Total Complaints
9 filings
CHEVROLET C15 · model year
1990 CHEVROLET C15
9 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990CHEVROLETC15 carries 9 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1990 C15 is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 3 filings, followed by structure:frame and members (2) and seat belts:front:retractor (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1990 C15, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
9
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 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 |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
Recent Complaints
19980430STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
PAINT IS PEEELING OFF, EXPOSING PRIMER.
19980424STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
ORIGINAL PAINT PEELED OFF.
19971120CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKES APPLIED, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, NO RESPONSE FROM ANTI- LOCK BRAKES AND ITS WARNING SYSTEMS. FINALE: VEHICLE CRASH. *AK
19960223SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER/FT. PASSENGER/REAR MIDDLE PASSENGER SEATBELT BUCKLE WILL NO FASTEN. *AK
19960223SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER/FT. PASSENGER/REAR MIDDLE PASSENGER SEATBELT BUCKLE WILL NO FASTEN. *AK
19951101SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE ABS ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON IT WILL NOT GO OFF . TT THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ALTHOUGH THE BRAKES DID NOT FEEL AS THOUGH THEY WERE APPLIED. *YH
19951010POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
A/T: DRIVESHAFT MADE OUT OF ALUMINUM, HAS FIBER GLASS SLEEVE, MOISTURE CAUSED CORROSION AT REAR END OF DRIVESHAFT; DRIVESHAFT FAILED; LOSS VEHICLE POWER. TT
19950628SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE LATCH FAILURE. *AK
19950510CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
WHILE DRIVING, DURING SIDE IMPACT 3:00 ON RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, AT APPROX. 40MPH DRIVER'S SHOULDER/LAP BELT FAIL TO RETRACT, RESULT HIT STEERING COLUMN.
Compare 1990CHEVROLETC15 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 1990 CHEVROLET C15 have?▼
The 1990 CHEVROLET C15 has 9 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 CHEVROLET C15?▼
The most-complained component for the 1990 CHEVROLET C15 is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR.
Is the 1990 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 as of 2025. 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.