Total Complaints
11 filings
CHEVROLET K15 · model year
1988 CHEVROLET K15
11 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988CHEVROLETK15 carries 11 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 3 fires, 1 injury, 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 K15 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 3 filings, followed by suspension:front:control arm (2) and power train:automatic transmission (2). 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 K15, 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
1
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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 | 3 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 1 |
Recent Complaints
19961021SUSPENSION:REAR
GEARS UNDERNEATH THE SPIDER IN THE REAR END BROKE. CAUSING STRUCTURE TO WEAKEN. *AK
19960911FirePOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SMOKE STARTED COMING AROUND TAIL LIGHTS AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE DIP STICK IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.*AK
19960228SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
APPLIED PRESSURE TO BRAKES IT TAKES AN ADDITIONAL TEN TO TWENTY FEET TO STOP THE VEHICLE NO RESPONSE FROM ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. *AK
19960228SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
APPLIED PRESSURE TO BRAKES IT TAKES AN ADDITIONAL TEN TO TWENTY FEET TO STOP THE VEHICLE NO RESPONSE FROM ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. *AK
19960213CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKES SHUT OFF PRESSURE FROM HYDRAULIC FLUID DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. NO RESPONSE FROM ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. TT
19951218FirePOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FLUID OVERHEATS AND IS FORCED OUT OF VENT TUBE AND CAUGHT FIRE. TT
19951005SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
RECEIVED LETTER STATING MFG., REPLACE BALL JOINTS W/GREASABLE DESIGN. THE DEALER REFUSE TO SERVICE DUE TO MILEAGE. HE IS HAVING EXCESSIVE WEAR. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT VEHICLE IS PAST 5 YEARS OF AGE, BUT HAVE NOT REACHED 100,00 BALL JOINTS ARE BAD CAUSING TIRES TOO FAIL AND UNABLE TO ALIGN FRONT END.*JB
19950630ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THERE IS A CRACK IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. *AK
19950327SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
BALL JOINTS ON FRONT SUSPENSION CAUSES PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. TT
19950224SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER IS NO GOOD, HAVE TO PUT PEDAL TO FLOOR TO STOP. TT
19950222FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TRUCK EXPERIENCES HIGH IDLING THAT TAKES OVER WHILE DRIVEN. TRUCK STALLED REPEATEDLY THEN FIRE STARTED ON TOP OF ENGINE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Compare 1988CHEVROLETK15 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 K15 have?▼
The 1988 CHEVROLET K15 has 11 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 3 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 CHEVROLET K15?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 CHEVROLET K15 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1988 CHEVROLET K15 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.