U.S. public vehicle records

Chevrolet C30 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

48 owner complaints analyzed

45 distinct recall campaigns

64,073 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1967 to 1998 model years. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 3 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 48 complaints (39.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	28	58.3%
Fuel system concerns	3	6.3%
Steering behavior	2	4.2%
Transmission and shifting	1	2.1%
Engine operation	1	2.1%
Electrical and battery issues	1	2.1%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components

Tires

Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator

Equipment:Electrical

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	19
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	3
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	2
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner	2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components	2
Tires	2
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator	1
Equipment:Electrical	1

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 19; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 2; Tires: 2; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1; Equipment:Electrical: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 45 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995

1996

1997

1999

2000

2002

2003

2004

2008

2020

1995: 10; 1996: 11; 1997: 12; 1999: 3; 2000: 6; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 2; 2008: 1; 2020: 1

Pattern summary

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 28 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10068581 · 2004-04-20 (April 20, 2004)

DUE TO ONE DEFECTIVE TIRE AND THREE OTHERS OUT OF BALANCE, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS BOUNCING AT 55 MPH. *PH THE TRUCK THE CONSUMER PURCHASED ONLY HAD 8900 MILES ON IT A. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A TIRE CENTER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ONE REAR TIRE HAD EXCESSIVE ROAD FORCE OF OVER 60 LBS. THE OTHER 3 REAR TIRES WERE COMPLETELY OUT OF BALANCE AFTER ONLY 500 MILES. THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED NEW PRIOR TO THE CONSUMERS TRIP. THE FAULTY TIRES CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE BEARING, SPINDLE AND BRAKES. ALL THOSE COMPONENTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AL…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10068581 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 512404 · 1996-12-20 (December 20, 1996)

POWER STEERING PUMP SEIZED WITH PRESSURE FROM BRAKE PEDAL AND BELT SQUEALLED AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 512404 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 958245 · 1995-01-03 (January 3, 1995)

GAS TANK MOUNTED OUT SIDE THE FRAME RAIL. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 958245 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 958298 · 1995-01-05 (January 5, 1995)

LEFT HAND FUEL TANK, PUMPED FUEL THROUGH ELECTRICAL WIRES, WHILE DRIVING. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 958298 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 837747 · 1999-05-11 (May 11, 1999)

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ENGINE FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND JERK; NO POWER BRAKES OR POWER STEERING. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPAIRED AND TWO WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. VEHICLE STALLED FOUR TIMES BEFORE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT REAPPEARED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 837747 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10247772 · 2008-11-05 (November 5, 2008)

1997 MOTOR HOME ON CHEVROLET 454 CHASIS. AUTO PARK BRAKE LOCKED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE. CHECKED NUMEROUS SOURCES AND FOUND SEVERAL HUNDRED LISTING OF PEOPLE WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, SOME WITH FIRES. THE SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND THE BRAKE BAND AROUND THE DRIVE SHAFT AT THE REAR OF THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. SMOKED FILLED THE VEHICLE WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CALLED GM AND RECEIVED NO HELP. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE SINCE THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AMONG OWNERS WITH THIS SYSTEM. MA…

Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10247772 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1984: 3; 1985: 4; 1986: 2; 1987: 0; 1988: 3; 1989: 2; 1990: 3; 1991: 2; 1992: 2; 1993: 3; 1994: 7; 1995: 7; 1996: 5; 1997: 1; 1998: 1

First model yearSecond model year

Year-by-year records

Chevrolet C30 model-year comparison
Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Change in recalls
1967	0	1	Not available
1970	0	1	Not available
1971	0	3	+2
1973	0	1	Not available
1974	0	1	0
1975	2	2	+1
1976	2	3	+1
1977	3	2	-1
1978	0	1	-1
1979	0	3	+2
1980	0	1	-2
1984	1	3	Not available
1985	0	4	+1
1986	1	2	-2
1987	2	0	-2
1988	1	3	+3
1989	0	2	-1
1990	2	3	+1
1991	1	2	-1
1992	2	2	0
1993	4	3	+1
1994	7	7	+4
1995	9	7	0
1996	5	5	-2
1997	4	1	-4
1998	2	1	0

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

48 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

6.3%Usable mileage3 / 48 records

72.9%Valid incident date35 / 48 records

100.0%Valid filing date48 / 48 records

72.9%Ordered incident and filing dates35 / 48 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 806080 WHEN DRIVING ON WET AN DRY PAVEMENT AND APPLYING FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING THE REAR ABS BRAKES TO LOCK UP. AKAK Look up ODI 806080 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 972751 THE REAR BRAKE FAILED CAUSING TRUCK TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED TWO TIMES . TT Look up ODI 972751 at NHTSA ↗	125.0% ODI 980330 ABS; THE CONSUMER WAS IN TWO ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE LOSS OF THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM, THE CONSUMER COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK Look up ODI 980330 at NHTSA ↗	228.6% ODI 818192 BRAKES LOCKED UP AND TRUCK SLID ON THE ROAD IN THE RAIN. *AK Look up ODI 818192 at NHTSA ↗	777.8% ODI 800878 THE BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD WHEN APPLIED. A DELAY IS EXPERIENCED.*AK Look up ODI 800878 at NHTSA ↗	480.0% ODI 717964 NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: ) Look up ODI 717964 at NHTSA ↗	125.0% ODI 818611 WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 55 MPH ON A THREE LINED ROAD ANOTHER DRIVER STOPPED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER, FORCING HIM TO KEEP LONGER DISTANCE BETWEEN OTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. *AK Look up ODI 818611 at NHTSA ↗	2100.0% ODI 847764 WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE VIBRATES AND PULLS TO THE LEFT. ABOUT EVERY 3 MONTHS, THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY HAS TO HAVE SOMETHING REPLACED SUCH AS PADS, ROTORS, ETC. DLR HAS SEEN VEHICLE OVER 11 TIMES AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK Look up ODI 847764 at NHTSA ↗
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 958298 LEFT HAND FUEL TANK, PUMPED FUEL THROUGH ELECTRICAL WIRES, WHILE DRIVING. TT Look up ODI 958298 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	1100.0% ODI 548222 VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS Look up ODI 548222 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 524785 ENGINE HAS BLOWN ON THREE OCCASIONS. Look up ODI 524785 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 980996 SEAT; THE SEAT RECLINER FRAME ATTACHING THE BOLTS ARE BROKEN ALLOWING THE SEAT TO RECLINE BACK. *AK Look up ODI 980996 at NHTSA ↗	125.0% ODI 858462 CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL 95V24600/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 94-C-62. DEALER CORRECTED THE RECALL PROBLEM 3 YEARS LATER, THE BENCH SEAT BROKE INTO THE RECLINING POSITION, DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO CORRECT THE RECALL. AK ML Look up ODI 858462 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	114.3% ODI 807400 ANY KIND OF WEATHER WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE LOCK UP . *AK Look up ODI 807400 at NHTSA ↗	111.1% ODI 8002898 WHILE APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND TO A COMPLETE STOP, VEHICLE SKIDS FORWARD.AK WHEN APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP ON A ROUGH ROAD SURFACE BRAKES WILL APPLY FOR A FRCTION OF A SECOND THEN RELEASE, VEHICLE WILL THEN COAST WOTH NO BRAKES AND COAST THROUGH TRAFFIC. MJ Look up ODI 8002898 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Tires	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 972751 THE REAR BRAKE FAILED CAUSING TRUCK TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED TWO TIMES . TT Look up ODI 972751 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Equipment:Electrical	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	120.0% ODI 603111 SHORT IN CIGARETTE LIGHTER CAUSED INTERIOR LIGHTS AND DOOR LOCKS TO FAIL. Look up ODI 603111 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
No usable records for this analysis.

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

1997: 3 complaints · 1998: 2 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
1997	2	3	3
1998	1	2	2

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
1997	3	1	0
1998	1	1	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner	Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components	Tires	Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator	Equipment:Electrical
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	—	0	0	0	0	0	1 ODI 972751 THE REAR BRAKE FAILED CAUSING TRUCK TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED TWO TIMES . TT Look up ODI 972751 at NHTSA ↗	0
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	0	—	0	0	0	0	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	0
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner	0	0	0	—	0	0	0	0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components	0	0	0	0	—	0	0	0
Tires	0	0	0	0	0	—	0	0
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator	1 ODI 972751 THE REAR BRAKE FAILED CAUSING TRUCK TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED TWO TIMES . TT Look up ODI 972751 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0	0	0	—	0
Equipment:Electrical	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

4 patterns with matching reports.

Brake response concerns

8 mentions · 16.7% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 512404

POWER STEERING PUMP SEIZED WITH PRESSURE FROM BRAKE PEDAL AND BELT SQUEALLED AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. *AK

Look up ODI 512404 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 804347

WHEN BRAKE PRIMARY PUMP IS OUT, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THERE ARE NO BRAKES . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

Look up ODI 804347 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 806080

WHEN DRIVING ON WET AN DRY PAVEMENT AND APPLYING FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING THE REAR ABS BRAKES TO LOCK UP. *AK*AK

Look up ODI 806080 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

Steering assistance concerns

2 mentions · 4.2% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 512404

POWER STEERING PUMP SEIZED WITH PRESSURE FROM BRAKE PEDAL AND BELT SQUEALLED AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. *AK

Look up ODI 512404 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 837747

Look up ODI 837747 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(power steer\w*|steering assist\w*|steering lock\w*|steering wheel lock\w*)\b

Hard or delayed shifting

1 mentions · 2.1% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 837747

Look up ODI 837747 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

Stalling or loss of power

1 mentions · 2.1% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 837747

Look up ODI 837747 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b