RecallMyCar

1988 Chevrolet C10 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

5 safety recalls list the 1988 Chevrolet C10, and owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

5
safety recalls
7
owner complaints to NHTSA
0 / 1
complaints citing a crash / fire
14–19
MPG combined (EPA)

5 safety recalls for the 1988 Chevrolet C10

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Automatic transmission (power train)

    NHTSA 93V016000 Reported 1,702,880 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Unanticipated heat in the transmission can force the transmission fluid out of the vent tube.

    Remedy: Install a longer transmission vent hose routed to the left side of the engine compartment of the vehicle.

  2. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

    NHTSA 87V136000 Reported 63,196 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Right and left hand brake hose may contact the wheel or tire in a full turn.

    Remedy: Install new repositioning brackets for the front brake hoses.

  3. Linkages (vehicle speed control)

    NHTSA 87V125000 Reported 8,893 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Cruise control cable lock mechanism may self disengage causing erratic operation or throttle not returning to idle.

    Remedy: Install a clamp around the lock tab of cruise control.

  4. Tie rod assembly (steering)

    NHTSA 87V126000 Reported 2,750 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    One or both of outer tie rod nuts may be loose and not crimped.

    Remedy: Replace tie rod and knuckle and set toe-in.

  5. Latch (latches/locks/linkages)

    NHTSA 87V127000 Reported 1,521 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Trucks may have cracked or broken door striker nuts, which do not conform to FMVSS 206.

    Remedy: Replace existing door striker nuts.

7 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1988 Chevrolet C10 have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a fire. Complaints peaked in 1997 with 2 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Heater line fitting corroded, snapped of at base. Leaked coolant. Contacted local dealer who said it was a common failure part. Old fitting was aluminum and appeared to be a bad casting”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 9, 2000 · Engine and engine cooling

“Vehicle experienced engine fire. (ohio traffic crash report). *mjs”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 8, 2000 · Engine and engine cooling

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1988 Chevrolet C10 Pickup (C10 Pickup 2WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined14–19 mpg
City / Highway12–18 / 15–23
FuelDiesel, Regular
EPA classStandard Pickup Trucks
Engine6/8 cyl, 4.3/5/5.7/6.2 L
TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd; Automatic 4-spd; Manual 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Chevrolet C10 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Chevrolet C10 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1961 Chevrolet C1001
1967 Chevrolet C1010
1968 Chevrolet C1001
1970 Chevrolet C1010
1971 Chevrolet C1010
1973 Chevrolet C1010
1974 Chevrolet C1020
1976 Chevrolet C1013
1977 Chevrolet C1024
1978 Chevrolet C1001
1979 Chevrolet C1004
1980 Chevrolet C1001
1981 Chevrolet C1024
1982 Chevrolet C1024
1983 Chevrolet C1003
1984 Chevrolet C1003
1985 Chevrolet C1017
1986 Chevrolet C1017
1987 Chevrolet C1001
1988 Chevrolet C1057
1989 Chevrolet C1025
1990 Chevrolet C1023
1991 Chevrolet C1013
1992 Chevrolet C1039
1993 Chevrolet C1039
1994 Chevrolet C10920
1995 Chevrolet C10740
1996 Chevrolet C10616
1997 Chevrolet C1037
1998 Chevrolet C1021
1999 Chevrolet C1013
2000 Chevrolet C1011
2001 Chevrolet C1010

Checking a specific 1988 Chevrolet C10

How do I know if my 1988 Chevrolet C10 has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 5 campaigns currently list the 1988 Chevrolet C10; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Chevrolet dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 87V125000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Chevrolet models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.