1990 Chevrolet K2500: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Wiring is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 3 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 33.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Power Train:Axle Assembly: 1; Suspension: 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. 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 2 |
| 1999 | 1 |
1997: 2; 1999: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Wiring leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 813981 · 1997-07-09 (July 9, 1997)
THE FRONT AXLE CAME OUT WHILE DRIVING AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE AXLE HAD TO BE REPLACED ENTIRELY.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 813981 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 817631 · 1997-10-27 (October 27, 1997)
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING. REASON UNKNOWN. SUSPECTED WIRING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 817631 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 852023 · 1999-10-27 (October 27, 1999)
ENGINE IS MAKING A KNOCKING/SQUEALING NOISE . THIS MAKES THE CAR SHAKE, AND IT AFFECTS DRIVING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 852023 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
90V170000 · Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
Reported: 1990-09-17 (September 17, 1990)
TRUCKS CAN CONTAIN INCORRECT INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PROPERLY ADJUST REAR SEAT LAP-SHOULDER BELTS AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 209.
Consequence: INCORRECTLY ADJUSTED SEAT BELT WOULD NOT PROPERLYRESTRAIN OCCUPANT IN AN ACCIDENT OF SUDDEN STOP; TRUCKS WOULD NOT COMPLY WITHFMVSS 209.
Remedy: PROVIDE OWNER'S MANUAL INSERT CONTAINING THE CORRECT REAR LAP-SHOULDER BELT INSTRUCTIONS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
3 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
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 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 125.0%ODI 819044BRAKE PROBLEMS; ON REGULAR ROAD CONDITIONS, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN A NORMAL FASHION, THE PEDAL TRAVELS TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE HAS A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED, AND THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT. THE FUEL LINES ARE ALSO RUSTED. PARTS FOR THE FUEL LINES ARE ON BACK ORDER. THE BRAKE LINES ARE BEING REPAIRED. *AK *SLC | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 120.0% | 120.0%ODI 817500ABS: WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY RAINY CONDITIONS, APPLIED BRAKES, FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE, REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT STANDSTILL, NO WARNING, VEHICLE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *AK | 225.0% | 15.3%ODI 849540WAS GOING APPROX. 15MPH & HEARD A HIGH PITCH SQUEAL, LIKE METAL TO METAL, COMING FROM LEFT REAR BRAKES WHILE IN MOUNTAINS. TOOK BRAKES APART & NOTICED PIECES OF METAL ON EMERGENCY BRAKES. HAD THEM REPLACED AFTER TAKING PIECES OUT. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE IN PREVIOUSLY WHEN LIGHT CAME ON & NOTHING FOUND. *AK | 1225.5%ODI 10087758 · 65,000 miWHEN CONSUMER WAS BACKED OUT OF THE GARAGE , THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. AT 67,000 MILES THE WHEEL SENSOR WENT OUT ON THE RIGHT FRONT. AT 65,000MI THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE WENT OUT. THE LEFT FRONT CALIPER WAS REPLACED. *JB THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STARTER. THE TAILGATE WOULD NOT OPEN DUE TO BROKEN HANDLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIPER MODULE BECAUSE THE WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE SHIFT INDICATOR READING WAS OFF AND THE SHIFTER WAS NOT SHIFTING SMOOTHLY. THE DEALER LUBED THE SHIFT PIVOT… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 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. | 225.0%ODI 703856WHILE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ACTIVATED, THEY WILL STOP AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES OF OPERATION. IT IS NECESSARY TO STOP THE VEH., GET OUT AND MANUALLY MOVE THE WIPER ARM TO GET THE WIPERS TO MOVE AGAIN. THIS IS DANGEROUS WHEN IT IS RAINING BECAUSE THE DRIVER IS UNABLE TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIED DUE TO THE ACCUMULITIVE RAIN WATER ON THE WINDSHIELD. WHEN IT WAS REPORTED TO DEALER, THEY ADVISED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROPLEM AND THAT IT HAD TO DO WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR SWITCH. THEY ADVISED THAT IT WOULD COST $60. FOR THE UNIT… | 15.3% | 612.8%ODI 10087758 · 65,000 miWHEN CONSUMER WAS BACKED OUT OF THE GARAGE , THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. AT 67,000 MILES THE WHEEL SENSOR WENT OUT ON THE RIGHT FRONT. AT 65,000MI THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE WENT OUT. THE LEFT FRONT CALIPER WAS REPLACED. *JB THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STARTER. THE TAILGATE WOULD NOT OPEN DUE TO BROKEN HANDLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIPER MODULE BECAUSE THE WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE SHIFT INDICATOR READING WAS OFF AND THE SHIFTER WAS NOT SHIFTING SMOOTHLY. THE DEALER LUBED THE SHIFT PIVOT… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Seats | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 120.0% | 120.0% | 112.5%ODI 847076PASSENGER'S SEAT RECLINING MECHANISM FAILED, CAUSING SEAT TO FALL BACKWARDS WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURIES. *AK | 15.3%ODI 812837BUCKET SEAT: THE BOLTS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE SEAT IS BROKEN, CAUSING THE SEAT TO RECLINE AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. *AK | 36.4% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 240.0%ODI 10075267 · 73,000 miI OWN A 1992 CHEVROLET PICKUP TRUCK AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SOMETIMES WORK AND SOMETIMES WON'T. THERE IS A RECALL ON WIPER MOTORS, BUT IT DOES NOT GO BACK TO THAT MODEL YEAR. I DON'T DARE REPLACE THE MOTOR WITH ONE FROM A JUNK YARD BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM AND I AM WONDERING IF OTHERS ARE SEEING THIS PROBLEM WITH 1992 MODELS.*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 15.3%ODI 853805WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING DURING OPERATION, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *AK | 48.5%ODI 8018658WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT WORK AT ALL.*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 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 822470WHEN TRAVELING NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM BOTH ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND GLOVE COMPARTMENT, CONSUMER THEREFORE PULLED VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. CONTACTED THE DEALER,. THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNDETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 15.3%ODI 749596LOW POWER AND "SERVICE ENGINE" LIGHT WOULD COME ON PERIODICALLY. DEALER "SHOTGUNNED" PARTS BUT DID NOT FIX PROBLEM. GOT MANUFACTURER INVOLVED AND ADMITTED TO A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE CONTROL CHIP. CHIP WAS REPLACED WITH ONE HAVING A HANDWRITTEN PART NUMBER AND NO MORE PROBLEM. AM AWARE THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS EXPERIENCE THIS SAME PROBLEM AND CANNOT GET IT FIXED. SOMEONE NEEDS TO "TELL THE WORLD" SINCE THE MANUFACTURER CONTINUES TO HIDE THE PROBLEM.*AK | 36.4%ODI 541025REPLACED A/C SWITCH, OXYGEN SENSOR BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 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. | 210.5%ODI 720808AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 TO 1.5 HOURS THE ENGINE JUST DIED WITH NO WARNING LEAVING ME WITH NO POWER IN TRAFFIC. THE FIRST TIME THE ENGINE REFIRED WHILE IN GEAR BUT THE NEXT 4 TIMES I HAD TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER. I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT NO ONE HIT ME EACH TIME BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WARNING. I HAVE SINCE SPOKEN TO ANOTHER OWNER OF THE SAME VEHICLE AND HE DESCRIBED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND THE SAME PART REPLACEMENT THAT THE DEALER IS TELLING ME HAS TO BE REPLACED. THIS TRUCK HAS RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE FOR ITS AGE. THREE YEARS AGO WE A… | 36.4%ODI 10054427 · 107,030 miMY 1995 SILVERADO WITH THE 6.5 TURBO SEEMS TO BE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE PMD OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE FSD. THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED GOING DOWN THE FREEWAY ONCE TODAY AND 3 OTHER TIMES, AND STALLED WHILE IN TOWN DRIVING 4 TIMES ALL IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS. STALLING ON THE FREEWAY IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AS HAS PROVEN VERY SCARY. AS THESE TRUCKS DO NOT STEER WELL WITH NO POWER. NOR DO THE BRAKES WORK WELL WHILE IN A STALL. TONIGHT IT WOULD NOT START WHILE AT A BUSINESS. I HAD TO SIT FOR 45 MINUTES WAITING ON A TOW TRUCK. ONLY TO HAVE THE TRUCK START … | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 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. | 210.5%ODI 720808AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 TO 1.5 HOURS THE ENGINE JUST DIED WITH NO WARNING LEAVING ME WITH NO POWER IN TRAFFIC. THE FIRST TIME THE ENGINE REFIRED WHILE IN GEAR BUT THE NEXT 4 TIMES I HAD TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER. I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT NO ONE HIT ME EACH TIME BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WARNING. I HAVE SINCE SPOKEN TO ANOTHER OWNER OF THE SAME VEHICLE AND HE DESCRIBED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND THE SAME PART REPLACEMENT THAT THE DEALER IS TELLING ME HAS TO BE REPLACED. THIS TRUCK HAS RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE FOR ITS AGE. THREE YEARS AGO WE A… | 24.3%ODI 10038733 · 108,500 miDIESEL ENGINE WOULD STALL WITHOUT NOTICE. HAD TO REPLACE FUEL PUMP CONTROL BOX.THIS PART WAS UPGRADED. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE I CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.*AK | 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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 210.5%ODI 10604667 · 216,000 miAFTER FLOORING THE GAS PEDAL, IT STUCK TO FLOOR CAUSED VEHICLE TO CONTINUE ACCELERATING. ONCE HAD TO SHUTOFF ENGINE ANOTHER TIME IT HAPPENED BRIEFLY AND FIXED ITSELF. UPON INSPECTION I NOTICED A PIECE OF METAL WIRE SPLINTERED AND WOULD GET CAUGHT IN OTHER PARTS WHEN FULLY DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL. BOUGHT REPLACEMENT FOR THROTTLE CABLE LINK. I THINK THIS WILL FIX IT. *TR | 24.3%ODI 711387THE TRUCK SURGES WHEN STOPPED AT INTERSECTIONS. FOUR TIMES NOW IT HAS PROCEEDED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WITH THE BRAKES ENGAGED. AOLS ONCE IT RESULTED IN REARENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE, LUCKLY WITHOUT CAUSING ANY DAMAGE TO THE OTHER CAR. | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 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 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (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.
1995: 16 complaints · 1996: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 3 | 10 | 16 |
| 1996 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 38 | 9 | 0 |
| 1996 | 1 | 0 | 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 | Electrical System:Wiring | Power Train:Axle Assembly | Suspension |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System:Wiring | — | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 0 | — | 0 |
| Suspension | 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.