AI Damage1986 Chevrolet Pick UP C&K Series reliability: common problems
Owners of the 1986 Chevrolet Pick UP C&K Series filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and fuel system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 33% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel system 33% of all complaints
- 3 Tires 33% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Tires: 1 complaints (33% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 3 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
While driving at highway speeds the engine shut off and the steering wheel became stiff and difficult to steer.
A purchase of 4 firestone r4s tires was made for my 1986 chevy pick-up from the tinley tee tire company of deming, nm. A few months after the purchase two of the tires seperated and were replaced with a partial warranty from firestone.
Rebate on the purchase of a new gm vehicle due to the fire problems caused by the location of the dual gas tanks on certain year models of gm trucks. How can we get this rebate??
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 15,523 of 32,257 model years in the NHTSA data (top 48% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Pick UP C&K Series has 2 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 3, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1986 Chevrolet Pick UP C&K Series?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, fuel system, tires. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (33%), stalls while driving (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1986 Chevrolet Pick UP C&K Series?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1986 Chevrolet Pick UP C&K Series from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1986 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.