RecallMyCar

1988 Chevrolet C20 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

5 safety recalls list the 1988 Chevrolet C20, and owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

5
safety recalls
3
owner complaints to NHTSA
1 / 0
complaints citing a crash / fire
13–19
MPG combined (EPA)

5 safety recalls for the 1988 Chevrolet C20

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.

3 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1988 Chevrolet C20 have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. Complaints peaked in 1995 with 3 filed that year.

Most-reported components

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1988 Chevrolet C20 Pickup (C20 Pickup 2WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined13–19 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 C20 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Chevrolet C20 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1967 Chevrolet C2010
1970 Chevrolet C2011
1971 Chevrolet C2031
1972 Chevrolet C2001
1974 Chevrolet C2021
1975 Chevrolet C2010
1976 Chevrolet C2020
1977 Chevrolet C2010
1978 Chevrolet C2001
1979 Chevrolet C2030
1980 Chevrolet C2011
1981 Chevrolet C2011
1982 Chevrolet C2011
1983 Chevrolet C2001
1984 Chevrolet C2004
1985 Chevrolet C2002
1987 Chevrolet C2003
1988 Chevrolet C2053
1989 Chevrolet C2021
1990 Chevrolet C2035
1991 Chevrolet C2016
1992 Chevrolet C2032
1993 Chevrolet C20316
1994 Chevrolet C20812
1995 Chevrolet C20614
1996 Chevrolet C2040
1997 Chevrolet C2022
1998 Chevrolet C2010
2000 Chevrolet C2010
2001 Chevrolet C2010

Checking a specific 1988 Chevrolet C20

How do I know if my 1988 Chevrolet C20 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 C20; 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.