FaultScore

FaultScore report

1988 Chevrolet Silverado problems

Owners have filed 18 complaints about the 1988 Chevrolet Silverado with NHTSA between 1998 and 2002. The largest single group is the electrical system.

Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

18

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

2

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

How 1988 compares with every other Chevrolet Silverado

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1988 Chevrolet Silverado

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Other & Unspecified 3 16.7%
Electrical System 3 16.7%

0 crashes, 2 fires

Seats 2 11.1%
Tires 2 11.1%
Fuel & Propulsion 2 11.1%
Transmission & Drivetrain 2 11.1%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 1 5.6%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 5.6%
Brakes 1 5.6%
Engine & Cooling 1 5.6%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Feb 1998 peak 2 May 2002

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Fallon, NV Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL, ANOTHER DRIVER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER CONSUMER'S CAR, CONSUMER GOT OUT AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP, AND A MECHANIC SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #868572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Yukon, OK Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AREA. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK WAS BURNED.THE TRUCK WAS TOTALLED. OWNER NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #830067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Mccalla, AL

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

THE TIRES WERE PUCHASED 04/03/01 AND HAD APPROXIMATELY 8,000 MILES OF USE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE SEPARATED TREAD TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE 20/59. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY INVOLVED.

NHTSA complaint #762042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cordele, GA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

"WHAT IS THE LATEST ON THIS ISSUE?"NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED.

NHTSA complaint #755258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cleveland, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

ON APRIL 17TH, 2001,I PURCHASED A 1989 CHEVY GMC FOR $4,200 AFTER LEAVING A $100 CASH DEPOSIT THE DAY BEFORE. I PAID $3,000 CASH AND $1,129 IN A CHECK. I DROVE THAT TRUCK FOR ALMOST 3 WEEKS. I KEPT HEARING A RATTLE. IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TRUCK WAS GOING TO THROW A ROD. I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD DREW THE SITUATION. HE SAID HE WAS GLAD I CAME AND TALKED DIRECTLY TO HIM. I SAW THIS 1988 CHEVROLET SILVERADO ON HIS LOT. I TRADED THE CHEVY GMC FOR THE SILVERADO FOR AND ADDITIONAL $1,600 AND PAID THE DIFFERENCE. THIS WAS ON MAY 14, 2001. ON MAY 15TH, WHEN I DROVE MY 'NEW' TRUCK TO A FRIENDS' HOUSE, WE NOTICED A LEAK. WHEN WE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, WE FOUND THE TRUCK LEAKED ANTIFREEZE. I TEMPORARILY STOPPED THE LEAK AND CONTACTED THE DEALER ON THE 16TH. HE TOLD ME TO BRING THE TRUCK IN. WHEN I GOT THE TRUCK TO HIS LOT, HE TOLD ME T TAKE THE TRUCK TO HIS MECHANIC. I TOLD HIM I WOULD NOT TAKE IT THERE; HE HAD TO DO IT. HE DID SO AND HIS MECHANIC REPAIRED IT IN TWO DAYS. I PICKED IT UP ON THE 19TH. ON THE 20TH, THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT. I CALLED HIM AGAIN. HE TOLD ME TO GET THE TRUCK TO HIS MECHANIC. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO THE MECHANIC (ECKE'S TOWING -$40.00). HE KEPT THE TRUCK FOR TWO DAYS AND CHARGED ME $140.00, BUT TOOK $130.00. DREW (MY SALESMAN) REFUSED TO HONOR THE SALES WARRANTY OF 50/50. HE SAID HE WOULD ONLY GUARANTEE THE TRANSMISSION AND THE MOTOR. THIS IS NOT ON THE SALES ORDER. ON MAY 26TH, THE HEATER CORE WENT OUT. THERE WAS WATER INSIDE THE TRUCK. THE HOSES HAVE BEEN PLUGGED TEMPORARILY. DREW REFUSES TO MAKE REPAIRS. I HAVE RUN OUT OF GAS TWICE BECAUSE THE GAS GAUGE IS INACCURATE. I THOUGHT I HAD A FULL TANK OF GAS WHEN I RAN OUT OF GAS ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ON I-77 BETWEEN RICHFIELD AND CLEVELAND. I CALLED M&M TOWING, WHO TOOK ME TO A GAS STATION. THAT'S HOW WE FOUND OUT THE TRUCK WAS OUT OF GAS. I THOUGHT THAT TIME, THE PROBLEM WAS MECHANICAL UNTIL THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SUGGESTED WE PUT GAS IN THE TRUCK. *

NHTSA complaint #747265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cleveland, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ON APRIL 17TH, 2001,I PURCHASED A 1989 CHEVY GMC FOR $4,200 AFTER LEAVING A $100 CASH DEPOSIT THE DAY BEFORE. I PAID $3,000 CASH AND $1,129 IN A CHECK. I DROVE THAT TRUCK FOR ALMOST 3 WEEKS. I KEPT HEARING A RATTLE. IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TRUCK WAS GOING TO THROW A ROD. I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD DREW THE SITUATION. HE SAID HE WAS GLAD I CAME AND TALKED DIRECTLY TO HIM. I SAW THIS 1988 CHEVROLET SILVERADO ON HIS LOT. I TRADED THE CHEVY GMC FOR THE SILVERADO FOR AND ADDITIONAL $1,600 AND PAID THE DIFFERENCE. THIS WAS ON MAY 14, 2001. ON MAY 15TH, WHEN I DROVE MY 'NEW' TRUCK TO A FRIENDS' HOUSE, WE NOTICED A LEAK. WHEN WE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, WE FOUND THE TRUCK LEAKED ANTIFREEZE. I TEMPORARILY STOPPED THE LEAK AND CONTACTED THE DEALER ON THE 16TH. HE TOLD ME TO BRING THE TRUCK IN. WHEN I GOT THE TRUCK TO HIS LOT, HE TOLD ME T TAKE THE TRUCK TO HIS MECHANIC. I TOLD HIM I WOULD NOT TAKE IT THERE; HE HAD TO DO IT. HE DID SO AND HIS MECHANIC REPAIRED IT IN TWO DAYS. I PICKED IT UP ON THE 19TH. ON THE 20TH, THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT. I CALLED HIM AGAIN. HE TOLD ME TO GET THE TRUCK TO HIS MECHANIC. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO THE MECHANIC (ECKE'S TOWING -$40.00). HE KEPT THE TRUCK FOR TWO DAYS AND CHARGED ME $140.00, BUT TOOK $130.00. DREW (MY SALESMAN) REFUSED TO HONOR THE SALES WARRANTY OF 50/50. HE SAID HE WOULD ONLY GUARANTEE THE TRANSMISSION AND THE MOTOR. THIS IS NOT ON THE SALES ORDER. ON MAY 26TH, THE HEATER CORE WENT OUT. THERE WAS WATER INSIDE THE TRUCK. THE HOSES HAVE BEEN PLUGGED TEMPORARILY. DREW REFUSES TO MAKE REPAIRS. I HAVE RUN OUT OF GAS TWICE BECAUSE THE GAS GAUGE IS INACCURATE. I THOUGHT I HAD A FULL TANK OF GAS WHEN I RAN OUT OF GAS ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ON I-77 BETWEEN RICHFIELD AND CLEVELAND. I CALLED M&M TOWING, WHO TOOK ME TO A GAS STATION. THAT'S HOW WE FOUND OUT THE TRUCK WAS OUT OF GAS. I THOUGHT THAT TIME, THE PROBLEM WAS MECHANICAL UNTIL THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SUGGESTED WE PUT GAS IN THE TRUCK. *

NHTSA complaint #747265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hudson, FL

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

CONTINENTAL GENERAL AMER GHS TIRE (P235 75 R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND TO THE TRUCK BED, THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FAULTY TIRE. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #557873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EL Verano, CA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE ORIGINAL PAINT HAS PEELED OFF IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS, THE HOOD, BOTH DOORS AND THE ROOF. IT APPEARS TO BE BUBBLING AND FLAKING OFF TO EXPOSE THE PRIMER.

NHTSA complaint #729624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fallon, NV Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL, ANOTHER DRIVER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER CONSUMER'S CAR, CONSUMER GOT OUT AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP, AND A MECHANIC SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #868572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greers Ferry, AR

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRAVELLING 55MPH VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT, ENGINE REVVED, AND TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. CONTACTED DEALER WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP.

NHTSA complaint #859749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greers Ferry, AR

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRAVELLING 55MPH VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT, ENGINE REVVED, AND TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. CONTACTED DEALER WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP.

NHTSA complaint #859749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alberta, CA

SEATS

BOTH SEAT RAILS ARE EXPERIENCING CRACKING. ONE SIDE ALREADY BROKE, AND THE OTHER SIDE IS CRACKING. ALSO, WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED IT CAUSES THE SEAT TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH. DEALER NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #857447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alberta, CA

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

BOTH SEAT RAILS ARE EXPERIENCING CRACKING. ONE SIDE ALREADY BROKE, AND THE OTHER SIDE IS CRACKING. ALSO, WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED IT CAUSES THE SEAT TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH. DEALER NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #857447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Margate, FL

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY PICKUP HAS BEEN CONSISTANTLY PEELING FROM PRIMER ON MY DOOR MY HOOD AND ON MY ROOF MY TRUCK IS 2 TONE BLACK ON GOLD THE BLACK IS CHIPPING THE WORST BUT NOW MY GOLD IS STARTING TO DO THE SAME. NO SAFETY DEFECT INDICATED IN THE SUMMARY.

NHTSA complaint #716775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cullman, AL

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING ONGOING/ INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD TURN OFF BY THEMSELVES WHILE RUNNING, CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO BUMP MOTOR TO GET THE WIPERS STARTED AGAIN. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THATVEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN #.

NHTSA complaint #838579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Winston-Salem, NC

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

LEFT TANK ON DRIVER'S SIDE HAS RUSTED OUT AND FORMED A HOLE ON TOP OF TANK, WHERE ELECTRICAL WIRES ARE LOCATED. COULD RESULT IN A FIRE IF SPARKS ARE EXPOSED. DEALER CONTACTED AND IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. REPAIRWORK DONE AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *AK

NHTSA complaint #835723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Warren, MI

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION REPLACED TWO TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #516141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Yukon, OK Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AREA. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK WAS BURNED.THE TRUCK WAS TOTALLED. OWNER NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #830067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Springdale, AR

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

UNSPECIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #532799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Levittown, PA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED SEVERAL TIMES ,PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR.

NHTSA complaint #525895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.