Independent · Not affiliated with NHTSA or any automaker MethodologyData sourcesData refreshed Oct 6, 2026

1985 Chevrolet Celebrity: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1985 Chevrolet Celebrity, most recently filed October 1985. Owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling.

Data summary generated from official records. Methodology Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
Caution Fewer than 50 complaints filed. With this few reports, patterns may not be meaningful.
Compare

Recalls (2)

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1985 Chevrolet Celebrity. 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 ↗
Listed for 1985 Chevrolet Celebrity. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 85V135000 Filed Oct 23, 1985

BRAKES:HYDRAULIC:LINES:METALLIC

Service brakes, hydraulic · foundation components · hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Official NHTSA text
Summary
CLUTCH CABLE IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED CAUSING THE CABLE TO CONTACT THE MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE PIPE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: OVER A PERIOD OF TIME THIS MAY CAUSE WEAR THROUGH, BRAKE FLUID LEAK AND PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING ACTION WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy
SECURE CLUTCH CABLE TO PRECLUDE CONTACT WITH MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE PIPE. ALSO, REPLACE BRAKE PIPE IF IT SHOWS ANY SIGN OF WEAR.
Repair progress not yet reported294 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 85V135000
Listed for 1985 Chevrolet Celebrity. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 84V132000 Filed Oct 16, 1984

FUEL:THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL RETURN SPRING

Vehicle speed control · springs
Official NHTSA text
Summary
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.
Repair progress not yet reported2,130 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 84V132000

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 (15)

15 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine and engine cooling is mentioned most often.

0involved a crash
1involved a fire
0injuries reported
0deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1985 Chevrolet Celebrity, by component (top 9). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 15.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 1985 compares with other Celebrity years

Best and worst Celebrity years →
1 2 8 15 33 44 39 39 7 1
1982198319841985198619871988198919901991
This year (1985)Other yearsStill collecting reports

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 26 mpg combined

26
mpg combined
23
city
32
highway
EPA annual fuel cost
$3,700
CO₂ tailpipe
392 g/mi
EPA class
Midsize Cars

What it costs you to run

$2,512per year
$209per month
577gallons a year

Miles ÷ 26 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

1985 Chevrolet Celebrity configurations with EPA data
Engine · transmissionDriveCity / Hwy / CombEPA $/yrCO₂ g/mi
4.3 L 6-cyl · 3-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive23 / 32 / 26$3,700392
4.3 L 6-cyl · 3-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive23 / 32 / 26$3,700392
4.3 L 6-cyl · 3-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive23 / 31 / 26$3,700392
4.3 L 6-cyl · 3-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive23 / 31 / 26$3,700392
2.5 L 4-cyl · 3-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive21 / 29 / 24$2,800370
2.5 L 4-cyl · 4-speed manualFront-Wheel Drive21 / 29 / 24$2,800370
2.5 L 4-cyl · 3-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive21 / 29 / 24$2,800370
2.5 L 4-cyl · 4-speed manualFront-Wheel Drive21 / 29 / 24$2,800370
2.8 L 6-cyl · 3-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive18 / 24 / 20$3,350444
2.8 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive17 / 24 / 20$3,350444
2.8 L 6-cyl · 3-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive18 / 24 / 20$3,350444
2.8 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive17 / 26 / 20$3,350444
2.8 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive17 / 24 / 20$3,350444
2.8 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive16 / 23 / 19$3,550468
2.8 L 6-cyl · 3-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive17 / 23 / 19$3,550468
2.8 L 6-cyl · 3-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive17 / 24 / 19$3,550468
2.8 L 6-cyl · 3-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive16 / 23 / 19$3,550468
2.8 L 6-cyl · 3-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive16 / 22 / 18$3,700494

Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 1985 Celebrity 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.

All Celebrity years

Where to next

1985 Chevrolet Celebrity FAQ

How many recalls does the 1985 Chevrolet Celebrity have?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 85V135000 (brake), 84V132000 (vehicle speed control). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.

What are the most common 1985 Chevrolet Celebrity problems?

Owners filed 15 complaints with NHTSA. Engine and engine cooling (8), Power train (4), Steering (3) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

What mpg does the 1985 Chevrolet Celebrity get?

EPA rates the 4.3 L 6-cyl · 3-speed automatic version at 23 city, 32 highway and 26 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.

How does the 1985 Celebrity compare with other years?

Among the 1982–1991 Chevrolet Celebrity model years at least five years old, the 1982 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1987 the most (44). The 1985 drew 15. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

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.
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