RoadVitals

1994 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.
3
Latest Dec 30, 1998
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.
6
Latest Mar 25, 1996
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.
1
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 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 Chevrolet K20, most frequently naming the seat belts, transmission and visibility categories. 6 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names 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

  • Seat belts133.3%
  • Transmission133.3%
  • Visibility133.3%

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

6 campaigns cover this model year

View all 6

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
96E010000

SEATS

Mar 25, 1996
2,400 units potentially affected
The defect: THE SEAT RECLINER TO SEAT FRAME ATTACHING BOLTS ON THESE VEHICLES 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.
VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEMSView on NHTSA.gov
95V246000

SEATS

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
94V212000

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

Oct 26, 1994
29 units potentially affected
The defect: THE WINDSHIELDS WERE INSTALLED WITH INCORRECT WINDSHIELD OPENING PINCH-WELD-FLANGE PRIMER. THIS PRIMER WILL NOT PROPERLY ETCH THE PAINTED SURFACE OF THE FLANGE, ALLOWING THE WINDSHIELD TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE DURING A COLLISION. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 212, "WINDSHIELD MOUNTING."
The risk: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE SEPARATION OF THE WINDSHIELD FROM THE VEHICLE DURING COLLISION INCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY FOR ALL PERSONS INVOLVED.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE WINDSHIELD AND REINSTALL IT USING THE CORRECT PRIMER.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View 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

Recent owner complaints

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

Visibility
Filed Dec 30, 1998

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BECAME VERY IRRATIC AND EVENTUALLY QUIT IN NOV 96. WARRANTEE WOULD NOT COVER IT SO I REPLACED IT AT MY OWN EXPENSE. THE SECOND WINDSHIELD WIPER IS CURRENTLY DOING THE SAME AS THE FIRST, VERY IRRATIC AND QUITS ALL OF A SUDDEN, PUTTING MY LIFE IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. MY 95 BLAZER HAD A RECALL ON THE SAME EXACT WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE THAT I HAVE REPLACED. I HAD THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP CHEC THE PART NUMBER ON MY 94 CHEV PU, AND IT'S THE EXACT SAME AS FOR THE BLAZER, YET CHEVROLET SAYS THE VIN # ON MY PU IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. THE VIN NUMBER HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WIPER MOTOR OPERATION IF THEY ARE THE SAME P/N. CHEVROLET STILL WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. CHEVROLET GIVE ME A CASE # OF 980818166. ANY ASSISTANCE WOULD BE APPREICATED BEFORE SOMEONE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM GETS HURT OR KILLED BECAUSE THEY CAN'T SEE DURING A SNOW OR RAIN STORM.

NHTSA ID
701740
Incident
Nov 16, 1996
Seat belts
Filed Mar 8, 1996

RECALL RELATED, 95V246000, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, THE DRIVERS SEAT BROKE AND WENT IN RECLINE POSITION. *AK

NHTSA ID
980463
Incident
Mar 8, 1996
Transmission
Filed Aug 2, 1995

WHEN DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION GEAR LOCK INTO SECOND GEAR . TT

NHTSA ID
969697

Manufacturer communications

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

130089009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)

Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

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 K20 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1998100—
1997400—
1996230—
1995231—
1994Viewing361—
1993522—
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.