IllustrationPURCHASE TRUCK NEW THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE NOT LOCKING . TT
1988 Chevrolet C20
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all C20 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 3 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
3 reportsTHE V6 MOTOR IS DEFECT THE STEEL CAST IRON BLOCK WEARS OUT AND THE PISTON GOES OUT BURNING A LOT OF OIL . TT
VEHICLE WAS IMPACT 3:00 POSITION CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL VEHICLE FLIP OVER TOP CAME OFF VAN CAUSING INJURIES. TT
Official recalls
593V016000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Feb 1, 1993
UNANTICIPATED HEAT IN THE TRANSMISSION CAN FORCE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT OF THE VENT TUBE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE VENTED TRANSMISSION FLUID CAN CATCH FIRE IF EXPOSEDTO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy: INSTALL A LONGER TRANSMISSION VENT HOSE ROUTED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE.
87V136000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Sep 1, 1987
RIGHT AND LEFT HAND BRAKE HOSE MAY CONTACT THE WHEEL OR TIRE IN A FULL TURN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE HOSE MAKES CONTACT WITH THE WHEEL OR TIRE IT WILLEVENTUALLY WEAR THE HOSE TO A POINT OF RUPTURE, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF THEFRONT BRAKES. LOSS OF FRONT BRAKES WOULD INCREASE THE STOPPING DISTANCE WHENMINIMUM TIME IS REQUIRED AND COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: INSTALL NEW REPOSITIONING BRACKETS FOR THE FRONT BRAKE HOSES.
87V125000 · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
Aug 10, 1987
CRUISE CONTROL CABLE LOCK MECHANISM MAY SELF DISENGAGE CAUSING ERRATIC OPERATION OR THROTTLE NOT RETURNING TO IDLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: ENGINE SPEED WOULD NOT DECREASE; LOSS OF ACCELERATORCONTROL COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: INSTALL A CLAMP AROUND THE LOCK TAB OF CRUISE CONTROL.
87V126000 · Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly
Aug 10, 1987
ONE OR BOTH OF OUTER TIE ROD NUTS MAY BE LOOSE AND NOT CRIMPED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LOSS OF ONE OR BOTH NUTS COULD LEAD TO TIE RODDISENGAGING FROM STEERING KNUCKLE RESULTING IN POSSIBLE LOSS OF STEERINGCONTROL AND POSSIBLY A CRASH.
Remedy: REPLACE TIE ROD AND KNUCKLE AND SET TOE-IN.
87V127000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Aug 10, 1987
TRUCKS MAY HAVE CRACKED OR BROKEN DOOR STRIKER NUTS, WHICH DO NOT CONFORM TO FMVSS 206.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN A COLLISION, CRACKED OR BROKEN STRIKER NUT COULDALLOW DOOR TO OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY AND POSSIBLY CAUSE INJURY TO OCCUPANTS.
Remedy: REPLACE EXISTING DOOR STRIKER NUTS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
6EA92041 · Fuel System Integrity
Opened Dec 8, 1992 · Closed Mar 9, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
There is no summary currently available
EA88035 · Poor Brake Performance
Opened Jul 18, 1988 · Closed Oct 31, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
SUMMARY: COMPLAINTS ALLEGE POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE INCLUDING EXCESSIVE STOPPING DISTANCE, INABILITY TO LOCK FRONT WHEELS, OR PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR OF A NEW DESIGN FOR THESE MODELS. POSSIBLE INSUFICIENT POWER ASSIST ON SOME VEHICLES. ALL TRUCKS ARE EQUIPPED WITH REAR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES.
PE88044 · Poor Braking Performance
Opened Apr 11, 1988 · Closed Jul 18, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
SUMMARY: COMPLAINTS ALLEGE POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR OF A NEW DESIGN FOR THESE MODELS. POSSIBLE INSUFICIENT POWER ASSIS ON SOME MODELS. ALL TRUCKS ARE EQUIPPED WITH REAR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES
EA88018 · Brake System
Opened Jan 20, 1988 · Closed May 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
EA88016 · High Temp & Fuel Exp
Opened Jan 19, 1988 · Closed Jun 30, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE88019 · Rear Brk Lights Stay On
Opened Jan 19, 1988 · Closed Mar 31, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:ON SOME 1988 C/K MODEL TRUCKSTHE BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN FOUND TO STAY ON AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS BEENRELEASED.IN A MAJORITY OF CASES, THE STOPLAMP SWITCH BEING MISADJUSTEDHAS BEEN THE CAUSE.OTHER POSSIBILITIES INCLUDE (A) BINDING AT THE EYELET OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER ROD AND ITS ATTACHMENT PIN AND (B) PEDAL MOUNTINGBUSHINGS NOT BEING PROPERLY LUBRICATED.GM BELIEVES THAT IF THE VEHICLEIS EITHER ACCELERATING OR TRAVELING AT A CONSTANT SPEED, AND THE STOP LAMPSREMAIN ON, A FOLLOWING DRIVER WOULD LIKELY FOLLOW AT A GREATER DISTANCEBECAUSE OF UNCERTAINTY OF THE ACTIONS OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM.GMCONCLUDES THAT THIS IS TRUE BECAUSE THERE ARE NO REPORTED ACCIDENTS WHEREIT IS ALLEGED THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAYED ON.TO THE CONTRARY, BRAKE LIGHTSWHICH ARE ALWAYS ON APPEAR ARE INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM NORMAL TAILIGHTOPERATION AND THEREFORE FAIL TO SIGNAL BRAKING/DECELERATION WHICH IS THEONLY FUNCTION OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS.APPARENT INFANT MORTALITY SUPPORTS THEPOSITION THAT NO DEFECT TREND IS DEVELOPING.ALTHOUGH THE ALLEGED DEFECTMAY OCCUR AT ANY GIVEN TIME (IT DOES HOWEVER APPEAR TO OCCUR AT ANY GIVENTIME EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE), ONCE THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE STUCK INTHE ON POSITION, THE LIGHTS REMAIN ON UNTIL THE BATTERY GOES DEAD OR THECONDITION IS OTHERWISE DETECTED AND CORRECTED.THE ALLEGED DEFECT AFFECTSONLY THE EARLY PRODUCTION 1988 MODEL VEHICLES AND GM HAS ISSUED A SERVICEBULLETIN ADVISING SERVICE PERSONNEL OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THE ALLEGEDDEFECT AND HOW TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. #======