Total Complaints
6 filings
CHEVROLET G20 · model year
1985 CHEVROLET G20
6 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1985CHEVROLETG20 carries 6 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 2 fires, 5 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 1985 G20 is fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly with 1 filings, followed by latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch (1) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (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 1985 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.
6
Complaints
2
Crashes
2
Fires
5
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 |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20090928CrashTIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 CHEVROLET G20, WITH COOPER WEATHER- MASTER ST STEEL P225/75/R15 TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH THE DRIVER-SIDE FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. HE REPLACED THE FAILED TIRE WITH THE SPARE TIRE; HOWEVER, 15 MILES LATER, THE DRIVER-SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER AND CRASH. THE POLICE AND EMS WERE NOTIFIED. HE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND EXTENSIVE BRUISING ON HIS ENTIRE BODY. A POLICE OFFICER CONCLUDED THAT BECAUSE THE SIDE-WALLS WERE SPLIT, THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000.
Mileage: 140,000
20000205SUSPENSION:FRONT
VAN PULLS TO THE LEFT WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN PUTTING ON THE BRAKES. *AK
19970918SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THE FRONT BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP. HAD BRAKES REPAIRED DUE TO STRESS ON THE FRONT BRAKES FROM THE BACK BRAKES NOT SELF ADJUSTING. THEY SUPPOSE TO BE SELF ADJUSTING. *AK
19970828FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
19960111LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
CAN NOT GET OUT OF VEHICLE WHEN LOCKED UNLESS YOU ROLL DOWN WINDOW AND OPEN DOOR FROM OUTSIDE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
19950202CrashFireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
VAN WAS REAR ENDED AND DAMAGE GAS TANK, VAN BURNED. TT
Compare 1985CHEVROLETG20 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 1985 CHEVROLET G20 have?▼
The 1985 CHEVROLET G20 has 6 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 2 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1985 CHEVROLET G20?▼
The most-complained component for the 1985 CHEVROLET G20 is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1985 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.