1987 Chevrolet G20 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
10 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Most common problems
Structure:Body:Door is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 10 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 2 | 20.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body:Door | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Webbing | 1 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 1 |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 1 |
| Steering:Column | 1 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 1 |
Structure:Body:Door: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Webbing: 1; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 1; Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar: 1; Steering:Column: 1; Tires:Tread/Belt: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 10 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 3 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
1995: 3; 1996: 1; 1999: 1; 2000: 3; 2001: 1; 2002: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Body:Door leads the component reports. 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 760039 · 2002-03-31 (March 31, 2002)
STEERING COLUMN HAS GRADUALLY LOOSENED AT THE TILT MECHINISIM UNTIL THE WHEEL IS VERY LOOSE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 760039 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 975431 · 1995-11-27 (November 27, 1995)
VEHICLES STEERING WHEEL COLUMN IS ABOUT TO FALL APART IT MOVES BACK AND FORTH DUE TO SOME DEFECTIVE BOLTS. TT CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT ALL STEERING COLUMS HAVE THIS PROBLEM, CONSUMER STATES IT BECOMES NOTICEABLE WHEN CHANIGN GEARS.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 975431 at NHTSA ↗
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
10 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.
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.
| Component | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 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. | 15.9%ODI 843084THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT IS ON DUE TO THE ANTI-LOCK DUMP VALVE NOT WORKING. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *YC | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 210.5%ODI 972555ABS SYSTEM NOT WORKING PROPERLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY DO NOT CATCH RIGHT AWAY. TT | 2237.3% | 1126.2%ODI 10022436NHTSA# 99-I-006-000: THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, OR MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH 3-SENSOR ABS (ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM) EBC4 UNITS. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. *JB | 2834.1%ODI 10030420 · 30 miFRONT END- WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE ENTIRE FRONT END SHIMMIES AND VIBRATES MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VAN. WE HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS VAN FOR LESS THAN 2 YEARS BUT THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. | 114.3%ODI 823689CONSUMER WAS COMING TO A STOP SIGN WHEN APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES FELT A QUICK POPPING SENSATION. THE BRAKE PEDAL STAYED HARD, BUT IT DID NOT STOP THE VEHCILE. VEHICLE KEPT ON GOING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK | 120.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 116.7% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 436.4% | 228.6% | 15.9% | 120.0%ODI 554257WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT THE ROADSIDE THE CONSUMER NOTICED ANTIFREEZE LEAKING OUT FROM THE ENGINE, THEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 11.7%ODI 567660WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 50 MPH THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. (OHIO TRAFFIC REPORT #10-91-525) *YH | 12.4%ODI 844307WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK | 33.7% | 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. |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 19.1%ODI 805120FAILURE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL, WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE AT A HIGH SPEED. *AK CONSUMER STATES AS HE WAS DRIVIING IT STARTED TO RAIN AND HE MUST HAVE HIT THE CRUISE CONTROL BY MISTAKE WHEN GOING TO TURN ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, THE ACCELERATOR WENT TO THE FLOOR THE VAN STARTED TO SPEED UP AND CONSUMER TRIED TO APPLY THE RAKES, BUT THE VANSKIDDED BACK AND FOURTH, CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, CONSUMER TRIED IT AGAIN AND IT DID TH… | 114.3% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 120.0% | 210.5%ODI 973427AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, TORQUE CONVERTER HAS BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES, LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. TT FIRST THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED DUE TO VIBRATION. THEN THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED LEAKING AND THE PUMP BUSHING AND NEW TORQUE CONVERTOR WERE REPLACED. AGAIN THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN VIBRATING AND LEAKING. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AFTER TIRES WERE REPLACED AS POSSIBLE CAUSE. CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. DRIVE SHAFT WAS LEAKING *YH | 23.4%ODI 534952THROTTLE CABLE SNAPPED CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION THROUGH DOWNSHIFTING. | 24.8%ODI 747361VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO MAXIMUM WITHOUT TOUCHING THROTTLE, MORE THAN ONCE. *AK | 11.2%ODI 806330TURNED OFF STREET VEHICLE SURGED SPONTANEOUSLY. THOUGHT CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED, PRESSED ON PEDAL CAR FLEW LIKE A BULLET, STOOD ON BRAKE AND EMGERGENCY BRAKE COASTED 7/10THS OF A MILE, DLR UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK | 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. |
| Structure:Body:Door | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 220.0%ODI 724644I HAVE SMALL CHIDREN WHO COULD NOT GET OUT OF THIS DOOR IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 211.8%ODI 848325THE 2 BACK DOORS ON THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE DUE TO THE UPHOLSTRY. *AK | 120.0% | 15.3% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 22.4%ODI 800918DOOR ASSEMBLY, WILL NOT PROPERLY ADJUST, CAUSING A LARGE GAP IN THE BOTTOM OF VEHICLE. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 120.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 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. | 49.5%ODI 828075THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DURING A COLLISION. ALSO, THE SEAT BELT DID RESTRAIN DRIVER. THESE FAILURES RESULTED IN SEVERAL INJURIES TO HEAD/ NECK AND CHEST. *AK | 33.7%ODI 526939NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG IN ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN INJURIES. | 114.3%ODI 823765WHILE PULLING FROM A STOP SIGN VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE LEFT SIDE CORNER PANEL SPEED WAS UNDER 20 MPH. DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT PASSENGER'S SIDE DID. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 19.1%ODI 969915NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM REAR OF THE VAN, DUE TO TRANMISSION FLUID LEAKAGE, RESULTING IN FIRE. TT | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 210.5%ODI 830442THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE BOUNCES AND SWAYS SIDE TO SIDE DURING ANY SPEED. IN ADDITION THE SEAT BELTS AREN'T LONG ENOUGH TO SECURE THEIR DRIVER. ALSO, THE FUSES IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTED FAILING.*AK | 11.7%ODI 977892POWERTRAIN TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE LOCKED IN PARK, CAN NOT MOVE ONLY BY PUTTING INTO NEUTRAL. TT | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 22.4%ODI 848893WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE IMMEDIATELY. WHEN IT FINALLY ENGAGED, A THUMPING NOISE WAS HEARD. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 120.0%ODI 742179BESIDES STRANDING ME WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT TWICE, LOSING POWER ON THE INTERSTATE IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC IS HAZARDOUS. BUT TWICE I NEARLY CRASHED WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT, IN A CURVE ON THE INTERSTATE. THE VAN IS A HORSE TO MUSCLE AND THE SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING NEARLY COST ME CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I'M SURE IF MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER WERE DRIVING THEY WOULD HAVE CRASHED. I CANNOT BE THE ONLY PERSON HAVING CHRONIC PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING AND TRANSMISSIONS OF 97 CHEVY VANS. GET THESE VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD (AT LEAST MINE) BE… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 980734SEAT BELTS ON CONVERSION VAN ARE TOO SHORT, SEAT BELT WILL NOT HOLD CHILD SEAT, SEAT BELTS WERE PUT IN BY U.S. CONVERSION, DEALER SAID SEAT BELT ARE WRONG SIZE | 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. | 15.3%ODI 830442THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE BOUNCES AND SWAYS SIDE TO SIDE DURING ANY SPEED. IN ADDITION THE SEAT BELTS AREN'T LONG ENOUGH TO SECURE THEIR DRIVER. ALSO, THE FUSES IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTED FAILING.*AK | 11.7%ODI 716840THE DRIVERS SHOULDER AND LAP BELT IS PHYSICALLY TOO SHORT IN LENGTH AND PREVENTS FORWARD OR LATERAL MOVEMENT OF MORE THAN JUST A FEW INCHES, EVEN IF THE BRAKES ARE NOT APPLIED AND THE DRIVER MOVES HIS TORSO FORWARD SLOWLY SO AS NOT TO TRIGGER THE LOCKING MECHANISM. I AM NOT A LARGE PERSON ALTHOUGH MY HEIGHT 6'1" AND MY FRAME 210LBS. WOULD PUT MY IN THE UPPER PERCENTILE OF DRIVERS. BECAUSE THE BELT IS SO SHORT , IT BECOMES NECESSARY TO UNBUCKLE THE SEAT BELT TO PERFORM SUCH SIMPLE TASKS AS FLIPPING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WHEN CONFRONTED WITH A VEH… | 24.8%ODI 538060NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING COLLISION, SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN, THESE FAILURES RESULTED IN SEVERAL INJURIES TO HEAD,NECK AND CHEST. | 33.7%ODI 509248DESIGN OF SEAT BELT CAUSES IT TO JAM IF ONLY PULLED WITH THE RIGHT HAND. | 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. | 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. | 15.9%ODI 802527CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING BRAKE PROBLEMS THAT THE DEALER CANNOT REMEDY, CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE FOR THREE WEEKS AND WAS UNABLE TO FIND A SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER UNFIXED.*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 210.5% | 35.1%ODI 823616WHEN APPLYING ABS BRAKES ON DRY PAVEMENT THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, RESULTIN GIN A COLLISION. *AK | 24.8%ODI 810358WHILE DRIVING APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WILL DROP ALMOST TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE HAS A DELAY IN STOPPING. THE BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE WHEN APPLYING THEM, THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIMES, JUST SOMETIMES. *AK | 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. |
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 | 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.
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
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 (partial) | 0 | 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.
1998: 0 complaints · 1999: 2 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1999 | 0 | 3 | 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 | Structure:Body:Door | Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | Seat Belts:Front:Webbing | Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | Steering:Column | Tires:Tread/Belt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure:Body:Door | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Webbing | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Steering:Column | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 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.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.