Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 7 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Exterior Lighting. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seat Belts. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
7 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2001
Power Train
AFTER LOOKING AT: HTTP://THECOMPLAINTSTATION.COM/G/GM_TOC.HTM#000001E3 , IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE DEFECTIVE GM TRANSMISSION HAS STRANDED MANY OTHERS BESIDES MYSELF. SO FAR THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY INJURY OR DEATHS REPORTED HERE BUT I SEE HOW ONE COULD BE STRANDED IN AN SUV IN A VERY BAD SITUATION! IN MY CASE THE DEALER FOUND THE PRO…
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AFTER LOOKING AT: HTTP://THECOMPLAINTSTATION.COM/G/GM_TOC.HTM#000001E3 , IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE DEFECTIVE GM TRANSMISSION HAS STRANDED MANY OTHERS BESIDES MYSELF. SO FAR THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY INJURY OR DEATHS REPORTED HERE BUT I SEE HOW ONE COULD BE STRANDED IN AN SUV IN A VERY BAD SITUATION! IN MY CASE THE DEALER FOUND THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE TRANS BEFORE I GOT BROKE DOWN ON THE BEACH SOMEWHERE WITH AN INCOMMING TIDE! GM SEEMS TO THINK THAT IT IS REASONABLE TO REPLACE THIS TRANSMISSION 4 TIMES ON MY TRUCK BUT, LIKE THE OTHERS ON THE WEBSITE I THINK THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE AND IF NOTHING ELSE PROVIDE AN EXTENDED WARANTEE ON TRANSMISSIONS TO THOSE OF US DUM ENOUGH TO KEEP BUYING THEIR PRODUCTS. ALL OF THESE FOLKS ON THE WEBSITE CAN'T BE WRONG. GM HAS A PROBLEM AND IT WILL RESULT IN AN INJURY OR DEATH BEFORE THEY WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND DO THE RIGHT THING! I AM STILL LOOKING FOR THE CLASS ACTION SUIT TO HAPPEN. I WILL BE ENVOLVED IN THAT ACTION. IF YOU HAVE ANY MORE INFORMATION OR ADVICE ON THIS ,PLEASE LET ME KNOW? THANKS, JIM SANFORD. *AK
NHTSA ODI #751265
Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2000
Parking BrakeTires
CASING PEELED FROM TIRE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED. CASING BECAME ENTAGLED AROUND REAR AXLE, HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES, AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE. PRESSURE ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE CAUSED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BE ACTIVATED. ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT WITH FOUR OTHER MOTOR VEHICLES ON INTERSTATE 5. TIME OF OCCU…
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CASING PEELED FROM TIRE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED. CASING BECAME ENTAGLED AROUND REAR AXLE, HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES, AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE. PRESSURE ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE CAUSED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BE ACTIVATED. ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT WITH FOUR OTHER MOTOR VEHICLES ON INTERSTATE 5. TIME OF OCCURENCE WAS 6 A. M. TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED THE EVENING BEFORE FOR PROPER INFLATION AS PART OF TRIP PREPARATION. TRIP WAS PLANNED FOR 700 MILES. TIRE FAILED AT 60 MILES INTO THE TRIP. CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL STOPPED TO LEND ASSISTANCE, BUT A REPORT WAS NOT FILED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
NHTSA ODI #727336
Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 1995
Seat Belts
PASSENGER SEATBELT IS STUCK IN THE RETRACTOR. TT
NHTSA ODI #975826
Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 1995
Exterior Lighting
DESIGN DEFECT IN PLATE PORTION OF TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY; BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK WHEN RUNNING LIGHTS ARE ON. TT
NHTSA ODI #971725
Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 1995
Electrical SystemFire
VEHICLE HAD BEEN ON ROAD 15 MINUTES GOING ABOUT 50MPH HEARD NOISE AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE. TT
NHTSA ODI #961480
Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 1995
Seat Belts
THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RESTRAIN . PLEASE DESCRIBE INCIDENT. TT
NHTSA ODI #960334
Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 1995
Exterior Lighting
REAR BRAKE LAMP/SIGNAL DOESN'T ILLUMINATE DUE TO PLATE MELTING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA ODI #958325
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
PE88019 · Rear Brk Lights Stay On
Opened Jan 19, 1988 · Closed Mar 31, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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. #======
1988 Chevrolet K25 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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