Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1985 Chevrolet Camaro. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE:MECHANICAL
- Summary
- PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTER FAILS TO OPERATE AND DO NOT WORK AFTER BRAKE PAD WEAR.
- Consequence
- PARKING BRAKES WILL NOT COMPLETELY HOLD A PARKED VEHICLEWHEN PARKED ON A SLOPE, CAUSING UNINTENDED VEHICLE ROLLAWAY WHICH COULD RESULTIN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
- Remedy
- REPLACE NONFUNCTIONING PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTERS.
INTERIOR SYSTEMS:ACTIVE RESTRAINTS:BELT BUCKLES
- Summary
- PLASTIC COMPONENTS OF SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES DO NOT CONTAIN AN ULTRA VIOLET STABILIZER, AND EXPOSURE TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT AND ELEVATED INTERIOR TEMPERATURES COULD WEAKEN THE PLASTIC COMPONENTS.
- Consequence
- THIS COULD RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF PLASTIC COMPONENTS WHICHCOULD PREVENT BUCKLE FROM LATCHING AND PROTECTING OCCUPANT IN A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT.
- Remedy
- REPLACE OR REPAIR SEAT BELT BUCKLE.
INTERIOR SYSTEMS:SHOULDER BELTS
- Summary
- DISLOCATION OF A SPRING COVER WILL NOT ALLOW THE SHOULDER BELT TO RETRACT AFTER BEING EXTENDED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: ALTHOUGH INERTIAL FEATURE THAT LOCKS THE LAP BELT AND SHOULDER BELT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT ARE NOT AFFECTED, IF SLACK IS MORE THAN RECOMMENDED IN OWNERS MANUAL, INJURIES TO UPPER BODY AND HEAD WOULD BE INCREASED IN AN ACCIDENT.
- Remedy
- INSTALL RETAINING SPRINGS ON SPRING COVER OF FRONT SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR AND, WHEN REQUIRED, RETRACTORS WILL BE REPLACED.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (46)
46 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The seat belts is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 46 |
|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 27 | 58.7% |
| Structure | 8 | 17.4% |
| Parking brake | 5 | 10.9% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 6.5% |
| Visibility | 3 | 6.5% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 4.3% |
| Steering | 2 | 4.3% |
| Power train | 1 | 2.2% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 2.2% |
| Suspension | 1 | 2.2% |
How 1985 compares with other Camaro years
Best and worst Camaro years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 1 | 1 |
| 1982 | 3 | 3 |
| 1983 | 16 | 3 |
| 1984 | 39 | 5 |
| 1985 | 46 | 3 |
| 1986 | 32 | 4 |
| 1987 | 28 | 1 |
| 1988 | 17 | 2 |
| 1989 | 25 | 3 |
| 1990 | 25 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 23 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,900
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 386 g/mi
- EPA class
- Subcompact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 23 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 / 30 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 2.8 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 / 24 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
| 2.8 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 / 25 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
| 2.8 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 / 24 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
| 2.8 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 24 / 18 | $3,700 | 494 |
| 5 L 8-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 / 20 / 17 | $3,950 | 523 |
| 5 L 8-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 / 22 / 17 | $3,950 | 523 |
| 5 L 8-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 20 / 17 | $3,950 | 523 |
| 5 L 8-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 20 / 17 | $3,950 | 523 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1985 Camaro for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1985 Chevrolet Camaro FAQ
How many recalls does the 1985 Chevrolet Camaro have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 91V055000 (brake), 90V105000 (seat belt), 85V169000 (seat belt). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1985 Chevrolet Camaro problems?
Owners filed 46 complaints with NHTSA. Seat belts (27), Structure (8), Parking brake (5) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1985 Chevrolet Camaro get?
EPA rates the 2.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 19 city, 30 highway and 23 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1985 Camaro compare with other years?
Among the 1981–1990 Chevrolet Camaro model years at least five years old, the 1981 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1985 the most (46). The 1985 drew 46. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.