Chevrolet K SERIES problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
10 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
56,501 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1978 to 2001 model years. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion) is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 10 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 4 | 40.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 10.0% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 10.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion) | 2 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
| Equipment:Electrical | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion): 2; Tires:Tread/Belt: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1; Equipment:Electrical: 1; Power Train: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 1; Steering: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 2 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 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
1995: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 4; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2007: 1
Pattern summary
Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion) leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 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 959225 · 1995-01-25 (January 25, 1995)
STEERING BOX/FRAME WHERE BOLTED TOGETHER WEAKENS. SERVICE MANAGER NOTICED WHEN TURNING WHEEL STEERING BOX/FRAME FLEXES. OTHERS WERE THERE FOR SAME PROBLEM. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 959225 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054179 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, IT JERKED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10054179 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069024 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING BETWEEN 3RD AND OVER DRIVE. EVENTUALLY STARTED SLIPPING IN ALL FORWARD GEARS. HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND IT STARTED SLIPPING BETWEEN 3RD AND OD AROUND 192,000 MI. PASSENGER SEAT WILL NOT "SIT UPRIGHT"
Owner-reported narrative. 124,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10069024 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10135072 · 2005-09-01 (September 1, 2005)
NOTED ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS - APPROX. 5 MPH UNDER VERY GENTLE BRAKE ACTIVATION. NO ACCIDENT OR CONSEQUENCES, SINCE I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT ANY BRAKING ABNORMALITIES. TOOK TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE ABS "HUB AND SWITCH" OF ONE WHEEL. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10135072 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 |
|---|---|
| 1986 | 0 |
| 1989 | 1 |
| 1993 | 0 |
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
1986: 0; 1989: 1; 1993: 0; 1994: 0; 1997: 0; 1998: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0