Total Complaints
8 filings
CHEVROLET K25 · model year
1988 CHEVROLET K25
8 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988CHEVROLETK25 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 1988 K25 is exterior lighting:tail lights with 1 filings, followed by seat belts:front:anchorage (1) and electrical system:wiring:front underhood (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 1988 K25, 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 |
|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| PARKING BRAKE | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20010830POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AFTER LOOKING AT: HTTP://THECOMPLAINTSTATION.COM/G/GM_TOC.HTM#000001E3 , IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE DEFECTIVE GM TRANSMISSION HAS STRANDED MANY OTHERS BESIDES MYSELF. SO FAR THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY INJURY OR DEATHS REPORTED HERE BUT I SEE HOW ONE COULD BE STRANDED IN AN SUV IN A VERY BAD SITUATION! IN MY CASE THE DEALER FOUND THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE TRANS BEFORE I GOT BROKE DOWN ON THE BEACH SOMEWHERE WITH AN INCOMMING TIDE! GM SEEMS TO THINK THAT IT IS REASONABLE TO REPLACE THIS TRANSMISSION 4 TIMES ON MY TRUCK BUT, LIKE THE OTHERS ON THE WEBSITE I THINK THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE AND IF NOTHING ELSE PROVIDE AN EXTENDED WARANTEE ON TRANSMISSIONS TO THOSE OF US DUM ENOUGH TO KEEP BUYING THEIR PRODUCTS. ALL OF THESE FOLKS ON THE WEBSITE CAN'T BE WRONG. GM HAS A PROBLEM AND IT WILL RESULT IN AN INJURY OR DEATH BEFORE THEY WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND DO THE RIGHT THING! I AM STILL LOOKING FOR THE CLASS ACTION SUIT TO HAPPEN. I WILL BE ENVOLVED IN THAT ACTION. IF YOU HAVE ANY MORE INFORMA
20000824PARKING BRAKE
CASING PEELED FROM TIRE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED. CASING BECAME ENTAGLED AROUND REAR AXLE, HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES, AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE. PRESSURE ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE CAUSED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BE ACTIVATED. ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT WITH FOUR OTHER MOTOR VEHICLES ON INTERSTATE 5. TIME OF OCCURENCE WAS 6 A. M. TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED THE EVENING BEFORE FOR PROPER INFLATION AS PART OF TRIP PREPARATION. TRIP WAS PLANNED FOR 700 MILES. TIRE FAILED AT 60 MILES INTO THE TRIP. CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL STOPPED TO LEND ASSISTANCE, BUT A REPORT WAS NOT FILED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
20000824TIRES
CASING PEELED FROM TIRE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED. CASING BECAME ENTAGLED AROUND REAR AXLE, HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES, AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE. PRESSURE ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE CAUSED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BE ACTIVATED. ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT WITH FOUR OTHER MOTOR VEHICLES ON INTERSTATE 5. TIME OF OCCURENCE WAS 6 A. M. TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED THE EVENING BEFORE FOR PROPER INFLATION AS PART OF TRIP PREPARATION. TRIP WAS PLANNED FOR 700 MILES. TIRE FAILED AT 60 MILES INTO THE TRIP. CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL STOPPED TO LEND ASSISTANCE, BUT A REPORT WAS NOT FILED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
19951130SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
PASSENGER SEATBELT IS STUCK IN THE RETRACTOR. TT
19950907EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
DESIGN DEFECT IN PLATE PORTION OF TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY; BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK WHEN RUNNING LIGHTS ARE ON. TT
19950308FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE HAD BEEN ON ROAD 15 MINUTES GOING ABOUT 50MPH HEARD NOISE AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE. TT
19950222SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RESTRAIN . PLEASE DESCRIBE INCIDENT. TT
19950106EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
REAR BRAKE LAMP/SIGNAL DOESN'T ILLUMINATE DUE TO PLATE MELTING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Compare 1988CHEVROLETK25 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 K25 have?▼
The 1988 CHEVROLET K25 has 8 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 CHEVROLET K25?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 CHEVROLET K25 is EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD.
Is the 1988 CHEVROLET K25 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.