Chevrolet C/K SERIES problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
47 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 to 2003 model years. Data snapshot: . 33 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 47 complaints (12.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 19 | 40.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 6.4% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 4.3% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 4.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 6 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 6 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
Service Brakes: 6; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 6; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3; Electrical System: 2; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 5
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 14 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 1 |
1996: 1; 2001: 3; 2002: 2; 2003: 5; 2004: 8; 2005: 7; 2006: 3; 2007: 3; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 4; 2013: 3; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10139556 · 2005-10-13 (October 13, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HIS 1994 CHEVROLET CK 1500 HAD EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE CONSUMER WAS COMING INTO A PLACE WHERE THE TRAFFIC WAS MUCH SLOWER, THE CONSUMER HIT THE BRAKES TO DISENGAGE THEM ALONG WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE EXTREMELY FAST. THE VEHICLE FINALLY DISENGAGED. THE CRUISE CONTROL SPEED WAS 65-70 MPH, AND THE VEHICLE WENT TO 85 MPH IN A SPLIT SECOND. THIS ALL OCCURRED AS THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO TAP THE BRAKE TRYING TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. FINALLY, THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO T…
Owner-reported narrative. 56,692 miles reported. Look up ODI 10139556 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10191623 · 2007-05-24 (May 24, 2007)
96 SILVERADO 4X4 REAR BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH, REPAIRED. 6 MONTHS LATER FRONT CROSSOVER BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH, REPAIRED. PUT NEW BRAKES/ROTORS ON FRONT, NEW SHOES ON REAR W/NEW WHEEL CYLINDERS AND NEW REAR BRAKE HOSE, OLD HOSE BURST. BLED SYSTEM, BUT PEDAL STILL SPONGY. BRAKES NOT WORKING. TAKES FOREVER TO STOP THIS TRUCK, DANGEROUS. I AM A PROFESSIONAL DRIVER, AND THIS TRUCK IS THE WORST. THE OTHER BAD ONES WERE CHEVY LUMINAS, WHICH WERE SIMILAR WITH SPONGY PEDAL AND EXTENDED STOP DISTANCES. THE TRUCK HAS A DELAY BETWEEN PEDAL PUSH AN…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10191623 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086865 · 2004-08-14 (August 14, 2004)
I PURCHASED THIS 1995 CHEVROLET Z71 IN MARCH OF 1996 WITH 19,000 MILES ON IT, AS GOOD JUDGEMENT ON MY PART I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. APPROX 1 YEAR AND 57,000 MILES LATER THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GET REAR-ENDED. LUCKILY NO ONE GOT HURT. GM/CHEVROLET DEALER(ATZENHOFFER, VICTORIA TX.) WARRANTIED THE REPAIR OF THE TRANSMISSION. APPROX. JAN 2003 AT 175,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION GOES OUT AGAIN WITH ANOTHER NEAR MISS, THIS TIME SEVERAL OF THE TRANS PAN BOLTS BACKEDOUT AND CAUSED FLUID TO LEAK OUT AND STOP ALL FORWARD…
Owner-reported narrative. 174,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086865 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10505963 · 2013-04-11 (April 11, 2013)
INCIDENT #1 ABS BRAKES FAILED COMING TO A STOP FROM INTERSTATE OFF RAMP GOING DOWN A HILL. APPLIED BRAKES AND WHEN VEH SPEED GOT BELOW 10MPH BRAKE PEDAL PUSHED BACK AGAINST MY FOOT CAUSING VEHICLE TO COME TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF A FOUR LINE HIGHWAY. NOTE: NO TRAFFIC LIGHTS AT THIS INTERSECTION AND VEHICLE SPPEED LIMIT WAS 55 MPH FOR ON HIGHWAY USERS. THAT WAS SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THIS TRUCK. INCIDENT #2 TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT APPROX 80,000 MILES. GM DID COVER THE REPAIRS AFTER I PAID GOOD WILLED DEDUCTABLE ONLY SO THAT I…
Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10505963 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057054 · 2004-02-12 (February 12, 2004)
I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR TWO YEARS NOW AND LOVE THE POWER AND SMOOTH RIDE I GET FROM IT. THE TRUCK IS A 1996 CHEVY K2500 WITH A 6.5L DIESEL ENGINE. I HAVE PUT OVER $3,600 IN THIS VEHICLE IN THE LAST 18 MOS. THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN AND YOU CANNOT STOP OR STEER THE VEHICLE THEN. THE MECHANICS SAY THAT THIS HAPPENS IN A LOT OF VEHICLES WITHMOST OWNERS END UP SELLING IT. IF THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM THEN WHY DOESN'T CHEVROLET DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.THIS COULD BE A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE THIS TRUCK IS SO HARD TO HANDLE WHEN IT ST…
Owner-reported narrative. 136,090 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057054 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049573 · 2003-12-11 (December 11, 2003)
2003 CEHVROLET 3500 DURAMAX DIESEL, WHEN COMPUTER THINKS ENGINE WILL STALL IT IS PROGRAMED TO JUMP THE RPM'S 300 BY IT SELF, HAPPENED WITHIN 10 DAYS OF OWNERS HIP AND SEVERAL TIMES AFTER, DEALER HAD TRUCK 5 OUT OF THE FIRST 8 WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP CAN NOT FIX AS THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE AND IT DOES NOT SEND A FAULT CODE. I HAVE WOKRD MY WAY UP AT CHEV AND WAS TOLD TOUGH, IAND IF I HAD AN CCIDENT AND CAUSED INJURY TO SOME ONE THAT THEY HAVE LAWYERS ON STAFF FO THAT. THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP ADDMITTED TO ME HE WOULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE OR LET ANYO…
Owner-reported narrative. 350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049573 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10197675 · 2007-07-27 (July 27, 2007)
REPACKED THE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO A POPPING NOISE. THEN IT CAME BACK. SO THEY SAID THEY REPLACED IT. AND KNOW IT IS BACK AGAIN. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197675 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10515571 · 2013-06-06 (June 6, 2013)
LEAVING MY JOB TODAY , WAS BACKING OUT AND WENT TO STOP AND RIGHT REAR BRAKE LINE BLEW LEG GOT BEAT UP TRYING TO JAM ON PARKING BRAKE AND TWISTED LEFT LEG IN PANIC BRAKE LINE BLEW NEXT TO FUEL TANK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 174,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10515571 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 0 |
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 |
1993: 0; 1994: 0; 1995: 0; 1996: 0; 1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 0