The 1988 Chevrolet K20 has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,057,720 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA, most often about the unknown or other. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC93V1190001993-08-02341,364 affected
Defect
SEVERE CORROSION DUE TO ROAD SALT AT THE JOINT OF THE STAMPED STEEL CENTER SECTION AND THE CAST OUTER SECTION CAN CAUSE THE SECTIONS TO SEPARATE.
Consequence
SEPARATION OF THE ROTOR SECTIONS CAN CAUSE LOSS OFBRAKING ABILITY IN THE AFFECTED WHEEL. THIS COULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPINGDISTANCE AND/OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy
REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH NEW ROTORS WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION COATING. HOWEVER, IF REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE LININGS ARE NECESSARY, IT WILL BE DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE SINCE BRAKE LININGS ARE NORMAL MAINTENANCE ITEMS.
POWER TRAIN93V0160001993-02-011,702,880 affected
Defect
UNANTICIPATED HEAT IN THE TRANSMISSION CAN FORCE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT OF THE VENT TUBE.
Consequence
THE VENTED TRANSMISSION FLUID CAN CATCH FIRE IF EXPOSEDTO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy
INSTALL A LONGER TRANSMISSION VENT HOSE ROUTED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE.
STEERING87V1260001987-08-102,750 affected
Defect
ONE OR BOTH OF OUTER TIE ROD NUTS MAY BE LOOSE AND NOT CRIMPED.
Consequence
LOSS OF ONE OR BOTH NUTS COULD LEAD TO TIE RODDISENGAGING FROM STEERING KNUCKLE RESULTING IN POSSIBLE LOSS OF STEERINGCONTROL AND POSSIBLY A CRASH.
TRUCKS MAY HAVE CRACKED OR BROKEN DOOR STRIKER NUTS, WHICH DO NOT CONFORM TO FMVSS 206.
Consequence
IN A COLLISION, CRACKED OR BROKEN STRIKER NUT COULDALLOW DOOR TO OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY AND POSSIBLY CAUSE INJURY TO OCCUPANTS.
Remedy
REPLACE EXISTING DOOR STRIKER NUTS.
SUSPENSION87V1280001987-08-10312 affected
Defect
INCORRECT FRONT SHOCK ABSORBER UPPER AND LOWER NUTS COULD LOOSEN.
Consequence
SHOCK ABSORBER COULD DETACH AND COME IN CONTACT WITHFRONT BRAKE HOSE; THIS CONTACT COULD RESULT IN A LEAK IN THE HOSE AND LOSS OFFRONT BRAKES.
Remedy
REPLACE FREE SPINNING NUTS WITH TORQUE NUTS.
Complaints by component
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1
Total complaints1
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“I feel the paint used on 1988 cheyenne pickup trucks was inferior. I have seen several trucks of the same make, model, year with the same problem.”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA88016 Opened 1988-01-19 · closed 1988-06-30
HIGH TEMP & FUEL EXP
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationEA92041 Opened 1992-12-08 · closed 1995-03-09
FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE88019 Opened 1988-01-19 · closed 1988-03-31
REAR BRK LIGHTS STAY ON
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:ON SOME 1988 C/K MODEL TRUCKSTHE BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN FOUND TO STAY ON AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS BEENRELEASED.IN A MAJORITY OF CASES, THE STOPLAMP SWITCH BEING MISADJUSTEDHAS BEEN THE CAUSE.OTHER POSSIBILITIES INCLUDE (A) BINDING AT THE EYELET OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER ROD AND…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1988 Chevrolet K20 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.