Total Complaints
8 filings
CHEVROLET K1500 · model year
1990 CHEVROLET K1500
8 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990CHEVROLETK1500 carries 8 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 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 K1500 is service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components with 2 filings, followed by wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs (2) and seats (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 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.
8
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
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 |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2 |
| WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS | 2 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20020514WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS STRANGE HANDLING, HE PULLED OVER AND AND DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING SO HE CONTINUED BACK ONTO THE HIGHWAY, THE REAR WHEEL CAME OFF BEFORE GETTING UP TO SPEED, THE BRAKE DRUM FOLLOWED SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR FENDER, LUG NUT STUDS, AND THE ALUMINUM WHEEL, CONSUMER REASSEMBLED THE LEFT REAR BRAKES AND WAS ABLE TO REINSTALL THE WHEEL. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *SLC
20011030WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS STRANGE HANDLING, HE PULLED OVER AND AND DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING SO HE CONTINUED BACK ONTO THE HIGHWAY, THE REAR WHEEL CAME OFF BEFORE GETTING UP TO SPEED, THE BRAKE DRUM FOLLOWED SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR FENDER, LUG NUT STUDS, AND THE ALUMINUM WHEEL, CONSUMER REASSEMBLED THE LEFT REAR BRAKES AND WAS ABLE TO REINSTALL THE WHEEL. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *SLC
20000418STEERING
I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLOMN WAS WOBBLEING FROM BELOW THE ADJUSTMENT FOR THE TILT WHEEL. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OVER THE NEXT MONTH THE STEERING WHEEL WOBBLED NOTICEABLY MORE. THE VEHICLE WAS BECOMING DIFFICULT TO STEER AND CONTROL THROUGH TRAFFIC AND ON THE HIGHWAY AS THE STEERING COLOMN WOBBLE INCREASED. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO BEACH CITY CHEVROLET FOR REPAIRS. I WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR ADVISOR THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET TRUCKS. I FEEL THIS IS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION IF I HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BY LOSING CONTROL THE MY VEHICLE. *AK
19991129SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL GOES DOWN EXCESSIVELY BEFORE THE BRAKES KICK IN, ESPECIALLY WHEN TOWING SOMETHING. OWNER HAS TO ALMOST STAND ON BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. OWNER HAS REPLACED MOST OF BRAKE ASSEMBLY. *AK
19990217SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE TAKES A LONG TIME TO STOP, EVEN IF THE PEDAL IS PUSHED HARD AS POSSIBLE. DEALER SAYS IT'S NORMAL. *AK
19981014FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FIRE.(OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT).
19970424SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
FRONT BRAKES FAILED.
19960923SEATS
RIGHT SIDE SEAT TRACK BROKE.
Compare 1990CHEVROLETK1500 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 K1500 have?▼
The 1990 CHEVROLET K1500 has 8 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 CHEVROLET K1500?▼
The most-complained component for the 1990 CHEVROLET K1500 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS and SEATS.
Is the 1990 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.