Chevrolet C/K Pickups Problems by Year
Chevrolet C/K Pickups years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical C/K Pickups year: 1997, 1998. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1998 C/K Pickups: 78 complaints, 1 recall
- 1997 C/K Pickups: 72 complaints, 1 recall
- 1999 C/K Pickups: 37 complaints, 1 recall
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2002 C/K Pickups: 14 complaints, 0 recalls
- 1996 C/K Pickups: 22 complaints, 1 recall
- 1995 C/K Pickups: 23 complaints, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Chevrolet C/K Pickups problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 77 | 5 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 76 | 8 | 8 |
| Steering | 35 | 6 | 1 |
| Structure | 22 | 8 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 21 | 6 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 13 | 5 | 0 |
| Power Train | 10 | 4 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 10 | 4 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 9 | 6 | 6 |
| Service Brakes | 9 | 5 | 4 |
| Electrical System | 8 | 6 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| Seats | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Tires | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Wheels | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Chevrolet C/K Pickups model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 C/K Pickups | 14 | 0 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2001 C/K Pickups | 24 | 0 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2000 C/K Pickups | 34 | 1 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | More complaints than other years |
| 1999 C/K Pickups | 37 | 1 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | More complaints than other years |
| 1998 C/K Pickups | 78 | 1 | — | Visibility | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1997 C/K Pickups | 72 | 1 | — | Visibility | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1996 C/K Pickups | 22 | 1 | — | Visibility | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 1995 C/K Pickups | 23 | 1 | — | Visibility | Fewer complaints than other years |
More from Chevrolet: all Chevrolet models · Chevrolet VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet C/K Pickups years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1997 (72), 1998 (78) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical C/K Pickups year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Chevrolet C/K Pickups?
Visibility, with 77 complaints across 5 model years.
How many recalls does the Chevrolet C/K Pickups have?
4 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.