RoadVitals

1985 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.
6
Latest Sep 28, 2009
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.
1
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.
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.
4
5 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1985 Chevrolet G20, most frequently naming the brakes, engine and fuel system categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 2 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes116.7%
  • Engine116.7%
  • Fuel system116.7%
  • Interior & seats116.7%
  • Suspension116.7%
  • Tires & wheels116.7%

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

1 campaign 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

Safety investigations

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

EA88016ClosedEngineering Analysis

HIGH TEMP & FUEL EXP

Opened Jan 19, 1988
Closed Jun 30, 1988

There is no summary currently available

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
PE87043ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

EXHAUST SYSTEM HEAT

Opened Aug 7, 1987
Closed Jan 14, 1988

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:ANALYSIS OF THE 65 COMPLAINTSFORWARDED BY GM ON THIS ISSUE REVEALS THAT 15 OF THE COMPLAINTS MAY BESAFETY RELATED.COMPLAINTS IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM AS A RED HOT EXHAUSTSYSTEM OR MUFFLER FAILURE WERE NOT COUNTED.GM ALSO INCLUDED NUMEROUSCOMPLAINTS PERTAINING TO FUEL EXPULSION IN THE MOTOR HOME CHASSIS.THEYWERE NOT COUNTED SINCE THAT PROBLEM IS ALREADY UNDER INVESTIGATION.CONCERNING BRUSH FIRES RESULTING FROM THE HIGH EXHAUST TEMPERATURES, GMSTATESOUR FIELD EXPERIENCE, AS EVIDENCED BY THE LOW NUMBER OF REPORTSPERTAINING TO THE EXHAUST TEMPERATURE, INDICATES TO US THAT OUR CUSTOMERSARE OBSERVING THE PRECAUTIONS CONTAINED IN OUR OWNER'S MANUAL AND AREEXERCISING THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS.ANALYSIS:THE ALLEGED DEFECT ORIGINATES WITH THE GENERATION OF HEAT IN THEEXHAUST SYSTEM.HIGHER EXHAUST TEMPERATURES ARE OCCURRING AS A RESULT OFSTRINGENT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) REQUIREMENTS WHICH WENTINTO EFFECT IN 1985 FOR VEHICLES WITH A GVW IN EXCESS OF 8,500 LBS.THEHIGHER EXHAUST TEMPERATURES CAN LEAD TO EXCESSIVE UNDERBODY TEMPERATURESWHICH MAY RESULT IN FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURIZATION AND A HIGHER POTENTIAL FORTHE EXPULSION OF LIQUID FUEL UPON REMOVAL OF THE FUEL TANK FILLER CAP.INADDITION, OTHER SIDE EFFECTS SUCH AS SMOLDERING ITEMS IN PICK UP BEDS,BURNT TIRES AND MUDFLAPS HAVE BEEN REPORTED.PROPOSED ACTION:UPGRADE THIS PE TO AN EA.SINCE SOME MODELS ARE ALREADYBEING INVESTIGATED, AND COMPLAINT DATA IS SPARSE ON OTHER MODELS, THE NEWEA SHOULD BE DIRECTED ONLY TO VEHICLE MODELS C AND K WHICH UTILIZE THEHEAVY DUTY (VEHICLES WITH A GVW IN EXCESS OF 8,500 LBS) EMISSION SYSTEM.===

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

Recent owner complaints

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

Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 28, 2009
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 CHEVROLET G20, WITH COOPER WEATHER- MASTER ST STEEL P225/75/R15 TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH THE DRIVER-SIDE FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. HE REPLACED THE FAILED TIRE WITH THE SPARE TIRE; HOWEVER, 15 MILES LATER, THE DRIVER-SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER AND CRASH. THE POLICE AND EMS WERE NOTIFIED. HE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND EXTENSIVE BRUISING ON HIS ENTIRE BODY. A POLICE OFFICER CONCLUDED THAT BECAUSE THE SIDE-WALLS WERE SPLIT, THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000.

NHTSA ID
10285529
Incident
Sep 27, 2009
Mileage
140,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Feb 5, 2000

VAN PULLS TO THE LEFT WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN PUTTING ON THE BRAKES. *AK

NHTSA ID
718353
Brakes
Filed Sep 18, 1997

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THE FRONT BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP. HAD BRAKES REPAIRED DUE TO STRESS ON THE FRONT BRAKES FROM THE BACK BRAKES NOT SELF ADJUSTING. THEY SUPPOSE TO BE SELF ADJUSTING. *AK

NHTSA ID
817376
Incident
Sep 18, 1997
Engine
Filed Jul 15, 1997
Fire reported

ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)

NHTSA ID
519419
Incident
Jun 16, 1997
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 11, 1996

CAN NOT GET OUT OF VEHICLE WHEN LOCKED UNLESS YOU ROLL DOWN WINDOW AND OPEN DOOR FROM OUTSIDE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA ID
977543
Fuel system
Filed Feb 2, 1995
Crash reportedFire reported4 injuries reported

VAN WAS REAR ENDED AND DAMAGE GAS TANK, VAN BURNED. TT

NHTSA ID
959503
Incident
Mar 19, 1994

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—
1985Viewing612—
1984230—
1983130—
1982130—
1981020—
1980020—
1979130—
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.