 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.

Examples from the source records

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

Owner report 10318787 · 2010-03-11 (March 11, 2010)

1985 PONTIAC 6000 STE. I EXPERIENCED THE SAME TYPE OF ACCELERATION PROBLEM TOYOTA IS HAVING. IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME I WAS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC FROM AN ON-RAMP. THE THROTTLE STUCK FULL OPEN. I STOOD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET WHILE GRASPING THE STEERING WHEEL. I MANAGED TO SLOW THE CAR BEFORE IMPACT BY PRESSING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND AT THE LAST MOMENT PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL. THE THROTTLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL. AFTER THIS EVENT THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM REPEATED ITSE…

Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10318787 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 508897 · 1996-09-23 (September 23, 1996)

WHEEL CAME OFF, CAUSING ACCIDENT.(OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 508897 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 510579 · 1996-10-25 (October 25, 1996)

KELLY SPRINGFIELD CAUSE VIBRATION.. (SIZE P185/75 R14)

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 510579 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 512997 · 1996-12-17 (December 17, 1996)

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 512997 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 521143 · 1997-12-23 (December 23, 1997)

WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 40 MPH, DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND STRUCK TWO SMALL TREES ACROSS THE LANE. DRIVER WAS KILLED INSTANTLY SINCE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN HER. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 521143 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

84V132000 · Vehicle Speed Control:Springs

Reported: 1984-10-16 (October 16, 1984)

THE THROTTLE LINKAGE MAY BIND BECAUSE DURING NORMAL OPERATION, THE THROTTLE BODY CASE MAY INTERFERE WITH THE LINKAGE. THIS INTERFERENCE COULD PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM CLOSING EVEN THOUGH THE DRIVER HAS REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT VEHICLES AND IMPROVE THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR LINKAGE AND THROTTLE BODY CASING IF NEEDED, AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

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.

20.0%Usable mileage1 / 5 records

100.0%Valid incident date5 / 5 records

100.0%Valid filing date5 / 5 records

100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates5 / 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	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991
Steering:Rack And Pinion	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.	637.5% ODI 480093 'COLD POWER STEERING'. *SD Look up ODI 480093 at NHTSA ↗	211.1% ODI 520192 CONSUMER COMPLAINT THAT MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT CAUSED FAILURE OF RACK & PINION STEERING. Look up ODI 520192 at NHTSA ↗	321.4% ODI 601615 RACK AND PINION FAILURE. Look up ODI 601615 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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	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.	212.5% ODI 972873 CALLER INVOLVED IN RECALLED NO. 87V093000, ON ABS BRAKES - HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR FAILURE, REPAIRED VEHICLE IN 1990, SAME PART HAS FAILED AGAIN 9/95. TT THE MANUFACTURER NO LONGER MAKES REPLACEMENT PARTS. *YH Look up ODI 972873 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	214.3% ODI 849439 WHEN THE BRAKEIS WERE APPLIED THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR AND GAVE NO RESPNOSE, TO GET A RESPONSE , PEDAL HAS TO BE PUMPED HARD. THE CONSUMER HAS HAD THE ANTI-SKID SYSTEM DEACTIVATED SO THAT THE REGULAR BRAKE WOULD WORK PROPERLY. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK Look up ODI 849439 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	327.3% ODI 809223 INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ON NORMAL ROAD CONDTIONS THE PEDAL IS HARD AND THERE IS NO BRAKING ABILITY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER (4) TIMES IN (3) MONTHS SINCE 1990. NEW BRAKE PADS WERE PUT ON AT 28,000 MILES IN 1993 OR 1994. *AK Look up ODI 809223 at NHTSA ↗	116.7% ODI 525040 BRAKE SYSTEM NOT WORKING PROPERLY, EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. Look up ODI 525040 at NHTSA ↗
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly	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.	15.6% ODI 973336 THE REAR SEATBELTS ARE TOO SHORT AND DO NOT WORK WITH A NORMAL SIZED ADULT. TT BUCKLE ON DRIVER SIDE HAS COME APART. RACK AND PINION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND STILL DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT. *SLC Look up ODI 973336 at NHTSA ↗	214.3% ODI 971244 THE BACKSEAT SEATBELT BEHIND THE DRIVER DOES NOT WORK AT ALL AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT DOES NOT LATCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT Look up ODI 971244 at NHTSA ↗	212.5% ODI 482519 DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE COVER CAME OFF. *AW Look up ODI 482519 at NHTSA ↗	19.1% ODI 978485 THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WON'T LOCK . TT Look up ODI 978485 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Vehicle Speed Control	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	120.0% ODI 10318787 · 200,000 mi 1985 PONTIAC 6000 STE. I EXPERIENCED THE SAME TYPE OF ACCELERATION PROBLEM TOYOTA IS HAVING. IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME I WAS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC FROM AN ON-RAMP. THE THROTTLE STUCK FULL OPEN. I STOOD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET WHILE GRASPING THE STEERING WHEEL. I MANAGED TO SLOW THE CAR BEFORE IMPACT BY PRESSING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND AT THE LAST MOMENT PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL. THE THROTTLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL. AFTER THIS EVENT THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM REPEATED ITSE… Look up ODI 10318787 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	316.7% ODI 548652 MAP SENSOR FAILED. NLM Look up ODI 548652 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	19.1% ODI 533023 VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN VEHICLE ACCIDENT AND INJURY TO CONSUMER. Look up ODI 533023 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	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.	212.5% ODI 601616 RACK AND PINION FAILURE. Look up ODI 601616 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	16.3% ODI 960500 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 50K MILES. TT Look up ODI 960500 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	116.7% ODI 978407 TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT PROPERLY/REPLACED THREE TIMES. *AK Look up ODI 978407 at NHTSA ↗
Seats	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 966521 DRIVERS SEAT BOLT THAT HOLDS THE SEAT IN PLACE JUST BROKE WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT Look up ODI 966521 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	16.3% ODI 811971 DRIVER SIDE SEAT TRACK AND ANCHORS BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO FALL BACK. *AK Look up ODI 811971 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	212.5% ODI 524388 THE FRONT LEFT SEAT BRACKET BROKE, IT CRACKED ACROSS THE RIVET HOLE, CAUSING SEAT TO ROCK BACK AND FORTH. *AK Look up ODI 524388 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	266.7% ODI 484922 'COLD POWER STEERING'. *DSH Look up ODI 484922 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.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	17.1% ODI 960127 DURING COLD WEATHER DIFFICULTY IN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. TT Look up ODI 960127 at NHTSA ↗	16.3% ODI 500959 IGNIITION FAILED. *SD Look up ODI 500959 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Structure:Frame And Members	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.	16.3% ODI 740534 THE LEFT AND RIGHT SUB-FRAME THAT SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION BROKE (RUSTED OUT MAYBE) AT THE FRONT ,AROUND THE ISOLATORS. THIS DROPPED EVERYTHING DOWN ABOUT 6-8INCHES. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED AT A VERY LOW SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD TO STEER AND REALLY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DRIVEN ANYWHERE. I WAS A MILE OR TWO FROM A MECHANIC SHOP, SO I DROVE IT THERE. Look up ODI 740534 at NHTSA ↗	316.7% ODI 10061825 THIS IS REFERRING TO A CURRENT RECALL THAT NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED. YOUR CURRENT RECALL # IS 88V048000 UNDER THE NHTSA GUIDELINES. THIS RECALL INCLUDES CARS FOR ONE MONTH OF PRODUCTION FOR ONE YEAR. THE PROBLEM EXISTS IN ALL YEARS OF THE CAR, 88 AND EARLIER. I AM A MEMBER OF A CLUB THAT HAS OVER 200 MEMBERS WITH THIS PROBLEM ON THERE CAR. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO CONTACT YOU PHONE, BUT HAS BEEN BUSY FROM 12 MIDNIGHT, TO 12 MIDNIGHT. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND I CAN PROVIDE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THIS CLAIM. IN 1989 GM UPGRADED THEIR ENGINE CRADL… Look up ODI 10061825 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.	00.0% 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
Vehicle Speed Control	Too few reports for a range	200,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10318787 · 200,000 mi 1985 PONTIAC 6000 STE. I EXPERIENCED THE SAME TYPE OF ACCELERATION PROBLEM TOYOTA IS HAVING. IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME I WAS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC FROM AN ON-RAMP. THE THROTTLE STUCK FULL OPEN. I STOOD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET WHILE GRASPING THE STEERING WHEEL. I MANAGED TO SLOW THE CAR BEFORE IMPACT BY PRESSING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND AT THE LAST MOMENT PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL. THE THROTTLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL. AFTER THIS EVENT THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM REPEATED ITSE… Look up ODI 10318787 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

1990: 1 complaints · 1991: 1 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
1990	0	0	1
1991	0	0	1

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
1990	8	3	0
1991	5	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	Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	Steering	Tires	Vehicle Speed Control	Wheels
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	—	0	0	0	0
Steering	0	—	0	0	0
Tires	0	0	—	0	0
Vehicle Speed Control	0	0	0	—	0
Wheels	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

1 patterns with matching reports.

Brake response concerns

1 mentions · 20.0% of complaints

Median mileage: 200,000 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 10318787 · 200,000 mi

Look up ODI 10318787 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule