Chevrolet›Camaro›1986›Overview/chevrolet/camaro/1986/base/

1986 Chevrolet Camaro

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1986 Camaro.

The 1986 Chevrolet Camaro, requiring 4 quarts of 5W-30 API oil, recorded 34 total owner complaints—most frequently regarding seat belts—and seven recalls. In the broader Camaro complaint history covering 1990 to 2023, where the highest year (2010) saw 295 complaints and the lowest (2022) saw 13, the 1986 model’s 34 complaints place it near the lower end of that range, indicating a relatively modest issue count for its era.

Model year2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 1986

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12708762. Note the factory engine air filter and fuel filter are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12708762 alt 12731175
Engine air filter	06483645 discontinued · alt 25043246
Fuel filter	5651803 discontinued · alt 25171792
Spark plug	19300382 alt 19300874
Front wiper blades	15184702
Serpentine belt	09433734 alt 09433738
Thermostat	03050922 alt 03043066

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	188.2 in
Overall width	72.8 in
Overall height	50 in
Wheelbase	101.2 in
Curb weight	3062 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	55/45

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Camaro of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

5.3–10.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.30 sec — 1993 Z28 Coupe

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1985	Berlinetta Coupe 2.8L V6	10.00 sec	17.00 sec	135 hp	RWD
1987	IROC-Z 350 Coupe 5.7L V8	6.10 sec	14.50 sec	225 hp	RWD
1987	IROC-Z 305 Coupe 5.0L V8	7.10 sec	15.20 sec	215 hp	RWD
1984	Berlinetta Coupe 5.0L V8	9.30 sec	17.00 sec	150 hp	RWD
1983	Z28 Coupe 5.0L V8	6.70 sec	15.00 sec	190 hp	RWD
1983	Z28 Coupe 5.0L V8	7.41 sec	15.55 sec	190 hp	RWD
1983	Coupe 5.0L V8	9.50 sec	17.50 sec	165 hp	RWD
1989	IROC-Z 350 Coupe 5.7L V8	7.22 sec	15.67 sec	230 hp	RWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	3 qt
Engine Oil	20W-20 · 20W-40 · 20W-50 · 15W-40 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 7,500 mi.

At 7,500 mi	Carburetor Mounting Fasteners (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Choke System (inspect) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Vacuum Advance (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace)
Every 100,000 mi	Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The provided federal record contains no year-by-year entry for 1986, so the model cannot be plotted against the complaint and recall trajectory that begins with 1990. In the earliest available years—1990, 1991, and 1992—complaints jump from 28 to 110 and settle at 101, while recalls remain steady at 5 to 7, showing a significant jump in reported issues within the first three years of the dataset. For 1986 itself, the target-year data isolates 23 seat-belt complaints as the dominant category, with structure, steering, and engine/cooling each logging 2 complaints, alongside 1 fire complaint and 0 crash complaints. The data does not specify root causes for these filings. Because the year-by-year record omits 1986 entirely, buyers lack the recall and investigation context needed to judge whether this model year shares the systemic exposure visible from 1990 onward. Consequently, the 1986 Camaro represents an undocumented risk within this dataset; it is not a confident buy on federal evidence alone and should be approached only with thorough independent inspection.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’23

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 34 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Seat Belts23

Structure2

Steering2

Engine & Engine Cooling2

Seat Belts,Vehicle Speed Control1

Service Brakes, Hydraulic1

Vehicle Speed Control1

Parking Brake1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 7 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E026000Exterior LightingReported 23/03/2006

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL… Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

07E088000EquipmentReported 24/10/2007

CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
01697	2004-01-01	Equipment	NO SERIAL DATA COMMUNICATIONS USING THE TECH 1 WITH A 1986 OR NEWER CAMARO, FIREBIRD OR…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Camaro. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Vehicles taking 4 qt Engine oil filter 12708762 Engine air filter 06483645 Fuel filter 5651803 Spark plug 19300382

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1986 Camaro take?

4 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1986 Camaro have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.