Total Complaints
9 filings
CHEVROLET C15 · model year
1988 CHEVROLET C15
9 NHTSA complaints. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988CHEVROLETC15 carries 9 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1988 C15 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 3 filings, followed by visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system:heater core (1) and steering: steering wheel/handle bar (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1988 C15, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
9
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 3 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | 1 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
19970227SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DRIVING ABOUT 30MPH AND ALMOST HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT. APPLIED BRAKES AND BRAKE PEDAL ALMOST WENT TO THE FLOOR. BRAKES ARE STILL INOPERATIVE. TOOK TO A DEALER AND HE SAID THAT'S THE NATURE OF THE BRAKES FOR THAT YEAR. *AK
19960206SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHEN BRAKE PEDAL HELD AT A STOP SIGN, PEDAL STARTED TO FADE, RESULTING IN ROLLAWAY, REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER TO NO AVAIL. TT
19951213SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
THE UPPER BALL JOINT FELL OFF WHEN CONSUMER WAS DRIVING . TT
19951201SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WET AND ICY ROAD WHEN APPLY THE BRAKE TRUCK SLIDS HAVE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE . TT
19950411EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
TAIL LIGHT NEED TO BE REDESIGNED BECAUSE SHORT OUT MANUFACTURER OFFER NO ASSISTANCE. TT
19950328SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR LOCK UP TRYING TO RETRACT BACK. TT
19950321STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
VEHICLES STEERING WHEEL NUT HAS BEEN TIGHTENED 3 TIMES. TT
19950106VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
HEATING CORE RUPTURED AND SENT BOILING COOLANT INTO CAB. TT
19950104SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED AT LEAST TWICE SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. TT
Compare 1988CHEVROLETC15 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 CHEVROLET C15 have?▼
The 1988 CHEVROLET C15 has 9 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 CHEVROLET C15?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 CHEVROLET C15 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE and STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR.
Is the 1988 CHEVROLET C15 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1988 CHEVROLET C15; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.