Exterior lighting: headlights: switch (Chevrolet, GMC and PONTIAC and 2 more)
Vehicle recall 86V-131. NHTSA received GENERAL MOTORS CORP.’s report on Sep 19, 1986.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. NHTSA’s own record is on nhtsa.gov.
The short answer
NHTSA received GENERAL MOTORS CORP.’s report on Sep 19, 1986. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 20, 2026.
Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.
What’s wrong with it?
The notice gives no hazard in a field of its own.
THE PUSH PULL HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY HAVE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH ALLOW AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO FLICKER OR SUDDENLY GO OUT.
CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SUDDEN LOSS OF THE HEADLIGHTS UNDER SEVERE WEATHER OR NIGHTTIME DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE DRIVER VISIBILITY WHICH MIGHT RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Exterior lighting: headlights: switch.
What should you do?
REPLACE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AS NECESSARY.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: SYSTEM: HEADLIGHT SWITCH. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS AND TRUCKS/ VANS.
- Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 106,111 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- Chevrolet Cavalierand 1986, before the model years listed here
- Chevrolet Camaroand 1986, before the model years listed here
- GMC C25and 1986, before the model years listed here
- Chevrolet P25and 1986, before the model years listed here
- Pontiac 2000and 1986, before the model years listed here
- Chevrolet T15and 1986, before the model years listed here
- Chevrolet Celebrityand 1986, before the model years listed here
- GMC S15and 1986, before the model years listed here
- Pontiac T1000and 1986, before the model years listed here
- GMC K15and 1986, before the model years listed here
- Cadillac Cimarronand 1986, before the model years listed here
- Chevrolet K25and 1986, before the model years listed here
- Chevrolet K15and 1986, before the model years listed here
- Pontiac Grand Prixand 1986, before the model years listed here
- GMC G15and 1986, before the model years listed here
- GMC G25and 1986, before the model years listed here
- Chevrolet G25and 1986, before the model years listed here
- GMC G35and 1986, before the model years listed here
- Chevrolet G35and 1986, before the model years listed here
- Chevrolet Chevetteand 1986, before the model years listed here
- Buick Lesabreand 1986, before the model years listed here
- Chevrolet K35and 1986, before the model years listed here
- GMC K35and 1986, before the model years listed here
- GMC K25and 1986, before the model years listed here
- GMC T15and 1986, before the model years listed here
- Chevrolet S15and 1986, before the model years listed here
- GMC P25and 1986, before the model years listed here
- Pontiac Parisienneand 1986, before the model years listed here
- Chevrolet Monte Carloand 1986, before the model years listed here
- Chevrolet P35and 1986, before the model years listed here
- GMC P35(Light)and 1986, before the model years listed here
- Buick Electraand 1986, before the model years listed here
- Chevrolet C35and 1986, before the model years listed here
- GMC C35and 1986, before the model years listed here
- Chevrolet C25and 1986, before the model years listed here
- Pontiac 6000and 1986, before the model years listed here
- GMC C15and 1986, before the model years listed here
- Buick Estateand 1986, before the model years listed here
- Chevrolet C15and 1986, before the model years listed here
- Chevrolet G15and 1986, before the model years listed here
Who is recalling it?
- Made by GENERAL MOTORS CORP..
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
What the record doesn’t say
- NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
- Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
- This recall names only model years before 2015, which have no pages here. Your VIN, at NHTSA, says which recalls are open on a vehicle.
- How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file before 2010 (FLAT_RCL_PRE_2010).
Released Oct 20, 2026 and checked Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 20, 2026.