1989 Chevrolet C20
Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict. The data below is complete but unranked.
COMPLAINTS PER YEAR
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1980 | 1 |
| 1981 | 1 |
| 1982 | 1 |
| 1983 | 1 |
| 1984 | 4 |
| 1985 | 2 |
| 1986 | 0 |
| 1987 | 3 |
| 1988 | 3 |
| 1989 | 1 |
| 1990 | 5 |
| 1991 | 6 |
| 1992 | 2 |
| 1993 | 16 |
| 1994 | 12 |
| 1995 | 14 |
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1997 | 2 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS
Only 1 complaint on file for this model year -- too few to rank by share. Raw counts only, below.
1 of 1 total report mentions: seat belts.
Show complaint excerpts
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE HAS FAILED, UNABLE TO LATCH SEATBELT. TT
NHTSA ODI report, 19960216
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE HAS FAILED, UNABLE TO LATCH SEATBELT. TT
NHTSA ODI report, 19960216
SAFETY TIMELINE
THERE MAY BE BELOW SPECIFIED TORQUE ON THE TRAILER HITCH ATTACHING FASTENERS, ALLOWING THE TRAILER HITCH TO MOVE UNDER TOWING LOADS.
Remedy: CORRECT TORQUE IN TRAILER HITCH FASTENERS TO PREVENT TRAILER SEPARATION.
Campaign 89V078000 — check if this car was fixed
FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY
UNANTICIPATED HEAT IN THE TRANSMISSION CAN FORCE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT OF THE VENT TUBE.
Remedy: INSTALL A LONGER TRANSMISSION VENT HOSE ROUTED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE.
Campaign 93V016000 — check if this car was fixed
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
BUY-SMART CHECKLIST
1989 Chevrolet C20 — pre-purchase inspection
- Test/inspect for seat belts issues (1 reports on file for this year).
- Verify recall 89V078000 (trailer hitches) has been completed.
- Verify recall 93V016000 (power train) has been completed.
FAQ
Is the 1989 Chevrolet C20 reliable?
There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on file yet to give this model year a verdict.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 Chevrolet C20?
The most-reported component is seat belts:front:buckle assembly, accounting for 100% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1989 Chevrolet C20 have?
2 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.