Total Complaints
13 filings
CHEVROLET C15 · model year
1989 CHEVROLET C15
13 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1989CHEVROLETC15 carries 13 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1989 C15 is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 3 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission:torque converter (1) and unknown or other (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1989 C15, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
13
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:BRAKE FLUID LOW WARNING: LAMP | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
Recent Complaints
19970623STRUCTURE:BODY
PAINT HAS BEEN PEELINF OFF THE CAB OF THE ROOF. *AK
19970421SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
TIRE BALL JOINTS ARE DEFECTIVE. *AK
19960408FirePOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO TRANSMISSION FULID LEAKING. *AK
19960205VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
HAD DRIVEN PREVIOUS, TRUCK ACCELERATED WITH TIRES SPINNING AND BRAKES OVERHEATING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
19951031SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE PASSENGER SEATBELT WILL NOT LATCH. TT WHEN THE BUCKLE WAS PUSHED INTO LATCH, THE LATCH DID NOT LOCK IN TO PLACE TO HOLD BELTS TOGETHER. *YH
19951020SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE, EXCESSIVE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL, PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING WHILE TOWING A BOAT. TT THE ELECTRO HYDRAULIC VALVE WAS REPLACED WHICH CORRECTED BRAKING PROBLEM FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, BRAKE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *SLC
19950921EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
DRIVER CHOKE W/CAUSE BEING A/C AND VENTS SEAL DRIED UP. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
19950907VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
DRIVER CHOKES W/CAUSE BEING A/C AND VENTS SEAL DRIED UP. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
19950526SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SHOULDER/LAP BELT BUCKLES INOPERATIVE, MALE WON'T GO INTO FEMALE PORTION. TT
19950525UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE SPEED GUAGE DOES NOT WORK AT TIMES, AND THE BRAKE LIGHT BLINKS FOR NO REASON. TT
19950525SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:BRAKE FLUID LOW WARNING: LAMP
THE SPEED GUAGE DOES NOT WORK AT TIMES, AND THE BRAKE LIGHT BLINKS FOR NO REASON. TT
19950522SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE FRONT AND PASSENGER SIDE RELEASE BUTTONS BROKE, THERE IS SOMETHING THAT'S INSIDE OF THE BUCKLE. TT
19950120FirePOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
WHILE DRIVING NOTICE POWER LOSS, NOTICE WHITE AND BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE, RESULTING IN FIRE, POSSIBLE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE IN AUTO TRAN.
Compare 1989CHEVROLETC15 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1989 CHEVROLET C15 have?▼
The 1989 CHEVROLET C15 has 13 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 CHEVROLET C15?▼
The most-complained component for the 1989 CHEVROLET C15 is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 1989 CHEVROLET C15 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.