1988 Chevrolet C10
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Chevrolet › C10 › 1988
These records cover every 1988 Chevrolet C10. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
5 recalls name the 1988 Chevrolet C10. Newest first.
Unanticipated heat in the transmission can force the transmission fluid out of the vent tube.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
Right and left hand brake hose may contact the wheel or tire in a full turn.
Risk and remedy
Risk
If the hose makes contact with the wheel or tire it willeventually wear the hose to a point of rupture, resulting in a loss of thefront brakes. loss of front brakes would increase the stopping distance whenminimum time IS required and could result in a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Install new repositioning brackets for the front brake hoses.
Cruise control cable lock mechanism may self disengage causing erratic operation or throttle not returning to idle.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Engine speed would not decrease; loss of acceleratorcontrol could result in a crash without prior warning.
Remedy
Install a clamp around the lock tab of cruise control.
One or both of outer tie rod nuts may be loose and not crimped.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Loss of one or both nuts could lead to tie roddisengaging from steering knuckle resulting in possible loss of steeringcontrol and possibly a crash.
Remedy
Replace tie rod and knuckle and set toe-in.
Trucks may have cracked or broken door striker nuts, which do not conform to fmvss 206.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
Owner complaints
7 complaints1 involved a fire
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Hoses/lines/piping/fittings
Heater line fitting corroded, snapped of at base. leaked coolant. contacted local dealer who said it was a common failure part. old fitting was aluminum and appeared to be a bad casting
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Vehicle experienced engine fire. (Ohio traffic crash report). *Mjs
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Problem in 1988 with the ABS brake indicator light coming on and the truck was hard to stop. several repair calls at the dealer. at present the brake light stays on and it almost impossible to stop when driving at 40mph within a normal distance. the brakes IS and has been a safety hazard on this truck. I need help.*ak
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist
Vacuum booster originally supplied on vehicle performs very poorly, excessive force needs to be applied in order to stop vehicle. needs to replaced with the newly designed vacuum booster.
- Service brakes, air › Antilock
Excessive force needed on pedal to stop vehicle. occasionally after stopping, there IS a popping sound and the vehicle moves forward as if bumped by another vehicle.
- Suspension › Front › Control arm
When driving there IS a noise in the front ball joint . *ak
- Steering › Steering wheel/handle bar
Due to defect steering bolts, steering wheel IS too loose for proper control while driving. Please describe. tt
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Fuel system integrity
There is no summary currently available
- Brake backing plates
Summary:contrary to the manufacturers opinion, analysis of the owner,field, and warranty data did not clearly indicate that the alleged defectwas an infant mortality phenomenon.===
- Loose rear brk backing blt
Briefing______________________________othe alleged defect.osubject vehicles.oowner, field, and warranty claim data analysis.osource/cause of a defect occurrence.ogm design, assembly, and service modifications.orecommended action.===
- Poor brake performance
Summary: complaints allege poor braking performance including excessive stopping distance, inability to lock front wheels, or pedal goes to floor. This IS the first year of a new design for these models. Possible insuficient power assist on some vehicles. All trucks are equipped with rear anti-lock brakes.
- Poor braking performance
Summary: complaints allege poor braking performance. This IS the first year of a new design for these models. Possible insuficient power assis on some models. All trucks are equipped with rear anti-lock brakes
- 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 its…
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 its attachment pin and (b) pedal mountingbushings not being properly lubricated.gm believes that if the vehicleis either accelerating or traveling at a constant speed, and the stop lampsremain on, a following driver would likely follow at a greater distancebecause of uncertainty of the actions of the vehicle in front of him.gmconcludes that this IS true because there are no reported accidents whereit IS alleged the brake lights stayed on.to the contrary, brake lightswhich are always on appear are indistinguishable from normal tailightoperation and therefore fail to signal braking/deceleration which IS theonly function of the brake lights.apparent infant mortality supports theposition that no defect trend IS developing.although the alleged defectmay occur at any given time (it does however appear to occur at any giventime early in the life of the vehicle), once the brake lights are stuck inthe on position, the lights remain on until the battery goes dead or thecondition IS otherwise detected and corrected.the alleged defect affectsonly the early production 1988 model vehicles and gm has issued a servicebulletin advising service personnel of the possibility of the allegeddefect and how to remedy the problem. #======
Every Chevrolet C10 model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.