Model year record

1988 Chevrolet K20

6 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 1 owner complaint on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 93V119000

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor

Component: Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor
Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected: 341,364
Reported to NHTSA: 1993-08-02
Owners notified: 1993-11-08

Defect description

SEVERE CORROSION DUE TO ROAD SALT AT THE JOINT OF THE STAMPED STEEL CENTER SECTION AND THE CAST OUTER SECTION CAN CAUSE THE SECTIONS TO SEPARATE.

Safety risk

SEPARATION OF THE ROTOR SECTIONS CAN CAUSE LOSS OFBRAKING ABILITY IN THE AFFECTED WHEEL. THIS COULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPINGDISTANCE AND/OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

Manufacturer remedy

REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH NEW ROTORS WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION COATING. HOWEVER, IF REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE LININGS ARE NECESSARY, IT WILL BE DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE SINCE BRAKE LININGS ARE NORMAL MAINTENANCE ITEMS.

Recall campaignNHTSA 93V016000

Power train: automatic transmission

Component: Power train: automatic transmission
Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected: 1,702,880
Reported to NHTSA: 1993-02-01
Owners notified: 1993-03-13

Defect description

UNANTICIPATED HEAT IN THE TRANSMISSION CAN FORCE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT OF THE VENT TUBE.

Safety risk

THE VENTED TRANSMISSION FLUID CAN CATCH FIRE IF EXPOSEDTO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.

Manufacturer remedy

INSTALL A LONGER TRANSMISSION VENT HOSE ROUTED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE.

Recall campaignNHTSA 87V128000

Suspension: front: shock absorber

Component: Suspension: front: shock absorber
Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected: 312
Reported to NHTSA: 1987-08-10
Owners notified: 1987-08-31

Defect description

INCORRECT FRONT SHOCK ABSORBER UPPER AND LOWER NUTS COULD LOOSEN.

Safety risk

SHOCK ABSORBER COULD DETACH AND COME IN CONTACT WITHFRONT BRAKE HOSE; THIS CONTACT COULD RESULT IN A LEAK IN THE HOSE AND LOSS OFFRONT BRAKES.

Manufacturer remedy

REPLACE FREE SPINNING NUTS WITH TORQUE NUTS.

Recall campaignNHTSA 87V127000

Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch

Component: Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch
Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected: 1,521
Reported to NHTSA: 1987-08-10
Owners notified: 1987-08-31

Defect description

TRUCKS MAY HAVE CRACKED OR BROKEN DOOR STRIKER NUTS, WHICH DO NOT CONFORM TO FMVSS 206.

Safety risk

IN A COLLISION, CRACKED OR BROKEN STRIKER NUT COULDALLOW DOOR TO OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY AND POSSIBLY CAUSE INJURY TO OCCUPANTS.

Manufacturer remedy

REPLACE EXISTING DOOR STRIKER NUTS.

Recall campaignNHTSA 87V125000

Vehicle speed control: linkages

Component: Vehicle speed control: linkages
Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected: 8,893
Reported to NHTSA: 1987-08-10
Owners notified: 1987-08-31

Defect description

CRUISE CONTROL CABLE LOCK MECHANISM MAY SELF DISENGAGE CAUSING ERRATIC OPERATION OR THROTTLE NOT RETURNING TO IDLE.

Safety risk

ENGINE SPEED WOULD NOT DECREASE; LOSS OF ACCELERATORCONTROL COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

INSTALL A CLAMP AROUND THE LOCK TAB OF CRUISE CONTROL.

Recall campaignNHTSA 87V126000

Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly

Component: Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly
Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected: 2,750
Reported to NHTSA: 1987-08-10
Owners notified: 1987-08-31

Defect description

ONE OR BOTH OF OUTER TIE ROD NUTS MAY BE LOOSE AND NOT CRIMPED.

Safety risk

LOSS OF ONE OR BOTH NUTS COULD LEAD TO TIE RODDISENGAGING FROM STEERING KNUCKLE RESULTING IN POSSIBLE LOSS OF STEERINGCONTROL AND POSSIBLY A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

REPLACE TIE ROD AND KNUCKLE AND SET TOE-IN.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Unknown or other	1	—

The 1987 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.