1988 Chevrolet C1500 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1988 Chevrolet C1500, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes1236.4%
- Seat belts515.2%
- Suspension39.1%
- Engine39.1%
- Interior & seats26.1%
- Steering26.1%
- Fuel system26.1%
- Transmission26.1%
- Visibility13.0%
- Electrical13.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED, VEHICLE UNABLE TO STOP IN TIME TO AVOID HITTING STOPPED VEHICLES. *YC
THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE COMING ON AND OFF WHILE IN USE WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
LEFT REAR AXLE FAILED AND VEHICLE ROLLED OVER.
IDLER ARM FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
METAL AROUND STRIKER NUTS IS CRACKING BECAUSE DOOR WILL NOT SIT PROPERLY. DOOR CANNOT BE PROPERLY ADJUSTED.
VEHICLE WAS IN COLLISION, CAUSING DOOR TO DROP AT THE LATCH AND LOCK ASSEMBLEY. IT IS CAUSING THE METAL AROUND THE STRIKER NUTS TO CRACK, WEARING THE LOCK ASSEMBLY OUT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
STEERING WHEEL LOOSE.
IDLER ARM FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
FUEL PUMP TERMINALS SHORTED OUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO DIE/STALL.
FUEL LINE LEAK, CAUSING FIRE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION FAILURE.
TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
PURCHASED TRUCK USED, WAS DRIVING AND THE HEATER WATER DEFROSTER CRACKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRING CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .