Total Complaints
9 filings
CHEVROLET K15 · model year
1990 CHEVROLET K15
9 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990CHEVROLETK15 carries 9 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 1990 K15 is power train:clutch assembly with 2 filings, followed by power train:manual transmission (1) and parking brake:conventional:mechanical:linkage and cable (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 1990 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.
9
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 |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT | 1 |
Recent Complaints
19991227POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
THE REAR U-JOINT & CONNECTED DRIVESHAFT SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, GMC DEALER REMOVED THE DRIVESHAFT COMPLETELY/ REPLACED THE FRONT U-JOINT, AND REINSTALLED THE DRIVESHAFT. DEALER WILL NOT INSPECT VEHICLE. *AK *YC
19991227POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
THE REAR U-JOINT & CONNECTED DRIVESHAFT SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, GMC DEALER REMOVED THE DRIVESHAFT COMPLETELY/ REPLACED THE FRONT U-JOINT, AND REINSTALLED THE DRIVESHAFT. DEALER WILL NOT INSPECT VEHICLE. *AK *YC
19971028SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. HAD TO STEP ON THE BRAKES, APPLYING BOTH FEET, TO STOP. EVEN AFTER THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED, THE BRAKING PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN IMPROVED. *AK
19960419SUSPENSION:REAR
WHILE STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN THE REAR END COLLAPSED AND CAUSED ENTIRE THE DIFFERENTIAL TO DROP *AK
19950421PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
AT A SPEED OF 30 MPH THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE WRAPPED AROUND THE REAR HOUSING, CAUSING BRAKE LOCKUP (ABS). TT
19950421POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL
REPLACED REAR AXLE SEALS. *AK
19950316POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
MANUAL HAS FAILED TWICE, SHIFTING MECHANISM AND CLUTCH HAVE FAILED. TT
19950316POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
MANUAL HAS FAILED TWICE, SHIFTING MECHANISM AND CLUTCH HAVE FAILED. TT
19950113POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH FAILED TEN TIMES, RESULTING IN NO CLUTCH OPERATION WHILE DRIVING, REPLACE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY SEVEN TIMES. TT
Compare 1990CHEVROLETK15 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 1990 CHEVROLET K15 have?▼
The 1990 CHEVROLET K15 has 9 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 CHEVROLET K15?▼
The most-complained component for the 1990 CHEVROLET K15 is POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION and PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE.
Is the 1990 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.