Chevrolet C10 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
112 owner complaints analyzed
41 distinct recall campaigns
78,621 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1961 to 2001 model years. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 112 complaints (20.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 9 | 8.0% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 6.3% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 5.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 3.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 2.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 23 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 15 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 5 |
| Seats | 4 |
| Tires | 4 |
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 23; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 15; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 5; Tires:Tread/Belt: 5; Seats: 4; Tires: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 103 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 24 |
| 1996 | 16 |
| 2000 | 32 |
| 2001 | 12 |
| 2002 | 14 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
1995: 24; 1996: 16; 2000: 32; 2001: 12; 2002: 14; 2003: 4; 2004: 1; 2005: 3; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2016: 2
Pattern summary
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 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 724592 · 2000-06-26 (June 26, 2000)
THIS IS IN REGARDS TO PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN; TSB #86C15 OR #86C10, ISSUE DATE: JAN. "87, FUEL TANK SHIELD INSTALLATION. AS OF THIS TIME WE HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE, BUT WISH TO ACQUIRE INFO ON THIS CAMPAIGN.NO SAFETY DEFEC TLISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 724592 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 962335 · 1995-03-21 (March 21, 1995)
LOCATION OF FUEL TANK CREATES POTENTIAL FOR FIRE VEHICLE UPON IMPACT. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 962335 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10221792 · 2008-03-19 (March 19, 2008)
1981 CHEVY C-10, FRONT BRAKE HOSES RETAINER BRACKET, CRIMPED TOO TIGHTLY ON HOSE, CAUSING HOSE TO PLUG, UNEVEN BRAKE PRESSURE, VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT OR LEFT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10221792 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10198611 · 2007-08-06 (August 6, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 CHEVROLET C10. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE EMISSIONS STATION THAT THE REAR BRAKES ON HIS VEHICLE DO NOT OPERATE. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS AN AXLE BRAKE ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 02/01/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE SYSTEM HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE THE YEAR HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WILL NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL MANUFACTURER CAN REMEDY THE DEFECT. UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10198611 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8006443 · 2002-03-26 (March 26, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES THE FRAME BEHIND THE STEERING GEAR BOX HAVE CRACKS SEVERELY, IT CAUSES THE GEAR BOX TO DISCONNECT FROM THE WALL AND THE VEHICLE LOSS STEERING CONTROL WHILE DRIVING. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8006443 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 720334 · 2000-03-19 (March 19, 2000)
STEERING GEAR BOX ATTACHMENT BOLTS ARE PULLED THROUGH MOUNTING HOLES OF FRAME. THE FRAME IS ALSO TORN AND TWISTED FROM TORQUE FORCES OF THE STEERING GEAR BOX. METAL FATIGUE IS OBVIOUS. STEERING WHEEL PLAY INCREASES TO A DANGEROUS LEVEL. POSSIBLE DISATTACHMENT OF STEERING GEAR BOX, LEADING TO TOTAL FAILURE OF STEERING CAPABILITY. EXTREAMLY DANGEROUS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 720334 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024070 · 2003-06-16 (June 16, 2003)
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH ITS WINDSHIELD WIPER WIRING AS STATED IN RECALL 98 V 150 001; BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024070 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 889490 · 2001-05-31 (May 31, 2001)
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEMS AS STATED IN RECALL 98V150001/ WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, SOLDIER JOINTS NEAR WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CRACKED. MANUFACTURER ADVISED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 889490 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 736052 · 2000-11-09 (November 9, 2000)
TRANSMISSION PAN BOLT THREADS IN TRANSMISSION CASING LEAKING, CAUSING FLUID LOSS, RESULTING IN SLIPPAGE IN HIGH GEAR, MAY EVENTUALLY CAUSE BURNED BANDS IN TRANSMISSION.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 736052 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 974230 · 1995-10-31 (October 31, 1995)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID OVERHEATS, GEARS DO NOT ENGAGED FULLY, CAN SMELL BURNT TRANMISSION FLUID, INVOLVED IN RECALL 93V016000 DEALER ONLY INPECTED PROBLEM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 974230 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 967006 · 1995-06-15 (June 15, 1995)
VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 967006 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 |
|---|---|
| 1985 | 1 |
| 1986 | 1 |
| 1987 | 0 |
| 1988 | 5 |
| 1989 | 2 |
| 1990 | 2 |
| 1991 | 1 |
| 1992 | 3 |
| 1993 | 3 |
| 1994 | 9 |
| 1995 | 7 |
| 1996 | 6 |
| 1997 | 3 |
| 1998 | 2 |
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
1985: 1; 1986: 1; 1987: 0; 1988: 5; 1989: 2; 1990: 2; 1991: 1; 1992: 3; 1993: 3; 1994: 9; 1995: 7; 1996: 6; 1997: 3; 1998: 2; 1999: 1; 2000: 1; 2001: 1
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1 | 0 | Not available |
| 1967 | 0 | 1 | Not available |
| 1968 | 1 | 0 | -1 |
| 1970 | 0 | 1 | Not available |
| 1971 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 | 0 | 1 | Not available |
| 1974 | 0 | 2 | +1 |
| 1976 | 3 | 1 | Not available |
| 1977 | 2 | 2 | +1 |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 | -2 |
| 1979 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1980 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1981 | 3 | 2 | +2 |
| 1982 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 1983 | 3 | 0 | -2 |
| 1985 | 7 | 1 | Not available |
| 1986 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 | -1 |
| 1988 | 3 | 5 | +5 |
| 1989 | 4 | 2 | -3 |
| 1990 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1991 | 3 | 1 | -1 |
| 1992 | 7 | 3 | +2 |
| 1993 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| 1994 | 11 | 9 | +6 |
| 1995 | 24 | 7 | -2 |
| 1996 | 11 | 6 | -1 |
| 1997 | 4 | 3 | -3 |
| 1998 | 0 | 2 | -1 |
| 1999 | 3 | 1 | -1 |
| 2000 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 | 1 | 0 |