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Chevrolet K SeriesYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 17 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls on record for the Chevrolet K Series.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints17Top: Service brakes, hydraulicSafety recalls31978–2001 model years

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

Best & worst years

Chevrolet K 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 K Series median. Tap a year for its full report.

'78'79'81'86'89'93'94'96'97'98'00'01
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2001Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls2000Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1998Not rated–/1003 complaints · 0 recalls1997Not rated–/1005 complaints · 0 recalls1996Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1994Not rated–/1003 complaints · 0 recalls1993Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1989Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1986Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1981Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1979Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1978Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Chevrolet K Series problems

All model years combined: 17 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
Service brakes, hydraulic60
Steering40
Visibility30
Tires20
Power train10
Equipment10
Seat belts10
Engine and engine cooling10
Suspension10
3 recalls

Chevrolet K Series recalls

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

–Other: labels89V-149 · 1989 · Sep 8, 1989 · 585 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages80V-150 · 1981 · Nov 14, 1980 · 364 vehicles–Mechanical: carrier/rack78V-177 · 1978 · Aug 15, 1978 · 237,693 vehicles
6 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the K 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