Total Complaints
3 filings
CHEVROLET C35 · model year
1988 CHEVROLET C35
3 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988CHEVROLETC35 carries 3 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.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1988 C35 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 1 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) (1) and tires (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 1988 C35, 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.
3
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 | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20031001TIRES
GOODYEAR, LT24575R16, WRANGLER A/T, SERIAL #270904GRF72W, TIRE SEPERATED THE TREAD AND THEN EXPLODED WHILE IT WAS IN THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER UNDER MY 1988 CHEVY C3500. THIS WAS A MATE TO ANOTHER WRANGLER A/T, PURCHASED AT THE SAME TIME, THAT HAD FAILED, WHILE ON THE TRUCK AT 70 MPH. THAT TIRE LOST THE TREAD, BUT NEVER LOST AIR PRESSURE. THE TREAD DAMAGED THE BED OF THE TRUCK, TO THE TUNE OF $780+.WHICH GOODYEAR HAS REIMBURESD ME FOR.THAT TIRE WAS SHIPPED BACK TO GOODYEAR. I SIGNED A RELEASE AT THAT TIME, THAT THERE WOULD BE NO FURTHER LITGATION CONCERNIONG THE FIRST TIRE. THIS DOESN'T CONCERN THE FIRST TIRE AS GOODYEAR HANDLED THAT PROBLEM PROMPTLY. BUT DUE TO THE LATEST INCIDENT, I FEEL SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT A LITTLE CLOSER,THIS LATEST INCIDENT HAPPENED ON A WARM,SUNNY DAY. THE TIRE HAD BEEN TAKEN OFF THE TRUCK AND PLACED AS A SPARE THE FIRST INDICATION THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WAS A TEARING SOUND FROM UNDER THE TRUCK. I WAS STANDING BEHIND THE TRUCK AND HEARD THE NOISE.
19971008POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE. *AK
19961212SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKES FAIL WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
Compare 1988CHEVROLETC35 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 C35 have?▼
The 1988 CHEVROLET C35 has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 CHEVROLET C35?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 CHEVROLET C35 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) and TIRES.
Is the 1988 CHEVROLET C35 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.