RoadVitals

1993 Chevrolet K20

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.
5
Latest Jul 26, 1999
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.
2
Latest Dec 21, 1995
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

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1993 Chevrolet K20, most frequently naming the interior & seats, fuel system and visibility categories. 2 safety recalls have 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

  • Interior & seats360.0%
  • Fuel system120.0%
  • Visibility120.0%

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

2 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
Dec 21, 1995
675,661 units potentially affected
The defect: THE SEAT RECLINER TO SEAT FRAME ATTACHING BOLTS ON THESE VEHICLE COULD LOOSEN, FATIGUE AND FRACTURE, ALLOWING THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE.
The risk: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, THIS COULD RESULT IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE ALL FOAM AND/OR FABRIC SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE RECLINER ASSEMBLY AND THE SEAT FRAME, INSTALL WASHERS BETWEEN THE SEAT RECLINER AND THE SEAT FRAME AT EACH ATTACHMENT POINT, AND INSTALL NEW ATTACHING BOLTS TORQUED TO A HIGHER SPECIFICATION. THESE CORRECTIONS WILL BE MADE TO BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATS.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Feb 1, 1993
1,702,880 units potentially affected
The defect: UNANTICIPATED HEAT IN THE TRANSMISSION CAN FORCE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT OF THE VENT TUBE.
The risk: THE VENTED TRANSMISSION FLUID CAN CATCH FIRE IF EXPOSEDTO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
The remedy: INSTALL A LONGER TRANSMISSION VENT HOSE ROUTED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.Manufacturer number 93-C-07View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

PE95050ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

FRONT SEAT BACK COLLAPSE

Opened Sep 22, 1995
Closed Dec 22, 1995

FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER ATTACHMENT BOLTS LOOSEN, FATIGUE, AND FRACTURE, ALLOWING THE SEAT TO COLLAPSE BACKWARDS WITHOUT WARNING.

SEATSLed to recall 95V246000
EA94029ClosedEngineering Analysis

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

Opened Jul 29, 1994
Closed Jul 31, 1996

AN ALLEGED MALFUNCTION IN THE ATLERNATOR RESULTING IN ENGINE COMPARTMET FIRES.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Recent owner complaints

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

Visibility
Filed Jul 26, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPERS UNRELIABLE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. SEEMS TO BE CENTERED IN THE WIPER MOTOR CONTROLS UNDER THE HOOD.

NHTSA ID
709179
Fuel system
Filed May 5, 1997

FUEL FILLER REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS IN OWNERS MANUAL, IF FOLLOWED ACCORDING TO MANUAL, COULD CAUSE INJURY OR FIRE, CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND PROBLEM, OWNER WILL PROVIDE MORE DETAILED INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
812003
Incident
May 4, 1997
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 25, 1996

DRIVER SEATBACK BROKE TWICE AND PASSENGER SIDE BROKE ONCE. *AK

NHTSA ID
981164
Incident
Aug 1, 1995
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 19, 1996

60/40 SPLIT SEAT HAS NO LATCH ON THE CENTER PASSENGER SIDE OF THE SEAT, CAUSING TO SEAT TO ROCK BACK AND FORTH. *AK

NHTSA ID
980918
Incident
Mar 19, 1996
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 5, 1996

DRIVER SIDE SEAT FAILURE THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BROKE WENT TO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. TT

NHTSA ID
977484
Incident
Nov 10, 1995

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet K20 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1998100
1997400
1996230
1995231
1994361
1993Viewing522
1992031
1991323
1990042
1989032
1988163
1987203
1986014
1985114
1984012
1983012
1982122
1981012
1980121
1979031
1978031
1977021
1976021
1975011
1974121
1973011
1972011
1971031
1970011
1969030
1967010

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.