Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Chevrolet C20, most frequently naming the body & structure, engine and seat belts categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 6 NHTSA investigations name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
Not enough dated records to plot a meaningful trend — 3 months of data.
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
5 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.govPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY
There is no summary currently available
POOR BRAKE PERFORMANCE
SUMMARY: COMPLAINTS ALLEGE POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE INCLUDING EXCESSIVE STOPPING DISTANCE, INABILITY TO LOCK FRONT WHEELS, OR PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR OF A NEW DESIGN FOR THESE MODELS. POSSIBLE INSUFICIENT POWER ASSIST ON SOME VEHICLES. ALL TRUCKS ARE EQUIPPED WITH REAR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES.
POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE
SUMMARY: COMPLAINTS ALLEGE POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR OF A NEW DESIGN FOR THESE MODELS. POSSIBLE INSUFICIENT POWER ASSIS ON SOME MODELS. ALL TRUCKS ARE EQUIPPED WITH REAR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES
BRAKE SYSTEM
There is no summary currently available
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
PURCHASE TRUCK NEW THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE NOT LOCKING . TT
THE V6 MOTOR IS DEFECT THE STEEL CAST IRON BLOCK WEARS OUT AND THE PISTON GOES OUT BURNING A LOT OF OIL . TT
VEHICLE WAS IMPACT 3:00 POSITION CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL VEHICLE FLIP OVER TOP CAME OFF VAN CAUSING INJURIES. TT
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2000 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1999 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 58.6 |
| 1994 | 12 | 10 | 1 | 60.4 |
| 1993 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 51.7 |
| 1992 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — |
| 1991 | 6 | 1 | 3 | — |
| 1990 | 5 | 3 | 2 | — |
| 1989 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — |
| 1988Viewing | 3 | 5 | 6 | — |
| 1987 | 3 | 0 | 4 | — |
| 1986 | 0 | 1 | 5 | — |
| 1985 | 2 | 1 | 6 | — |
| 1984 | 4 | 1 | 3 | — |
| 1983 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — |
| 1982 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — |
| 1981 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — |
| 1980 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1979 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — |
| 1978 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1977 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1974 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 1973 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1972 | 1 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1971 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 1970 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1967 | 0 | 1 | 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.