NHTSA recalls & complaints · 1995–2002

Chevrolet C/K Pickups recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 304 owner complaints for the Chevrolet C/K Pickups, covering model years 1995 to 2002. The 1998 model year drew the most complaints (78), and Visibility is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Chevrolet C/K Pickups VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

4 recall campaigns on file
304 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
8 model years with data (1995–2002)

most complaints: 1998 (78 for that model year)
top component: Visibility (77 complaints)
latest recall 05V005000 (reported Jan 7, 2005)

17 complaints reporting a crash (5.6%)
4 complaints reporting a fire (1.3%)
9 complaints reporting an injury (3.0%)
2 complaints reporting a death (0.7%)

Chevrolet C/K Pickups complaints by model year

8 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 1998 model year has the most complaints: 78 of 304, or 25.7%. Next come 1997 (72) and 1999 (37). The fewest are for 2002, with 14 complaints.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years

Chevrolet C/K Pickups complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death

Chevrolet C/K Pickups complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model year	Complaints	Reporting a crash	Reporting a fire	Reporting an injury	Reporting a death
1995	23	1	2	1	0
1996	22	1	0	0	0
1997	72	1	0	1	1
1998	78	1	1	2	0
1999	37	5	1	2	1
2000	34	4	0	1	0
2001	24	3	0	1	0
2002	14	1	0	1	0
All model years	304	17	4	9	2

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Chevrolet C/K Pickups components

top 15 · NHTSA categories

Visibility is the component named most often, in 77 complaints (25.3% of all 304), followed by Service Brakes, Hydraulic (76) and Steering (35).

Components named most often in Chevrolet C/K Pickups complaints (top 15)

Components named most often in Chevrolet C/K Pickups complaints (top 15)
Component	Complaints	Share of complaints
Visibility	77	25.3%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	76	25.0%
Steering	35	11.5%
Structure	22	7.2%
Engine and Engine Cooling	21	6.9%
Fuel System, Gasoline	13	4.3%
Power Train	10	3.3%
Service Brakes, Air	10	3.3%
Air Bags	9	3.0%
Service Brakes	9	3.0%
Electrical System	8	2.6%
Latches/Locks/Linkages	6	2.0%
Suspension	6	2.0%
Seats	5	1.6%
Tires	5	1.6%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Chevrolet C/K Pickups recalls

4 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name C/K Pickups, newest first. The 4 campaigns cover model years 1995 to 2000. 6 model years tie for the most campaigns (1 each).

4 recall campaigns

Chevrolet C/K Pickups recall campaigns covering each model year
1995: 1 campaign	1996: 1 campaign	1997: 1 campaign	1998: 1 campaign	1999: 1 campaign	2000: 1 campaign

NHTSA campaign 05V005000
Reported Jan 7, 2005
Power Train › Driveline › Driveshaft
Model year 2000
Some pickup trucks, vans, and sport utility vehicles equipped with a hydraulic pump driveshaft that can fracture, resulting in immediate loss of hydraulic power steering assist. On certain vehicles equipped with hydro-boost power brakes, the same condition can result in loss of power assist for braking after the reserve pressure is depleted.
Consequence:
An inoperative pump can cause increased steering effort, and in hydro-boost equipped vehicles also increased braking effort, but does not completely eliminate the ability to steer or slow the vehicle.
Remedy:
Dealers will replace the hydraulic pump. The campaign began on February 14, 2005. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC at 1-866-996-9463.
Filed by General Motors, LLC
NHTSA campaign 03V159000
Reported Apr 28, 2003
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Model years 1995–1997
On certain minivans, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles with certain model-engine combinations, the windshield wiper motor may fail due to cracked solder joints on the controller circuit board. The windshield wipers could work intermittently or not at all.
Consequence:
If this were to occur during bad weather, driver visibility would be reduced, which could result in a crash.
Remedy:
Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover. Owner notification began on June 19, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, GMC at 1-800-462-8782, or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.
Filed by General Motors, LLC
NHTSA campaign 03V093000
Reported Mar 7, 2003
Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices › Exterior
Model year 1998
Certain sport utility vehicles, mini vans, and pickup trucks may develop a short circuit in the electric outside rearview mirror switch.
Consequence:
If this were to happen, it could result in an inoperative switch, heat damage to the driver's door, and/or ignition of components in the driver's door and a subsequent vehicle fire without prior warning.
Remedy:
Dealers will install a fused jumper harness to the electric outside rearview mirror switch. Owner notification began on April 24, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC at 1-800-462-8782.
Filed by General Motors, LLC
NHTSA campaign 00V097000
Reported Mar 28, 2000
Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Model year 1999
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks. The seat belts fail to conform to the requirements of FMVSS No. 209, "seat belt assemblies."
Consequence:
The seat belts may not restrain an occupant properly in the event of a crash.
Remedy:
Dealers will replace both the front driver and passenger seat belts with new seat belts.
Filed by General Motors, LLC

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means

What each recall field means
Field	What it tells you
Campaign number	NHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
Component	The system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
Summary	What the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
Consequence	The safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
Remedy	What the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.

Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Chevrolet C/K Pickups questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Chevrolet C/K Pickups have?

NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recall campaigns for the Chevrolet C/K Pickups, covering model years 1995 to 2002. The most recent, 05V005000, was reported on January 7, 2005 and is filed under “Power train”.

Which Chevrolet C/K Pickups model year has the most complaints?

The 1998 model year, with 78 of the 304 complaints in NHTSA’s file (25.7%). The next are 1997 (72) and 1999 (37). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Chevrolet C/K Pickups complaint?

Visibility is the component named most often: 77 complaints, or 25.3% of all 304. Service Brakes, Hydraulic (76) and Steering (35) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Chevrolet C/K Pickups?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Chevrolet dealer.

How many Chevrolet C/K Pickups complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 304 complaints, 17 report a crash, 4 a fire, 9 at least one injury and 2 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

8 models · most complaints first

The Chevrolet models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Chevrolet VIN decoder with every Chevrolet model page, WMI code and VIN note.

Chevrolet Malibu 1997–2025 · 53 recalls · 19,326 complaints
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 1995–2026 · 54 recalls · 17,953 complaints
Chevrolet Impala 1995–2020 · 31 recalls · 10,395 complaints
Chevrolet Tahoe 1995–2026 · 80 recalls · 9,976 complaints
Chevrolet Equinox 2005–2026 · 32 recalls · 9,132 complaints
Chevrolet Silverado 1995–2017 · 46 recalls · 8,387 complaints
Chevrolet Cobalt 1996–2017 · 10 recalls · 7,681 complaints
Chevrolet Trailblazer 1999–2026 · 29 recalls · 7,141 complaints

All Chevrolet models and WMI codes Look up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.