Car Problem DataNHTSA records

1991 Chevrolet K20

Routine

Owners filed 3 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train › automatic transmission. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Column Shift1
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission1
000
Electrical System › Starter Assembly1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor93V119000
Filed Aug 2, 1993341,364 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. 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.

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.

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.

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
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Column Shift
Filed Oct 12, 1995OR

WHILE IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, VEHICLE JUMPS, BUMPS, AND GRINDS, FACTORY MADE A MISTAKE AND PUT TWO DIFFERENT GEARS IN TRUCK, HOWEVER CONSUMER WILL BE CHARGED FOR REPAIRS. *SLC

Electrical System › Starter Assembly
Filed Sep 6, 1995IN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, STARTER ON VEHICLE HAS FAILED, UNABLE TO START VEHICLE. TT

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 2, 1995CT

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, REPLACED THREE TIMES. TT

3 of 3 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1993
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
19981000Routine
19974000Routine
19962300Routine
19952300Routine
19943600Routine
19935200Routine
19920300Routine
1991 — this page3200Routine
19900400Routine

Compare every K20 year →

Other Chevrolet models

All Chevrolet models →
Malibu 19,321Silverado 1500 17,919Impala 10,410Tahoe 10,004Equinox 9,119Silverado 8,748Suburban 8,007Blazer 8,000Cobalt 7,681Trailblazer 7,137

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: Aug 2, 1993. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.