Total Complaints
4 filings
CHEVROLET C20 · model year
1988 CHEVROLET C20
4 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report. 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 1988CHEVROLETC20 carries 4 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 1 injury, 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 C20 is engine and engine cooling:engine with 2 filings, followed by structure:body (1) and seat belts:front:buckle assembly (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 C20, 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.
4
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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 |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
Recent Complaints
19951206SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
PURCHASE TRUCK NEW THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE NOT LOCKING . TT
19950814ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE V6 MOTOR IS DEFECT THE STEEL CAST IRON BLOCK WEARS OUT AND THE PISTON GOES OUT BURNING A LOT OF OIL . TT
19950814ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE V6 MOTOR IS DEFECT THE STEEL CAST IRON BLOCK WEARS OUT AND THE PISTON GOES OUT BURNING A LOT OF OIL . TT
19950310CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY
VEHICLE WAS IMPACT 3:00 POSITION CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL VEHICLE FLIP OVER TOP CAME OFF VAN CAUSING INJURIES. TT
Compare 1988CHEVROLETC20 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 C20 have?▼
The 1988 CHEVROLET C20 has 4 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 CHEVROLET C20?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 CHEVROLET C20 is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE:BODY and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1988 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 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 C20; 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.