RoadVitals

1990 Chevrolet K1500

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.
7
Latest Oct 22, 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 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 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 Chevrolet K1500, most frequently naming the brakes, engine and interior & seats categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 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

  • Brakes342.9%
  • Engine114.3%
  • Interior & seats114.3%
  • Other / unspecified114.3%
  • Steering114.3%

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

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

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

May 19, 2006
88,303 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
The risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
The remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

Sep 17, 1990
194,243 units potentially affected
The defect: TRUCKS CAN CONTAIN INCORRECT INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PROPERLY ADJUST REAR SEAT LAP-SHOULDER BELTS AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 209.
The risk: INCORRECTLY ADJUSTED SEAT BELT WOULD NOT PROPERLYRESTRAIN OCCUPANT IN AN ACCIDENT OF SUDDEN STOP; TRUCKS WOULD NOT COMPLY WITHFMVSS 209.
The remedy: PROVIDE OWNER'S MANUAL INSERT CONTAINING THE CORRECT REAR LAP-SHOULDER BELT INSTRUCTIONS.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Other / unspecified
Filed Oct 22, 2001

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS STRANGE HANDLING, HE PULLED OVER AND AND DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING SO HE CONTINUED BACK ONTO THE HIGHWAY, THE REAR WHEEL CAME OFF BEFORE GETTING UP TO SPEED, THE BRAKE DRUM FOLLOWED SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR FENDER, LUG NUT STUDS, AND THE ALUMINUM WHEEL, CONSUMER REASSEMBLED THE LEFT REAR BRAKES AND WAS ABLE TO REINSTALL THE WHEEL. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *SLC

NHTSA ID
563745
Incident
Aug 4, 2001
Steering
Filed Apr 10, 2000

I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLOMN WAS WOBBLEING FROM BELOW THE ADJUSTMENT FOR THE TILT WHEEL. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OVER THE NEXT MONTH THE STEERING WHEEL WOBBLED NOTICEABLY MORE. THE VEHICLE WAS BECOMING DIFFICULT TO STEER AND CONTROL THROUGH TRAFFIC AND ON THE HIGHWAY AS THE STEERING COLOMN WOBBLE INCREASED. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO BEACH CITY CHEVROLET FOR REPAIRS. I WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR ADVISOR THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET TRUCKS. I FEEL THIS IS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION IF I HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BY LOSING CONTROL THE MY VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
721268
Incident
Apr 6, 2000
Brakes
Filed Nov 29, 1999

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL GOES DOWN EXCESSIVELY BEFORE THE BRAKES KICK IN, ESPECIALLY WHEN TOWING SOMETHING. OWNER HAS TO ALMOST STAND ON BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. OWNER HAS REPLACED MOST OF BRAKE ASSEMBLY. *AK

NHTSA ID
853465
Brakes
Filed Feb 17, 1999

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE TAKES A LONG TIME TO STOP, EVEN IF THE PEDAL IS PUSHED HARD AS POSSIBLE. DEALER SAYS IT'S NORMAL. *AK

NHTSA ID
834904
Engine
Filed Jul 28, 1998
Fire reported

ENGINE FIRE.(OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT).

NHTSA ID
538041
Incident
Jun 6, 1998
Brakes
Filed Mar 11, 1997

FRONT BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA ID
515401
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 30, 1996

RIGHT SIDE SEAT TRACK BROKE.

NHTSA ID
508151
Incident
Aug 5, 1996

Manufacturer communications

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

020864016

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON FRONT DOOR HINGE PIN BUSHING WEAR, FRONT DOOR SAG, OR DOOR CHUCKING MOVEMENT IN EXTREME OPERATING CONDITIONS. *TT

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 K1500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1996942050.3
19951182154.8
19941002149.4
1993222046.8
1992162050.8
1991120
1990Viewing730
1989103041.2
1988102040.3

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.