Total Complaints
12 filings
CHEVROLET K1500 · model year
1989 CHEVROLET K1500
12 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1989CHEVROLETK1500 carries 12 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 1989 K1500 is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 2 filings, followed by structure:body (2) and equipment:mechanical:accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift (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 1989 K1500, 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.
12
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:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20070730TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 CHEVROLET K1500. THE VEHICLE HAS A SET OF FTS YKS LT, SIZE 265/75/R16 TIRES (NA). THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED ON JUNE 4, 2007. ON JULY 30, 2007, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE TIRES. WHEN THE TIRES HAD APPROXIMATELY 1,500 MILES, HE NOTICED THAT THEY SEEMED UNBALANCED. HE STATED THAT HE WILL HAVE THE TIRES INSPECTED BY A LOCAL DEALER. THE TIRES ARE STILL ON THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 190,245. UPDATED 02/01/08. *LJ
Mileage: 190,245
20040123STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
THE PAINT IS FLAKING OFF OF MY TRUCK AT A VERY FAST RATE MOSTLY ON THE HOOD AND ROOF. I HAVE KNOWN THAT THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT FOR NUMEROUS YEARS AND IS A PROBLEM FOR MOST OF THESE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. BUT THE FACTORY HAS STILL NOT MADE THIS A RECALL ITEM, AND REFUSE TO ADMIT THEIR MISTAKE. WHY? *LA
Mileage: 112,000
20040123STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
THE PAINT IS FLAKING OFF OF MY TRUCK AT A VERY FAST RATE MOSTLY ON THE HOOD AND ROOF. I HAVE KNOWN THAT THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT FOR NUMEROUS YEARS AND IS A PROBLEM FOR MOST OF THESE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. BUT THE FACTORY HAS STILL NOT MADE THIS A RECALL ITEM, AND REFUSE TO ADMIT THEIR MISTAKE. WHY? *LA
Mileage: 112,000
20040123STRUCTURE:BODY
THE CHROME IS FLAKING OFF OF MY GRILLE AND IS THE ORIGINAL GRILLE I HAVE NOTICED THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR MOST TRUCKS MANUFACTURED DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. *LA
Mileage: 112,000
19990531UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE PAINT IS JUST PEELING AWAY THOUGHT THERE WAS A CALL BACK BUT THAT WAS FORD CALL GM SAID THEY HAD A GOOD WILL PROGRAM.BUT I CALL TOO LATE I'VE TALK TO A LOT OF FORD AND CHEVROLET TRUCK OWNERS NO LUCK, BUT SOME OR THE FORD PEOPLE GOT THERE TRUCK PAINTED VERY DISAPOINTIED DAVID I BELL. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
19981020POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED, REPLACEMENT FAILED ALSO.
19980903SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
THE PEDAL THAT CONNECTS TO BRAKE ROD WAS BENT, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES, AND ALMOST RESULTING IN A REAREND COLLISION. *AK
19980813STRUCTURE:BODY
PAINT PEELING FROM VEHICLE.
19970304SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
MIDDLE SEAT BELT LATCH FAILURE. *AK
19970211SEAT BELTS
MIDDLE SEATBELT LATCH MALFUNCTION.
19961210SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT CONNECTOR FAILED; ALSO, LEVER USED TO OPERATE JACK IS OF POOR QUALITY. *AK
19961210EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
SEAT BELT CONNECTOR FAILED; ALSO, LEVER USED TO OPERATE JACK IS OF POOR QUALITY. *AK
Compare 1989CHEVROLETK1500 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 1989 CHEVROLET K1500 have?▼
The 1989 CHEVROLET K1500 has 12 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 CHEVROLET K1500?▼
The most-complained component for the 1989 CHEVROLET K1500 is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE:BODY and EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT.
Is the 1989 CHEVROLET K1500 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.