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NHTSA recalls & complaints · 1995–1998

Chevrolet K20 recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 9 owner complaints for the Chevrolet K20, covering model years 1995 to 1998. The 1997 model year drew the most complaints (4), and Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the component owners name most often.

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

Decode your Chevrolet K20 VIN

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

  • 3 recall campaigns on file
  • 9 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
  • 4 model years with data (1995–1998)
  • most complaints: 1997 (4 for that model year)
  • top component: Service Brakes, Hydraulic (4 complaints)
  • latest recall 96V082000 (reported May 7, 1996)
  • 2 complaints reporting a crash (22.2%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a fire (0.0%)
  • 0 complaints reporting an injury (0.0%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Chevrolet K20 complaints by model year

4 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 1997 model year has the most complaints: 4 of 9, or 44.4%. Next come 1995 (2) and 1996 (2). The fewest are for 1998, with 1 complaint.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years
Chevrolet K20 owner complaints to NHTSA by model year, 1995–1998Column chart of 9 complaints across 4 model years. The highest is 1997 with 4. The full figures are in the table below the chart.1995: 2 complaints219951996: 2 complaints219961997: 4 complaints419971998: 1 complaint11998
Chevrolet K20 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Chevrolet K20 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model yearComplaintsReporting a crashReporting a fireReporting an injuryReporting a death
199520000
199621000
199741000
199810000
All model years92000

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

Most-reported Chevrolet K20 components

top 6 · NHTSA categories

Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the component named most often, in 4 complaints (44.4% of all 9), followed by Engine and Engine Cooling (2) and Visibility (2).

Components named most often in Chevrolet K20 complaints (top 6)
Components named most often in Chevrolet K20 complaints (top 6)
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic444.4%
Engine and Engine Cooling222.2%
Visibility222.2%
Electrical System111.1%
Fuel System, Gasoline111.1%
Steering111.1%

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 K20 recalls

3 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name K20, newest first. The 3 campaigns cover model years 1995 to 1996. The 1995 and 1996 model years appear in the most campaigns (2 each).

  • 3 recall campaigns
Chevrolet K20 recall campaigns covering each model year
1995: 2 campaigns1996: 2 campaigns

  1. NHTSA campaign 96V082000

    Reported

    Suspension › Rear › Springs › Leaf Spring Assembly › U-Bolt, Leaf Spring to Axle

    Model year 1996

    The four u-bolts nuts on either side of the rear axle were under-torqued.

    Consequence:
    Vehicle usage could cause the nuts to loosen and eventually fall off the u-bolt. This could result in sudden loss of vehicle control increasing the potential for a vehicle crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will check the u-bolt nut torque and re-torque any loose u-bolts to specification.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

  2. NHTSA campaign 96V057000

    Reported

    Vehicle Speed Control

    Model years 1995–1996

    These vehicles were assembled with the throttle cable contacting the dash mat which could bind the throttle. This does not meet with the maximum return times required by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 124, "accelerator control systems."

    Consequence:
    Consequence of non-compliance: the engine speed may not return to idle increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will inspect for adequate throttle cable to dash mat clearance, and if there is insufficient clearance, cut out a portion of the dash mat to provide proper clearance.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

  3. NHTSA campaign 95V026000

    Reported

    Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and Lines

    Model year 1995

    Due to a thin case casting, an external transmission leak can occur.

    Consequence:
    This condition can cause transmission oil to sprayonto the exhaust system and result in a possible vehicle fire.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will inspect the transmission case assembly for the involved case casting. If the assembly is involved, the transmission will be replaced.

    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
FieldWhat it tells you
Campaign numberNHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
ComponentThe system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
SummaryWhat the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
ConsequenceThe safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
RemedyWhat 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 K20 questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Chevrolet K20 have?

NHTSA lists 3 vehicle recall campaigns for the Chevrolet K20, covering model years 1995 to 1998. The most recent, 96V082000, was reported on May 7, 1996 and is filed under “Suspension”. The 1995 and 1996 model years are covered by the most campaigns (2 each).

Which Chevrolet K20 model year has the most complaints?

The 1997 model year, with 4 of the 9 complaints in NHTSA’s file (44.4%). The next are 1995 (2) and 1996 (2). 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 K20 complaint?

Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the component named most often: 4 complaints, or 44.4% of all 9. Engine and Engine Cooling (2) and Visibility (2) 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 K20?

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 K20 complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 9 complaints, 2 report a crash, 0 a fire, 0 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

Other Chevrolet models

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.

All Chevrolet models and WMI codesLook 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.