Total Complaints
1 filings
CHEVROLET G20 · model year
1979 CHEVROLET G20
1 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1979CHEVROLETG20 carries 1 consumer safety complaint in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 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 1979 G20 is fuel system, gasoline with 1 filings. 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 1979 G20, 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.
1
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
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 |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20100224FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1979 CHEVROLET G-20. WHILE HIS VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN HIS DRIVEWAY WITH THE IGNITION ON, HE NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE HOOD BUT IT WAS EXTREMELY HOT AND FLAMES BEGAN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE FIRE MARSHALL ADVISED THAT THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS DUE TO ETHANOL FUEL DISSOLVING THE FUEL FILTER, WHICH CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 500,000. UPDATED 4/19/10 THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN IDLE. AS HE PROCEEDED TO BACK OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY, HE HEARD THE ENGINE STOP AFTER A BACKFIRE THROUGH THE CARBURETOR. HE IMMEDIATELY OBSERVED BLACK SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS INITIATED WHEN THE PLASTIC INLINE FUEL FILTER FAILED, DUE TO ETHANOL DISSOLVING THE FUEL IN THE FLOAT BOWLS. THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT PRIOR TO THE F
Mileage: 500,000
Compare 1979CHEVROLETG20 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 1979 CHEVROLET G20 have?▼
The 1979 CHEVROLET G20 has 1 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1979 CHEVROLET G20?▼
The most-complained component for the 1979 CHEVROLET G20 is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include various components.
Is the 1979 CHEVROLET G20 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.