Total Complaints
13 filings
CHEVROLET C20 · model year
1994 CHEVROLET C20
13 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1994CHEVROLETC20 carries 13 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 4 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 C20 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 3 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages (2) and air bags:frontal (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 1994 C20, 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
3
Crashes
0
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
3 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 |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES | 2 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20100901CrashTIRES
1994 CHEVROLET C20, LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND WENT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD, STRIKING THE CONCRETE MEDIAN WALL. *BF ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE TIRES SHOWED SUFFICIENT TREAD, BUT SHOWED SIGNS OF DRY ROT AND CRACKING. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0469-90) *JB UPDATED 09/13/10*BF
20020514SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
CONSUMER FEELS THERE IS INSUFFICIENT SPACE BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ENGINE COVER (THIS IS A VAN WITH THE ENGINE COVER LOCATED BETWEEN THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SEAT). WHEN THE DRIVER REMOVES HIS FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL IT WILL OCCASIONALLY GET CAUGHT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT. *YH
20020314SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
CONSUMER FEELS THERE IS INSUFFICIENT SPACE BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ENGINE COVER (THIS IS A VAN WITH THE ENGINE COVER LOCATED BETWEEN THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SEAT). WHEN THE DRIVER REMOVES HIS FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL IT WILL OCCASIONALLY GET CAUGHT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT. *YH
20010814VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD HAS AN IRREGULARITY, THIS CAUSES DRIVER'S VIEW TO BE OBSTRUCTED, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S RAINING. AREA IS NOT ABLE TO BE CLEANED WHEN WIPER IS IN USE. ROAD IS HARD TO DISCIPHER WHEN THE WEATHER IS CLEAR AND SUNNY.*AK *JB
20010208SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
AT ANY SPEED WHEN APPLYING BRAKES BRAKING DISTANCE IS NOT WHAT IT SHOULD BE. REAR BRAKES NOT WORKING PROPERLY, LOCK UP. FRONT BRAKES REPLACED TWICE. *AK BRAKES ARE REAL BAD ON WET OR ICY ROADS. *YH
19990329VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED FUNCTIONING FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND HAVE INTERMITTENT OPERATION. POSSIBLE TO RESTART WIPERS BY TAPPING ON MOTOR HOUSING AND/OR MOVING WIRES THAT PLUG INTO WIPER MOTOR. *AK
19981020SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI LOCK BRAKES LOCKED UP SEVERAL TIMES, TWO ACCIDENTS FROM LOCK UP.
19960401SEATS
DRIVERS SEAT BRACKET THAT SECURES THE FRAME BROKE. *AK THE BRACKET BROKE ON TH BACK SEAT, HAD A ROCKING MOTION WHICH FELT VERY UNSAFE PARTICULARY IF THERE WOULD BE AN ACCIDENT, CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPAIRED IT.*JB
19951226VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE CAR IDLES AT 1100 TO 1500 RMP WHEN YOU RELEASE THE PEDAL. HAS TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO DEALERS SEVEN TIMES NOTHING HAPPENED. TT
19950417SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, WILL LOCK UP UNEXPECTEDLY. TT
19950410ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, PE94-091 ACTIVE. TT
19950303CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE, HELD THEM DOWN, WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. TT
19950303CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
HAD A FRONTAL COLLISION, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT
Compare 1994CHEVROLETC20 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 1994 CHEVROLET C20 have?▼
The 1994 CHEVROLET C20 has 13 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 CHEVROLET C20?▼
The most-complained component for the 1994 CHEVROLET C20 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES and AIR BAGS:FRONTAL.
Is the 1994 CHEVROLET C20 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.