Each vehicle report contains one rating chart for representative model. Consumer Guide® rates in ten key areas: Performance, Fuel Economy, Ride Comfort, Steering and Handling, Interior Noise, Controls and Materials, Driver Room, Passenger Room, Cargo Capacity, and Insurance Costs. These ratings compare the particular vehicle rated to ALL other vehicles, not a vehicle's standing in a particular class. In the ratings table, "1" is the lowest rating and "10" is the highest rating.

Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer, however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.

Automatic transmission: Trucks with the 6.5L engine may have a transmission shudder when the torque-converter clutch applies and releases. (1991-94)

Automatic transmission: 700-R4 automatic transmissions may shift late or not upshift at all. The problem is a stuck throttle valve inside the transmission. (1990-92)

Brake wear: Vehicle pull or premature front brake pad wear, may be corrected with revised rear brake shoes. (1992-98)

Clutch: A grinding noise during clutch engagement and difficulty shifting into first or reverse is caused by a clutch master cylinder pushrod that is too long. (1992-93)

Cruise control: The cruise control cuts out and won't reset unless the key is turned off because the cruise control module is too sensitive to vibrations at the brake pedal. (1994-95)

Engine knock: Engine knock at startup on 4.3-, 5.7-, or 7.4-liter engines is usually eliminated by using an oil filter with a check valve. If this does not fix it, GM has revised PROMs for the computers and will even replace the main bearings if all else fails. (1990-95)

Engine misfire: Damaged injection pump or lift pump on 6.5-liter diesel may clog the fuel filter. (1994-98)

Engine noise: The exhaust valves on 4.3-, 5.0-, or 5.7-liter engines may not get enough lubrication causing a variety of noises. Usually, the same engine consumes excess oil because the valve-guide seals on the exhaust valves are bad and have to be replaced. (1996)

This table lists costs of likely repairs for comparison with other vehicles. The dollar amount includes the cost of the part(s) and labor (based on $50 per hour) for the typical repair without extras or add-ons. Like the pricing information, replacement costs can vary widely depending on region. Expect charges at a new-car dealership to be slightly higher.

1990 diesel: Fuel lines can contact automatic-transmission linkage shaft and/or propshaft.

1990: Brake-pedal pivot bolt could disengage.

1992 extended cab w/high-back bucket seats: Seat recliner-to-frame bolts can loosen, fatigue, and fracture, allowing seatback to recline suddenly.

1992: Brake-pedal pivot bolt could disengage.

1994: Brake-pedal retainer may be missing, mispositioned, or poorly seated.

1994: Reversed polarity of brake switch can cause contacts to wear prematurely; may result in loss of brake lights without warning.

1994: Some drivers' seats could loosen.

1994-95 extended cab C10/15 w/high-back front bucket seats or 60/40 split bench seat: Recliner-to-frame bolts could loosen, fatigue, and fracture, allowing seatback to recline suddenly.

1994-95 extended-cab C10/15 w/gas engine or 6.5-liter H.O. turbodiesel: If lap- and shoulder-belt energy-management loops on front seatbelt assemblies release at or near the same time, acceleration forces can cause release mechanism to activate and allow buckle to separate from latch. Also, a few trucks lack those loops.

1994-96 C10: Solder joints can crack, causing windshield wipers to work intermittently.

1995: Steering-column shaft nut could loosen and detach.

1995-96 Reg. andExtended Cab: The windshield wiper motor may fail on certain vehicles. Dealer will inspect and replace affected parts.

1995-96 w/gasoline engine: Throttle cable may contact dash mat, which could bind the throttle; engine speed might then not return to idle.

1995-97 Crew Cab: The windshield wiper motor may fail on certain vehicles. Dealer will inspect and replace affected parts.

1995-97 extended cab w/Easy Entry: Pinch point in recliner mechanism can trap and pinch a person's hand or fingers when Easy-Entry feature is activated.

1995-98 crew cab: Front inner corner of fuel tank can contact body sill, wearing a hole in or cracking the tank; can result in fuel leakage.

1996 C10/15 w/7.4-liter engine: Fuel-rail assemblies may have improperly crimped end retainer clip that results in leak.

1996: Four U-bolts on either side of rear axle were under-torqued and could loosen and eventually fall off; could result in sudden loss of control.

1997 C10/20: On some trucks, one or two front-seat mounting bolts were not installed.

1998 C10 extended cab and 4-door utility: Steering-gear bolt can loosen and fall out, resulting in separation of shaft from gear.

1998 C10753 extended cab: Rear brake line can contact left front-fender wheelhouse inner panel; a hole could be worn in brake line, allowing loss of fluid and reducing rear-brake effectiveness.

1998: On certain vehicles, the outside rearview mirror switch may short circuit. Dealer will inspect and replace affected parts.

1998: On some trucks, one or both front brake rotor/hubs may have out-of-spec gray iron that can fail during life of vehicle.

This chart details a range of prices in year-by-year listings for vehicles in three condition levels:

Good: a clean low-mileage, solid-running vehicle that needs little or no repair.

Average: a car with normal miles on the odometer, perhaps a few scrapes or dings; engine might need a minor repair or two, but runs acceptably well.

Poor: might have potentially dangerous problems with the engine and/or body, or abnormally high mileage; definitely in need of mechanical attention. Valuations reflect wholesale prices paid by dealers at auction, and retail prices on used-car lots. Each range covers all trim levels and engine types for a vehicle with a typical amount of equipment--usually an automatic transmission, air conditioning, stereo, etc. Fully loaded vehicles may cost more. Average mileage is 12,000 miles per year. Keep in mind that these are guidelines only. Actual selling prices vary- especially from region to region.

At introduction, base engine for the C/K 1500 and 2500 was a 160-horsepower, 4.3-liter V6. A heavy-duty version with five fewer horsepower went into C/K 2500 models rated at 8600 pounds GVW. Options included 5.0- and 5.7-liter gasoline V8s, rated 175 and 210 horsepower, respectively, plus a 6.2-liter diesel V8 that developed 140-150 horsepower. Also optional was the big 7.4-liter gas V8, making 230 horsepower. A more potent variant of the 7.4 went into the 454 SS muscle truck, which was discontinued in 1994. Each engine was available with either manual shift or an automatic transmission. Gas engines had a 5-speed manual, except the H.D. 4.3-liter, which got a 4-speed. So did diesel trucks. By 1991, 3-speed automatics were gone; all were 4-speed. All 4-wheel-drive models used Insta-Trac, an on-demand, part-time 4WD system. 4WD trucks had shift-on-the-fly capability and automatic-locking hubs. Four-speed manual gearboxes departed in 1992, when a 190-horsepower turbodiesel V8 debuted for heavy-duty use. A 155-horsepower, 6.5-liter diesel replaced the 6.2-liter in 1994. Two years later the normally aspirated engine was replaced with a new 6.5 turbodiesel with 180 horsepower. In fact, engine outputs for all C/K engines rose sharply in 1996. The 4.3-liter V6 now made 200 horsepower (up 40), helped by sequential fuel injection. The 5.0-liter V8 added 45 horsepower (now 220). The 5.7-liter V8 gained 50 (rated at 250), while the heavy-duty 5.7 rose to 245 horsepower (up 65). A compression boost helped add 60 horses to the 7.4 V8 (now 290 bhp). For 1997, power outputs for the smaller V8s were bumped again--to 230 horsepower for the 5.0-liter and 255 horsepower for 5.7-liter--resulting in slightly lower fuel economy.