Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 56 complaints with NHTSA about the 1987 Chevrolet Celebrity, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 11 | 20% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 10 | 18% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 8 | 14% |
| Seat belts | 4 | 7% |
| Structure | 4 | 7% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 5% |
| Suspension | 3 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 5% |
| Tires | 2 | 4% |
| Fuel system | 2 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1987 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY. ON 01/24/2007, THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT BEGAN HEARING A GRINDING AND SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ON 02/15/2007 AND WAS UNABLE TO
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE RUNS BAD, ALSO SAID VEHICLE MAKES A LOT OF NOISE, POSSIBLE ENGINE NOISE. *SLC
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE RUNS BAD, ALSO SAID VEHICLE MAKES A LOT OF NOISE, POSSIBLE ENGINE NOISE. *SLC
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
WHILE DRIVING, TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER STATES MANUFACTURER SHOULD PLACE DATE IN A PLACE WHERE CONSUMERS WOULD BE ABLE TO READ IT, (BRIDGESTONE 205/70R14), TIRE HAD 25000 MILES ON IT AND CONSUMER STATE
NHTSA complaint: Tires
WHILE DRIVING, TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER STATES MANUFACTURER SHOULD PLACE DATE IN A PLACE WHERE CONSUMERS WOULD BE ABLE TO READ IT, (BRIDGESTONE 205/70R14), TIRE HAD 25000 MILES ON IT AND CONSUMER STATE
NHTSA complaint: Tires
MOTOR MOUNTS WERE RUSTED, AND ENGINE FELL OUT OF MOUNTING. DEALERSHIP IS UNAWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING AT LOW SPEED/IOW IDLE. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FIVE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING DUE TO EXPANDING AND CONTRACTING OF ALUMINUM ENGINE. YH
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1987 Chevrolet Celebrity. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CE
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
| Reliability raw | 87 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 81 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 88 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 57 | average |
| Performance | 50 | average |
| Efficiency | 43 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 56 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and steering is the most reported area with 11 of them (20%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 87/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 81/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1987 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 73/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.