Total Complaints
6 filings
CHEVROLET C20 · model year
1984 CHEVROLET C20
6 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1984CHEVROLETC20 carries 6 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 9 injuries, 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 1984 C20 is fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly with 1 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (1) and power train:axle assembly:axle shaft:seal (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 1984 C20, 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.
6
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
9
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 |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20180510FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
STEERING WHEEL STARTING KEY TURNING ON MOTOR CAUSED FIRE IN WIRING AND SHORTED OUT THE FUSIBLE WIRE LINK--CHEVY DEALERS HAVE NO INFORMATION ON THE PARTS INVOLVED OR EVEN PARTS NUMBERS FOR THAT EQUIPMENT--THEY SAY THAT DOESN'T EXIST -I HAVE TWO TRUCKS WITH SAME EQUIPMENT--WAS THERE EVER A RECALL FOR THOSE VEHICLES? STARTER SWITCH-- THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND DIDN'T MOVE AT THAT MOMENT AT MY PLACE
Mileage: 93,151
20010123TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE FIRESTONE STEEL TEX RADIAL R4S LT 235/85R16 TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FUEL TANK FILLER NECK WHICH WAS TORN OFF, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE AFTER BEING VERY UNSTABLE. *MJS
20000407POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FRONT SEAL LEAK CAUSED CAR TO NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND THEY REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION. HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED 3 TIMES. CONSUMER FELT IT WAS THE FLUID DEXTRON 3 THAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. DUE TO OVERHEATED TRANSMISSION, BRAKES NO LONGER FUNCTION CORRECTLY. BRAKELINE FOR REAR BRAKES IS INCHES FROM TRANSMISSION DUE TO DEXTRON 3. *AK *ML
20000407POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL
FRONT SEAL LEAK CAUSED CAR TO NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND THEY REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION. HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED 3 TIMES. CONSUMER FELT IT WAS THE FLUID DEXTRON 3 THAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. DUE TO OVERHEATED TRANSMISSION, BRAKES NO LONGER FUNCTION CORRECTLY. BRAKELINE FOR REAR BRAKES IS INCHES FROM TRANSMISSION DUE TO DEXTRON 3. *AK *ML
20000407SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FRONT SEAL LEAK CAUSED CAR TO NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND THEY REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION. HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED 3 TIMES. CONSUMER FELT IT WAS THE FLUID DEXTRON 3 THAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. DUE TO OVERHEATED TRANSMISSION, BRAKES NO LONGER FUNCTION CORRECTLY. BRAKELINE FOR REAR BRAKES IS INCHES FROM TRANSMISSION DUE TO DEXTRON 3. *AK *ML
19990208FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
DESIGN FLAW OF THE DUAL TANKS AND PROTECTIVE SHIELDS, RESULTING IN SEVERAL INCIDENTS OF CORROSION AND LEAKAGE, DEFECT (REBATE)IN THE OUTSIDE GASOLINE TANKS, HOWEVER CONSUMER HAS NOT RECEIVED NOTICE. *MJS
Compare 1984CHEVROLETC20 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 1984 CHEVROLET C20 have?▼
The 1984 CHEVROLET C20 has 6 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1984 CHEVROLET C20?▼
The most-complained component for the 1984 CHEVROLET C20 is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL.
Is the 1984 CHEVROLET C20 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.