Total Complaints
5 filings
CHEVROLET G20 · model year
1986 CHEVROLET G20
5 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1986CHEVROLETG20 carries 5 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 1986 G20 is seat belts:front:anchorage with 1 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:pads (1) and steering:gear box (other than rack and pinion) (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 1986 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.
5
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 |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | 1 |
| STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20071022POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
I HAD ZANESVILLE JOINT AND CLUTCH MAKE ME A NEW DRIVESHAFT FOR MY 1986 CHEVY G-20 VAN, BECAUSE MY OLD DRIVESHAFT WAS CREATING A VIBRATION. THIS NEW ONE PIECE DRIVESHAFT WAS APROX. 65.5" IN LENGTH FROM CENTER TO CENTER OF U-JOINT, USING 2.75" O.D. BY .065" WALL THICKNESS SEAMED TUBING. I INSTALLED THE NEW DRIVESHAFT THEN WENT FOR A DRIVE TO CHECK FOR ANY VIBRATIONS. THE ORIGINAL VIBRATIONS OCCURRED AT 55MPH WITH THE OLD DRIVESHAFT, AS I HAD EXPLAINED ALL OF THIS TO ZANESVILLE JOINT AND CLUTCH PRIOR TO THEM MAKING ME A NEW DRIVESHAFT. SO I GOT ON THE HIGHWAY TO TEST FOR VIBRATIONS AT 55MPH WITH THE NEW DRIVESHAFT. TO MY SURPRISE I NOTICED A VIOLENT VIBRATION FOLLOWED BY A CONSTANT BANGING, AS I THEN TRIED TO GUIDE THE VEHICLE TO THE BURM OF THE HIGHWAY. I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO FIND OUT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. TO MY SURPRISE THERE WAS ONLY HALF OF THE NEW DRIVESHAFT STILL ATTACHED TO MY VEHICLE. AS I LOOKED DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN TOTAL DISBELIEF I SAW THE OTHER HALF OF MY DRIVESHAFT.
19980820SEATS
WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER'S AND ALL PASSENGERS' SEATS UNEXPECTEDLY RELEASE TO THE RECLNING POSITION. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLESASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
19971003SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
BRAKE PADS FAILED.
19971003STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
STEERING BOX FAILED.
19960314SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELTS ON CONVERSION VAN ARE TOO SHORT, SEAT BELT WILL NOT HOLD CHILD SEAT, SEAT BELTS WERE PUT IN BY U.S. CONVERSION, DEALER SAID SEAT BELT ARE WRONG SIZE
Compare 1986CHEVROLETG20 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 1986 CHEVROLET G20 have?▼
The 1986 CHEVROLET G20 has 5 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 CHEVROLET G20?▼
The most-complained component for the 1986 CHEVROLET G20 is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS and STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION).
Is the 1986 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.