Car Problem DataNHTSA records

1992 Chevrolet C20

Routine

Owners filed 2 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the equipment › mechanical › carrier/rack. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Tires › Sidewall1
000
Equipment › Mechanical › Carrier/Rack1
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Seats99V130000
Filed May 20, 199959,381 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: EXTENDED-CAB PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH HIGH-BACK BUCKET SEATS. THE SEAT RECLINER TO FRAME ATTACHING BOLTS CAN LOOSEN, FATIGUE, AND FRACTURE ALLOWING THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE.

Risk. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, THIS COULD RESULT IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REMOVE ALL FOAM AND/OR FABRIC SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE RECLINER ASSEMBLY AND THE SEAT FRAME, INSTALL WASHERS BETWEEN THE SEAT RECLINER AND THE SEAT FRAME AT EACH ATTACHMENT POINT, AND INSTALL NEW ATTACHING BOLTS TORQUED TO A HIGHER SPECIFICATION.

Fuel System, Other › Storage › Tank Assembly94V044001
Filed Apr 5, 19942,595 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. VEHICLES ALTERED BY PAS, INC. HAVE COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS FUEL TANKS THAT CAN DEVELOP STRESS CORROSION, WHICH CRACK THE E-GLASS WRAPPING. THIS STRESS CORROSION CRACKING CAN LEAD TO TANK RUPTURES.

Risk. IF THE TANK RUPTURES, PERSONAL INJURY TO INDIVIDUALS IN OR NEAR THE VEHICLE MAY OCCUR.

Remedy. GM IS OFFERING TO EXCHANGE THESE VEHICLES WITH A COMPARABLY EQUIPPED 1994 GASOLINE 1/2 OR 3/4 TON GM PICKUP. IF THE OWNER CHOOSES NOT TO EXCHANGE THE NATURAL GAS VEHICLE, GM WILL REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission93V016000
Filed Feb 1, 19931,702,880 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

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

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

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

What owners reported

Newest filings
Tires › Sidewall
Filed Oct 26, 2000MD

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50-55 MPH SIDEWALL ON REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE BLEWOUT COMPLETELY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE. TIRE SIZE P235/170R15. REPLACEMENT TIRE EQUIPMENT ON A 1992, CHEVROLET, VAN. NOT SURE OF TIRE MILEAGE. DOT # 30MIB34358.*AK

Equipment › Mechanical › Carrier/Rack
Filed Jan 18, 1995TX

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH HAS A CARGO CARRIER IT CAME APART FROM THE RACK. TT

2 of 2 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1993
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20010100Routine
20000100Routine
19980100Routine
19972200Routine
19960500Routine
199514700Routine
1994121000Routine
199316300Routine
1992 — this page2300Routine
19916110Routine
19905330Routine

Compare every C20 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: May 20, 1999. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.