Total Complaints
11 filings
CHEVROLET G20 · model year
1988 CHEVROLET G20
11 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988CHEVROLETG20 carries 11 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 4 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 G20 is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 4 filings, followed by seat belts:front:buckle assembly (1) and power train:automatic transmission (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 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.
11
Complaints
0
Crashes
4
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 |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 4 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20031003SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN THE CONSUMER SHIFTED THE GEAR TO REVERSE AND ACCELERATED AT A LOW SPEED THE FRONT BRAKE PIN SNAPPED. THE CONSUMER LOST STEERING CONTROL BUT MANAGED TO PULL OVER. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
Mileage: 150,000
20001219FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS
19990121FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT).
19981116SUSPENSION:FRONT
WHEN DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE PULLS TO EITHER SIDE FROM SIDE TO SIDE, DRIVER HAS TO SLOW DOWN IN ORDER TO DRIV. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FIVE TIMES. *AK.
19980323ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.(OHIO TRAFFIC REPORT)
19970830FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
SMOKED NOTICED COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE THEN FLAME CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. FIRE TOTALLY DESTROYED THE VEHICLE.
19970814ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
DESIGN OF FUSE BOX ALLOWS WATER TO ENTER, SHORTING OUT WIRES, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL.
19961115VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FAILURE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL, WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE AT A HIGH SPEED. *AK CONSUMER STATES AS HE WAS DRIVIING IT STARTED TO RAIN AND HE MUST HAVE HIT THE CRUISE CONTROL BY MISTAKE WHEN GOING TO TURN ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, THE ACCELERATOR WENT TO THE FLOOR THE VAN STARTED TO SPEED UP AND CONSUMER TRIED TO APPLY THE RAKES, BUT THE VANSKIDDED BACK AND FOURTH, CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, CONSUMER TRIED IT AGAIN AND IT DID THE SAME THING, CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND EXPLAINED SITUATION BUT WAS TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS.*JB
19960416SEATS
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BOLT THAT HOLD THE SEAT BROKE. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
19950807FirePOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM REAR OF THE VAN, DUE TO TRANMISSION FLUID LEAKAGE, RESULTING IN FIRE. TT
19950610SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DON'T LOCK. TT
Compare 1988CHEVROLETG20 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 G20 have?▼
The 1988 CHEVROLET G20 has 11 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 4 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 CHEVROLET G20?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 CHEVROLET G20 is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1988 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.