RecallMyCar

1988 Chevrolet K20 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

6 safety recalls list the 1988 Chevrolet K20, and owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

6
safety recalls
1
owner complaint to NHTSA
12–17
MPG combined (EPA)

6 safety recalls for the 1988 Chevrolet K20

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

  1. Rotor (service brakes)

    NHTSA 93V119000 Reported 341,364 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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.

    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…

  2. 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.

  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.

  6. Shock absorber (suspension)

    NHTSA 87V128000 Reported 312 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Incorrect front shock absorber upper and lower nuts could loosen.

    Remedy: Replace free spinning nuts with torque nuts.

1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1988 Chevrolet K20 have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 1 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“I feel the paint used on 1988 cheyenne pickup trucks was inferior. I have seen several trucks of the same make, model, year with the same problem.”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 15, 1999 · Unknown or other

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1988 Chevrolet K20 Pickup (K20 Pickup 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined12–17 mpg
City / Highway11–16 / 13–20
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 K20 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Chevrolet K20 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1967 Chevrolet K2010
1969 Chevrolet K2030
1970 Chevrolet K2010
1971 Chevrolet K2030
1972 Chevrolet K2010
1973 Chevrolet K2010
1974 Chevrolet K2011
1976 Chevrolet K2010
1977 Chevrolet K2010
1978 Chevrolet K2020
1979 Chevrolet K2020
1980 Chevrolet K2011
1982 Chevrolet K2011
1985 Chevrolet K2001
1987 Chevrolet K2002
1988 Chevrolet K2061
1989 Chevrolet K2030
1990 Chevrolet K2040
1991 Chevrolet K2023
1992 Chevrolet K2030
1993 Chevrolet K2025
1994 Chevrolet K2053
1995 Chevrolet K2022
1996 Chevrolet K2022
1997 Chevrolet K2004
1998 Chevrolet K2001

Checking a specific 1988 Chevrolet K20

How do I know if my 1988 Chevrolet K20 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. 6 campaigns currently list the 1988 Chevrolet K20; 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.