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Chevrolet C SeriesYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 86 owner complaints and 4 safety recalls on record for the Chevrolet C Series.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints86Top: VisibilitySafety recalls41965–2008 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Chevrolet C Series years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the C Series median. Tap a year for its full report.

'65'66'67'68'69'70'78'82'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'01'02'07'08
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2008Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls2007Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls2002Not rated–/1003 complaints · 0 recalls2001Not rated–/1002 complaints · 1 recall1999Not rated–/1003 complaints · 0 recalls1998Not rated–/10017 complaints · 0 recalls1997Not rated–/10022 complaints · 0 recalls1996Not rated–/10011 complaints · 0 recalls1995Not rated–/10010 complaints · 0 recalls1994Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls1993Not rated–/1007 complaints · 0 recalls1992Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1991Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1990Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1989Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall1982Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1978Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1970Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1969Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1968Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall1967Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1966Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1965Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Chevrolet C Series problems

All model years combined: 86 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Visibility250
Service brakes, hydraulic173
Power train103
Fuel system, gasoline81
Engine and engine cooling80
Steering60
Electrical system51
Air bags52
Suspension50
12 other systems221
4 recalls

Chevrolet C Series recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Front: retractor01V-159 · 2001 · May 17, 2001 · 9,196 vehicles–Other: labels89V-149 · 1989 · Sep 8, 1989 · 585 vehicles–Mechanical: carrier/rack78V-177 · 1978 · Aug 15, 1978 · 237,693 vehicles–Engine and engine cooling: engine71V-235 · 1965–1970 · Dec 29, 1971 · 6,682,084 vehicles
6 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the C Series

  1. HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILRESEA04012 · 2000–2002 · closed Feb 28, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-005
  2. PARKING BRAKE FAILUREEA04011 · 1999–2002 · closed May 10, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-161
  3. PARKING BRAKE FAILUREPE03057 · 1999–2002 · closed Apr 9, 2004
    No recall
  4. FUEL TANK CORROSIONEA90015 · 1984–1986 · closed Feb 24, 1992
    No recall
  5. LOWER BALL JOINT FAILUREPE89132 · 1987–1989 · closed Oct 16, 1989
    No recall
  6. BRAKE LAMP SWITCHPE89116 · 1988–1989 · closed Jul 5, 1989
    No recall