AI Damage1987 Chevrolet G20: common problems
Owners of the 1987 Chevrolet G20 filed 10 complaints with NHTSA, most often about steering and structure. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 10
What fails most often
- 1 Steering 20% of all complaints
- 2 Structure 20% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 10% of all complaints
- 4 Latches, locks, linkages 10% of all complaints
- 5 Seat belts 10% of all complaints
- 6 Seats 10% of all complaints
- 7 Tires 10% of all complaints
- 8 Wheels 10% of all complaints
- Steering: 2 complaints (20% of all).
- Structure: 2 complaints (20% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (10% of all).
- Latches, locks, linkages: 1 complaints (10% of all).
- Seat belts: 1 complaints (10% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 10 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Steering column has gradually loosened at the tilt mechinisim until the wheel is very loose.
Odor/smoke went away. After stopping vehicle, checked under hood and noticed plastic housing had burned in half. Hoses had holes in them & were falling apart. Had contacted manufacturer.
Tires in like new condition two rear tires lost tread, not blowing but tread peeling simler to fire stone problem. Are tires safe to use? (dot number: doramhv316 tiresize: lt325/85r1)
I have small chidren who could not get out of this door in case of emergency.
Both front doors have broken lock springs, the doors will open but the safety latch falls down and you cannot close the doors, the door must be manualy lift up on the latch so it locks in place to close door, replace whole lock/latch mechanism.
Left rear wheel fell off of vehicle causing damages (ohio traffic crash report). Mjs
Passenger's side seat reclined automatically and without warning, (conversion by trailwagon)
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.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 10,921 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 30% most complained about).
On average one model year of the G20 has 14 complaints (21 years in the data). This year has 10, below average.
What to check before buying
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Latches, locks, linkages. Door, hood and tailgate latches, especially near the impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1987 Chevrolet G20?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: steering, structure, electrical system. Total complaints: 10. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (20%), seat belts (10%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1987 Chevrolet G20?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1987 Chevrolet G20 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1987 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.