RoadVitals

1988 Chevrolet C1500

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
32
Latest Apr 23, 2010
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Oct 24, 2007
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
7

Overview

Our database contains 32 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Chevrolet C1500, most frequently naming the brakes, seat belts and suspension categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes1236.4%
  • Seat belts515.2%
  • Suspension39.1%
  • Engine39.1%
  • Interior & seats26.1%
  • Steering26.1%
  • Fuel system26.1%
  • Transmission26.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
07E088000

EQUIPMENT

Oct 24, 2007
121,680 units potentially affected
The defect: 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 ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. FRAM RACING HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS NOT BEARING A DATE CODE IN THIS RANGE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. THE GASKET OF THE OIL FILTER BECOMES MORE PLIABLE UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES.
The risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The 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.
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
06E043000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

May 19, 2006
88,303 units potentially affected
The defect: 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 CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
The 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.
The remedy: 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).
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 32
Seat belts
Filed Apr 23, 2010

MY SEAT BELT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY 1988 CHEVY 2WHEEL DRIVE PICK-UP HAS FAILED AND CANNOT BE EXTENDED FOR USE. AT ONE TIME A FED LAW DIRECTING DEALERSHIPS TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE SAFETY ITEMS AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER WAS IN EFFECT. I CAN NO LONGER FIND ANY REFERENCE TO THIS ITEM. IS IT STILL IN AFFECT? AND IF IT IS HOW CAN I OBTAIN A COPY OF IT TO SHOW TO A DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10327153
Incident
Apr 20, 2010
Mileage
179,875 mi
Seat belts
Filed Mar 21, 2001

LATCH ON DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT IS CONTINUALLY BREAKING. *AK CONSUMER STATES LATCH BROKE WHILE LEANING FORWARD TO ADJUST RADIO AND HE CAN SEE THE BROKEN PIECE OF WHITE PLASTIC INSIDE LATCH. *SLC

NHTSA ID
883655
Incident
Jan 1, 1994
Seat belts
Filed Sep 2, 1999

BOTH REAR SEAT BELTS ON THE LEFT / RIGHT HAND SIDE DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. PASSENGER'S CAN'T RIDE IN THE REAR OF VEHICLE WITHOUT SEAT BELTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
842433
Incident
Jul 2, 1999
Brakes
Filed Jul 14, 1999

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED, VEHICLE UNABLE TO STOP IN TIME TO AVOID HITTING STOPPED VEHICLES. *YC

NHTSA ID
547176
Engine
Filed Dec 28, 1998

WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT THE VEHICLE CUT OFF AND WOULDN'T START BACK UP. ALSO, WHEN CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE LOST POWER AND DIED OUT. CONSUMER CLAIMED THAT SOMEONE CHANGED MILEAGE ON VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
832730
Incident
Dec 25, 1998
Brakes
Filed Nov 19, 1998

THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE COMING ON AND OFF WHILE IN USE WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
831069
Incident
Nov 2, 1998
Brakes
Filed May 18, 1998

WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, ALSO, THE LINING ON THE PADS CAME OFF WHILE THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES. *AK

NHTSA ID
823421
Incident
Dec 12, 1997
Brakes
Filed Apr 25, 1998

BRAKE FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
534772

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

020864016

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON FRONT DOOR HINGE PIN BUSHING WEAR, FRONT DOOR SAG, OR DOOR CHUCKING MOVEMENT IN EXTREME OPERATING CONDITIONS. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet C1500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
19962292049.0
19952092152.4
19941522149.9
1993642050.0
1992412052.8
1991392047.1
1990223045.2
1989333054.3
1988Viewing322055.0

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.