CHEVROLET C1500 · model year

1991 CHEVROLET C1500

43 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1991CHEVROLETC1500 carries 43 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 2 fires, 1 injury, 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 1991 C1500 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 8 filings, followed by tires (4) and seat belts:front:buckle assembly (3). 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 1991 C1500, 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.

43
Complaints
1
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

43 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP8
TIRES4
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY3
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS2
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT2
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DIFFERENTIAL PROPORTIONAL VALVE1

Recent Complaints

20140617TIRES

DRIVING AT 50MPH FRONT LEFT TIRE SEPARATED LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE. A SPARE WAS PUT ON-SOME MINOR DAMAGE TO TRUCK UNDERCARRIAGE. *TR

20140324STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHEVROLET C1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FRAME WAS PERFORATED DUE TO RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

20130128TIRES

I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY 65 MILES AN HOUR. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED IN 2011. MY TRUCK FELT LIKE SOMEONE LASSOED MY BUMPER. I WAS OUT OF CONTROL BUT NO ONE GOT HURT . THANK GOD! WHEN I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT AND CHECK MY TIRE, IT STILL HAD AIR IN IT BUT THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED AND WRAPPED AROUND MY REAR AXLE. TREAD WAS STILL ATTACHED TO TIRE ALSO. THE CHEVY 1990 TRUCK HAD ALMOST ROLLED. I NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE! I HAVE GREAT PICTURES OF THIS ! 2ND TIME I WAS ON HIGHWAY DOING 65 AND TREAD SEPARATED AGAIN. THIS IS 2013. THIS TIME TREAD DAMAGED MY REAR FENDER. I HAVE PICTURES OF THIS ALSO. TIRE STILL HAD AIR IN IT. TOTAL TREAD SEPARATION! BIG O TIRE PATHMAX 31X10 50R15LT. BIG O ISN'T BIG O ANY MORE SO I WENT TO ANOTHER BIG O AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE MY TIRE UNDER MY LIFETIME WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WASN'T THERE SHOP! WHAT IS THIS??!! *TR

Mileage: 17,111

20110521SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

UNEVEN FRONT BRAKE APPLICATION. MEDIUM BRAKE PRESSURE ENERGIZED RIGHT FRONT ONLY CAUSING SEVERE RIGHT STEER. HEAVY BRAKE PRESSURE ENERGIZED BOTH FRONT BRAKES ONLY TO LEAVE LEFT FRONT BRAKE LOCKED. PROBLEM OCCURRED GRADUALLY AND PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED TO DANGER LEVEL, ESPECIALLY ON WET OR LOOSE SURFACES. INSPECTION DETERMINED THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE HOSE SUPPORT CLAMP HAD BEEN OVER COMPRESSED IN MANUFACTURING CAUSING GRADUAL COMPRESSION OF THE INNER HYDRAULIC LINE TO THE POINT OF VIRTUAL CLOSURE. THE ONLY FLOW POSSIBLE WAS AT ELEVATED PRESSURE AND ALSO PREVENTING RETURN FLOW CAUSING SEVERE AND EXTENDED CALIPER CLAMPING PRESSURE. FAILED PART IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *TR

Mileage: 146,000

20040602STRUCTURE

INSTRUMENT PANEL DOES NOT WORK. WHEN THE TRUCK GETS HOT, THE EMERGENCY LIGHT COMES ON ,AND THE WHOLE INSTRUMENT PANEL CONTROL DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, AND WHEN TRYING TO TURN THE PANEL ON AND OFF NOTHING COMES OFF. CONSUMER CANNOT READ THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN TANK OR HOW FAST VEHICLE IS TRAVELING. *AK

20020318POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

WHILE PULLING INTO HIGHWAY DRIVESHAFT HAS BROKEN IN HALF. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

20010801VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

MULTIPLE FAILURES. ANY IMPACT ON THE MODULE RESTARTS WINDSHIELD WIPERS.*AK

20010131SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

VEHICLE DIDN'T COME EQUIPPED WITH HEAD RESTS AND CONSUMER WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE ADDED TO THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER IS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE SEATS WOULD NOT PREVENT WHIPLASH OR DECAPITATION. *SLC

20001012TIRES:TREAD/BELT

PE00 020 ; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON SIDE STREET AND FELT STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING BACK AND FORTH. WHEN HE GOT HOME HE NOTICED THAT LEFT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE RIM. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS#AT, P23575R15, #DOT VDH1. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.HE ALSO CONTACTED FIRESTONE.*AK THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE CASING AND THE SIDE WALL. THERE WAS CRACKING TOO AT THE TREAD. THE CUSTOMER HAD EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM WITH FIRESTONE. *YH

20000918TIRES

IN MARCH, 2000, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BEGAN TO BULDGE AND SHOW SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION, UPON HAVING IT INSPECTED, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TIRE WAS IN FACT SEPARATING. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED AT THAT TIME. AND NOW THE RIGHT REAR TIRE IS SHOWING SIGNS OF SEPARATION AND IN CONTACTING THE FIRESTONE COMPANY ON THIS, I WAS TOLD THE TIRES ARE NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND IF I THINK THEY ARE UNSAFE THEN MAYBE I SHOULD THINK OF REPLACING THEM. UPON TELLING THEM THAT THIS IS THE SECOND TIRE THAT HAS SEPARATED I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THESE TIRES. MY TRUCK IS PARKED BECAUSE I AM AFRAID FOR MY SAFTEY AS WELL AS OTHERS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I CAN DO TO GET THESE REPLACED. THEY ARE UNSAFE AND JUST BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT MANUFACTED IN THE DECATUR PLANT DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE NOT FAULTY.( DOT NUMBER: VN TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

20000426STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

WHILE POWER WASHING THE FRAME NOTICED CRACKS ON BOTH SIDES OF FRAME. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

20000318SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

AFTER CHANGEING THE BRAKES FOR THE 4 TIME I HAVE NEVER CHANGED REAR BRAKES DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE STILL NEW. *AK

19991123SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY GO PARTIALLY TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

19991117SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE 35MPH IN THE RAIN & APPLIED THE BRAKES. ABS BRAKES LOCKED UP AND VEHICLE SLID. VEHICLE WAS NOT CONTROLABLE. FELT LIKE BEING ON ICE. FINALLY GOT VEHICLE TO STOP. CONTACTED DEALER & TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS. ABS BRAKE SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED & WAS GIVEN A FILE NUMBER. PROBLEM WITH THE ABS BRAKES HAS REAPPEARED. *AK

19991012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHEN GOING UP A HILL AFTER DRIVING FOR AWHILE IGNITION FUSE SHORTS OUT, AS IF THE KEY WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE IGNITION. FUSE HAD TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO START BACK UP. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

19990928SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

A MECHANISM WITHIN THE LATCH PLATE OF THE LAP BELT HAS MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERABLE. PLEASE GIVE ANUY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

19990809VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD QUIT WORKING AFTER BEING IN USE FOR A WHILE. WOULD START UP ON THEIR OWN AT ANYTIME. WOULD HAVE NO WARNING. THIS WOULD CAUSE POOR VISIBILITY FOR THE DRIVER. *AK

19990723SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

SEAT BELT BUCKLES ARE INOPERABLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

19990601VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL TURN ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY OR BE TOTALLY INOPERATIVE, WILL NOT START, CAUSING LOSS OF VISIBILITY. *AK

19990325VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINDSHIELD WIPER CIRCUIT BOARD FAILED, RECALL COMPONENT HOWEVER VEHICLE DENIED TO DUE LOCATION OF ASSEMBLY PRODUCTION (NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL).

Compare 1991CHEVROLETC1500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1991 CHEVROLET C1500 have?
The 1991 CHEVROLET C1500 has 43 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 CHEVROLET C1500?
The most-complained component for the 1991 CHEVROLET C1500 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 8 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1991 CHEVROLET C1500 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.