Total Complaints
5 filings
CHEVROLET K20 · model year
1997 CHEVROLET K20
5 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997CHEVROLETK20 carries 5 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 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 1997 K20 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 2 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor (1) and fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly (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 1997 K20, 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.
5
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 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 | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20021119ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
CAR STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES AT ANY SPEED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND REPLACE PARTS AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.. TS
20020702FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND MECHANIC STATED WIRE HARNESS IN FUEL TANK BEGAN TO MELT, RESULTING BURNT CONNECTOR AND MELTED A MELTED WIRE.*AK. *MJ
19990405CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
EA94038, ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE; WHEN APPLYING BRAKES ON ANY TYPE OF ROAD SURFACE, DURING NORMAL BRAKING, THERE IS A VIBRATION IN THE PEDAL, THE TRUCK SHAKES AND MORE BRAKING DISTANCE IS REQUIRED. THIS CONDITION HAS CAUSED TWO REAR END CRASHES. ALSO, ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITHIN A 8- MONTH PERIOD. THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES CONTINUES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
19990405CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
EA94038, ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE; WHEN APPLYING BRAKES ON ANY TYPE OF ROAD SURFACE, DURING NORMAL BRAKING, THERE IS A VIBRATION IN THE PEDAL, THE TRUCK SHAKES AND MORE BRAKING DISTANCE IS REQUIRED. THIS CONDITION HAS CAUSED TWO REAR END CRASHES. ALSO, ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITHIN A 8- MONTH PERIOD. THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES CONTINUES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
19980310SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN COMING TO AN INTERSECTION AND PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE TRUCK JUST KEEPS GOING, NO MATTER HOW HARD DRIVER PUSHES DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. *AK
Compare 1997CHEVROLETK20 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 1997 CHEVROLET K20 have?▼
The 1997 CHEVROLET K20 has 5 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 CHEVROLET K20?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 CHEVROLET K20 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1997 CHEVROLET K20 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.