Total Complaints
177 filings
CHEVROLET C1500 · model year
177 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1994CHEVROLETC1500 carries 177 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 0 fires, 3 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 1994 C1500 is visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor with 37 filings, followed by visibility:windshield wiper/washer (31) and seats (15). 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 1994 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.
Total Complaints
177 filings
Crashes Reported
4 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 37 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 31 |
| SEATS | 15 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 11 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 8 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 4 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH | 4 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS | 2 |
DRIVING EASTBOUND I-10 IN REDLANDS, CA ABOUT 0930, I BEGAN TO FEEL A SLIGHT PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND VIBRATION IN THE STEERING. I THOUGHT A BALANCING WEIGHT MIGHT HAVE FALLEN OFF. I WAS GOING ABOUT 65 MPH IN THE #3 LANE AND BEGAN TO MOVE IN TO THE #2 LANE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY AT 6TH ST TO CHECK THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE FRONT LEFT TIRE TIRE WENT OVER THE PROTRUDING REFLECTIVE MARKERS BETWEEN THE #3 AND #2 LANE, I THOUGHT A FRONT TIRE HAD BLOWN. THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL FOLLOWED BY LOUD BANGING. I REGAINED CONTROL AND PULLED OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS NOT FLAT, BUT THE TIRE TREAD HAD SHREDDED. ABOUT 2/3RDS OF THE TIRE TREAD WAS MISSING (STILL ON THE FREEWAY) AND THE OTHER 1/3RD WAS STILL ON THE TIRE. THE REMAINING TREAD ON THE TIRE APPEARS TO BE IN A PATTERN POSSIBLY FROM THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. THE INNER METAL FENDER WELL WAS TORN HALF WAY OFF ALONG WITH BODY DAMAGE TO THE FENDERS LOWER FRONT AND REAR OF THE WHEEL WELL. PAINT DAMAGE EXTENDED TO THE EXTER
Mileage: 163,000
BEGAN TO PARK, DEPRESSING CLUTCH TO NO EFFECT WITH TRUCK STAYING IN GEAR. WOULD NOT GO INTO NEUTRAL. KEPT MOVING WITH BREAKS ON AND CLUTCH DEPRESSED. FOUND MASTER CYLINDER FOR CLUTCH BROKEN AND LEAKING FLUID. BOUGHT NEW MASTER CYLINDER ONLY TO FIND NOTICE IN BOX IF PART WAS BROKEN WHERE IT WAS CRACKED GM HAD TECHNICAL LETTER OUT AND CYLINDER WARRANTY WOULD NOT BE HONORED. TURNS OUT TO SAVE THE COST OF A GREAS ZERCK NO POINT OF LUBRICATION WAS PROVIDED FOR THE FORK ARM BALL WHICH LEADS TO FAILURE. COST TO HAVE 85 CENT GREASE ZERCK INSTALLED BY GM DEALER IS $500 DOLLARS. THE FORK IS ANOTHER $1000 AS QUOTED BY DEALER.
Mileage: 300,000
DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE-BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND SHE COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE AND ACCIDENT OCCURRED- INSPECTION OF VEHICLE AFTER FACT REVEALED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD FAILED. *TR
Mileage: 167,000
1994, CHEVROLET C1500 EXTENDED CAB PU WITH ELECTRIC SEATS. FRONT LEFT SEAT MOUNT BROKE AS I CLIMBED INTO SEAT. I WAS LUCKY I WAS NOT DRIVING. STILL TRYING TO FIX IT SO PART IS STILL ON TRUCK. *TR
Mileage: 48,500
THROTTLE CABLE STICKING WHILE DRIVING. I WAS DRIVING AND PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS TO PASS IT STUCK TO THE FLOOR UNABLE TO BRAKE HAD TO DRIVE OFF ROAD TO AVOID ACCIDENT I PUT THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO COME TO A STOP THE RPMS CONTINUED TO STAY HIGH PASS 5000 RPMS FOR SEVERAL MINUTES I THEN TURN THE TRUCK OFF WAITED STARTED IT A FEW MINUTES LATER AND THE RPMS IMMEDIATELY RAISED AGAIN TO 500 RPMS I THEN TURN THE TRUCK OFF AGAIN AND WAITED LONGER. WHEN I DID START IT AGAIN IT ACTED LIKE NOTHING HAD EVER HAPPENED. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS. *TR
Mileage: 152,500
DURING WET CONDITIONS (RAIN/SNOW) THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY 1994 CHEVROLET C-1500 STOP FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD AND THE TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME. THIS PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED IN 2005. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FUNCTIONED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE WIPER MOTOR HAD CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, WHO STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL #03V159000, WHICH PERTAINED TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER.
Mileage: 42,000
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE TIRE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT MANY CUSTOMERS HAD THE SAME TYPE OF BLOWOUT. UPDATED 11/3/2006 - WHEN THE TIRE BLEWOUT IT DAMAGED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *NM
FOR THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS, MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD OCCASSIONALLY STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING NEARLY CAUSING ME TO CRASH. SOMETIMES, THEY WOULDN'T EVEN COME ON AT ALL AND OTHER TIMES THEY WOULD APPEAR TO GET STUCK AND I WOULD HEAR A LOUD WHIRRING SOUND COMING FROM THE W/S WIPER MOTOR. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FREQUENTLY. WITH WINTER NEARLY UPON US, THE NEED FOR MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO WORK PROPERLY HAS INCREASED GREATLY. WHILE RESEARCHING PRICES TO REPAIR THIS, I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR COMPONENT SO I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS WAS PARTICULARLY UPSETTING SINCE MY VEHICLE IS EXHIBITING THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL BULLETIN. I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED WHEN IT IS ALREADY A KNOWN DEFECT IN MY 1994 CHEVY C1500 PICKUP. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY VIN ADDED TO THE RECALL SO THAT I CAN GET THIS REPAIRED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *NM
Mileage: 125,000
DT: 1994 CHEVROLET 1500. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON A BOLT FOR THE SEAT ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO. THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE. AFTER THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE SEAT FAILED. THE CONSUMER CALLED CHEVROLET AND THEY STATED THAT THE RECALL WORK WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE SEAT REPAIRED AGAIN. THE SEAT FAILURE DID NOT RESULT IN A CRASH OR ANY INJURIES.*AK *MR
DT: WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK CORRECTLY, WITHOUT WARNING THE WIPERS WILL STOP. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, BUT NOT ON HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Mileage: 60,000
1994 CHEVY C1500 PICK UP - WINDSHIELD WIPERS FUNCTION ON AND OFF OR NOT AT ALL BY THEM SELVES. YOU CANNOT DEPEND ON THEM WORKING AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THE DEALERS SAID MY TRUCK WAS NOT PART OF NHTSA RECALL # 03V159000 EVEN THOUGH IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS UP TO $400.00 TO FIX PROBLEM. CAN THIS ISSUE PLEASE BE REVIEWED FOR CONSIDERATION IN A RECALL? THANK YOU J.L. MERAZ
I PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE NEW. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION QUIT SHIFTING INTO 3-4 ON 3-20-05. TRANSMISSION REQUIRED REBUILD. UPON DISASSEMBLY I DISCOVERED THE 3-4 ACCUMULATOR PUMP SPRING WAS NOT INSTALLED IN THE TRANSMISSION SO THE 3-4 GEARS HAVE BEEN RUNNING OVER VOLUME AND PRESSURE FROM DAY ONE LEADING TO EVENTUAL FAILURE. NEW PART WILL BE PURCHASED AND INSTALLED.
Mileage: 180,850
WHEN DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. RECALL 03V159000 WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Mileage: 89,000
COMPLAINT REGARDING REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL REPAIRS.*MR THE CONSUMER HAD EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE AND HAD THEM REPAIRED AT THERE OWN EXPENSE. DEALER NOTIFIED ABOUT THE DEFECT VEHICLE, AND TO DATE HAS NOT OFFERED REIMBURSEMENT. PLEASE REVIEW FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS. *CB
RECALL NOTICE FOUND FOR DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPING WHILE IN USE DURING RAIN. *MR THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. THE CIRCUIT BOARD WAS REPLACED AT THE CONSUMERS EXPENSE. *SC (RECALL (98V150001) THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT REALLY WAS NOT A RECALL, IT WAS A SPECIAL POLICY THAT EXPIRED 4 YEARS AGO. *JB
WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND WENT OFF ON THEIR OWN. THE DEALER WAS AWARE THAT THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF A RECALL. *AK *SC *JB
WHEN WIPERS ARE IN USE WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THEY WOULD FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY. THE WIPER WOULD GO ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT THE DEALER IS AWARE OF. *NLM
PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR.*MR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ONLY WORKED ON SUNNY DAYS. THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONSUMER IT DID NOT APPLY TO HIS VEHICLE. *JB *NLM
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL QUIT WORKING. SOMETIMES THEY WILL NOT EVEN START UP. SOMETIMES I CAN GET OUT UNDER THE HOOD AND HIT ON THE WIPER MOTOR AND THEY WILL START UP. THEY MAY NOT STAY RUNNING THOUGH. THIS OCCURS IN DELAY AND REGULAR MODES. THIS HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIME SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE USED IN JUNE 2002. *JB
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
Fuel Line Leak
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.