RoadVitals

1978 Chevrolet Chevrolet Truck

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.
2
Latest Jul 3, 2001
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.
3
Latest Feb 26, 1980
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.
2
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.
0
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1978 Chevrolet Chevrolet Truck, most frequently naming the engine and tires & wheels categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; 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

  • Engine150.0%
  • Tires & wheels150.0%

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

Safety recalls

3 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
80V014000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Feb 26, 1980
46,556 units potentially affected
The defect: THE HYDRAULIC STEEL BRAKE TUBE CONNECTING THE BRAKE HOSE TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT FRONT TOP WHEEL CYLINDER MAY DEVELOP A FRACTURE IN THE BEND NEXT TO THE WHEEL CYLINDER. THIS FRACTURE RESULTS FROM PERIODIC HIGH STRESSES IN THE TUBE DUE TO "BRAKE CHATTER" WHICH CAN OCCUR DURING CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS.
The remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE TUBES AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
80V016000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

Feb 26, 1980
8,474 units potentially affected
The defect: A MISROUTING OF THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE MAY EXIST. AS A RESULT, THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE INSULATION COULD BE DAMAGED FROM EXHAUST MANIFOLD HEAT. THE WIRE IN THE CABLE MAY THEN CONTACT AND DAMAGE THE METAL BRAKE TUBE.
The remedy: ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED FOR POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE MISROUTING AND POSSIBLE HEAT DAMAGE TO THE INSULATION. IF NECESSARY, THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE WILL BE REPLACED OR REROUTED AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
80V017000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Feb 26, 1980
850 units potentially affected
The defect: DURING TESTING OF THE FIRE APPARATUS, EXTREME HEAT GENERATED FROM THE RIGHT SIDE ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE HOSE AT THE FRAME FITTING. THIS COULD CAUSE A LEAK IN THE FRONT AXLE HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSE.
The remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL AN EXHAUST HEAT SHIELD AT THE RIGHT SIDE FRAME TO BRAKE HOSE FITTING AND REPLACE FRONT BRAKE HOSES AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

DP96003ClosedDefect Petition

GAS TANK GUARD

Opened Jan 2, 1996
Closed Feb 9, 1996

Mr. Chevedden petition the agency requesting a defect investigation that would resultin the retrofitting of a low cost gas tank guard on all 1973-87 Chevrolet and GMC CK pickup trucks to prevent fires in a side impact

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
DP92016ClosedDefect Petition

FUEL TANK POSITION

Opened Aug 17, 1992
Closed Dec 8, 1992

FUEL TANK POSITION

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Recent owner complaints

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

Engine
Filed Jul 3, 2001
1 injury reported

WHILE TIMING THE ENGINE ON MY TRUCK THE FLEX FAN BROKE APART AND HIT ME IN THE HEAD JUST MISSING MY EYE. THE BLADE CUT A PRETTY GOOD CHUNK OUT OF MY FOREHEAD. I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. I BELIEVE THE NTHSA SHOULD DO A FULL RECALL ON THIS ITEM. I WAS SUPRISED TO FIND OUT ABOUT ALL OF THE PREVIOUS INCIDENTS REPORTED TO THE NHTSA ON THIS ITEM WITHOUT RESULTING IN A RECALL.

NHTSA ID
747752
Incident
Jun 16, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 4, 2000

TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. TIRE IS STILL IN OUR POSSESSION.( DOT NUMBER: VDXVATC508 )

NHTSA ID
730123
Incident
Aug 27, 2000

Manufacturer communications

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

010101

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

SUBJECT REGARDING FLEXIBLE FAN BLADES *SLC

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 Chevrolet Truck by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2003400137.2
2002370134.5
2001210142.5
2000190137.2
1999351036.2
1998331040.6
1997481145.9
1996491348.9
1995531144.4
1994351140.7
1993130243.7
1992130141.9
1991130142.5
1990110138.8
1989140044.0
1988150041.2
1987402—
1986412—
1985512—
1984302—
1983102—
1982102—
1981202—
1980123—
1979232—
1978Viewing232—
1977412—
1976202—
1975002—
1974212—
1973002—
1972200—
1970010—
1967010—
1966010—
1965010—
1964010—
1963010—
1962210—
1961010—
1960010—

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.