RoadVitals

1979 Chevrolet G20

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.
1
Latest Feb 24, 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.
3
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1979 Chevrolet G20, most frequently naming the fuel system category. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year.

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

  • Fuel system1100.0%

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
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
79V142000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

Jun 6, 1979
15,328 units potentially affected
The defect: ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES THE BRAKE STOPLIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WHICH IS OPERATED BY THE BRAKE PEDAL MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH AN INCORRECT LUBRICANT ON THE ACTUATING PLUNGER. THIS CAN CAUSE THE REAR BRAKE STOPLIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL, IF ACTIVATED, TO STAY ELECTRICALLY ENGAGED.
The remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BRAKE STOPLIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AT NO COST TO OWNER.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Fuel system
Filed Feb 24, 2010
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1979 CHEVROLET G-20. WHILE HIS VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN HIS DRIVEWAY WITH THE IGNITION ON, HE NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE HOOD BUT IT WAS EXTREMELY HOT AND FLAMES BEGAN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE FIRE MARSHALL ADVISED THAT THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS DUE TO ETHANOL FUEL DISSOLVING THE FUEL FILTER, WHICH CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 500,000. UPDATED 4/19/10 THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN IDLE. AS HE PROCEEDED TO BACK OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY, HE HEARD THE ENGINE STOP AFTER A BACKFIRE THROUGH THE CARBURETOR. HE IMMEDIATELY OBSERVED BLACK SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS INITIATED WHEN THE PLASTIC INLINE FUEL FILTER FAILED, DUE TO ETHANOL DISSOLVING THE FUEL IN THE FLOAT BOWLS. THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT PRIOR TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARRIVAL. THE SAFETY ISSUE WAS NOT WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT WITH THE MANDATORY ETHANOL FUEL WHICH HAS CAUSED NUMEROUS FIRES . ACCORDING TO THE FIRE REPORT, THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FUEL LEAK WHICH IN TURN LEAKED ONTO THE MANIFOLD. UPDATED 07/07/10*JB

NHTSA ID
10313723
Incident
Jan 1, 2010
Mileage
500,000 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet G20 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1999300—
1998210—
1997510—
1996770—
1995826055.9
1994427056.9
1993596059.9
1992194045.4
1991540—
1990173050.5
1989730—
1988112163.0
1987103260.6
1986412—
1985612—
1984230—
1983130—
1982130—
1981020—
1980020—
1979Viewing130—
1978130—
1977020—
1976010—
1975010—
1974020—
1973010—
1971100—

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.