CHEVROLET C3500 · model year

1994 CHEVROLET C3500

32 NHTSA complaints. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1994CHEVROLETC3500 carries 32 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1994 C3500 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 3 filings, followed by power train:clutch assembly (3) and visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor (3). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1994 C3500, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.

32
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

32 filings

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

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP3
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY3
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM1
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING1

Recent Complaints

20031214VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR QUIT WITHOUT NOTICE FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME AND START AGAIN . *AK

Mileage: 57,216

20021120POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

REAR TIRES MEASURE APPROX. 96 FRONT TIRES APPROX 91. DT

20010517POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)

WHILE PULLING A HEAVY LOAD WITH VEHICLE CLUTCH PEDAL WILL GO TO FLOOR, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CLUTCH. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS IS THE RESULT OF HEAT COMING FROM EXHAUST PIPE IN ENGINE BEING TOO EXCESSIVE, AND CAUSING SLAVE CYLINDER TO MALFUNCTION.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE ENTIRE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM HAS BEEN FLUSHED SEVERAL TIMES, ALSO THE SLAVE CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM IS STILL NOT RESOLVED. *JB

20010517SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

WHILE PULLING A HEAVY LOAD WITH VEHICLE CLUTCH PEDAL WILL GO TO FLOOR, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CLUTCH. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS IS THE RESULT OF HEAT COMING FROM EXHAUST PIPE IN ENGINE BEING TOO EXCESSIVE, AND CAUSING SLAVE CYLINDER TO MALFUNCTION.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE ENTIRE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM HAS BEEN FLUSHED SEVERAL TIMES, ALSO THE SLAVE CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM IS STILL NOT RESOLVED. *JB

20010517POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

WHILE PULLING A HEAVY LOAD WITH VEHICLE CLUTCH PEDAL WILL GO TO FLOOR, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CLUTCH. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS IS THE RESULT OF HEAT COMING FROM EXHAUST PIPE IN ENGINE BEING TOO EXCESSIVE, AND CAUSING SLAVE CYLINDER TO MALFUNCTION.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE ENTIRE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM HAS BEEN FLUSHED SEVERAL TIMES, ALSO THE SLAVE CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM IS STILL NOT RESOLVED. *JB

20001120ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

2ND 1-95 SORRY 3RD 9-95 STRANGE 4TH. 10-97 DEFECTIVE PUMPS 4TH. 10-97 REBUILD DEFECTIVE PUMP 5TH 4-00 COST $1559.63 DEFECTIVE PUMP 6TH 11-00 DEFECTIVE PUMP $1900.00 PLEASE CALL FOR DETAIL ALL WORK DONE AT SAME DEALER. *AK

20000822ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

NHTSA CAMPAIGN NO: 951005000, GM RECALL NO: 94C57/ THIS IS A PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT STARTED ON THE DATE OF PURCHASE. DURING THE FIST TWO YEARS THE INJECTOR PUMP WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES. NOW I HEAR OF THE RECALL AND GM @ 1-800-222-1020 FILE NO: C01138552 SAY THEY HAVE NO RECALLS OF THIS NATURE ON MY DIESEL POWERED TRUCK. AT THE PRESENT TIME MY VEHICLE STALLS, HAS VERY POOR THROTTLE RESPONSE, MISFIRES, STALLS AFTER START, AND SOMETIMES STALLS DURING DECELERATION. ONE DEALER ALSO TOLD ME AFTER A PUMP REPLACEMENT, IF THE SAME PROBLEM CAME BACK, TO NOT COME BACK TO THEM, TAKE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. AT TIMES THIS ENGINE WILL QUIT WITH NO WARNING, IN TRAFFIC, GOING AROUND A CURVE, OR @ 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. PLEASE INFORM ME OF ANY COURSE OF ACTION I MAY HAVE TO GET MY VEHICLE REPAIRED. *AK

20000822FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

NHTSA CAMPAIGN NO: 951005000, GM RECALL NO: 94C57/ THIS IS A PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT STARTED ON THE DATE OF PURCHASE. DURING THE FIST TWO YEARS THE INJECTOR PUMP WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES. NOW I HEAR OF THE RECALL AND GM @ 1-800-222-1020 FILE NO: C01138552 SAY THEY HAVE NO RECALLS OF THIS NATURE ON MY DIESEL POWERED TRUCK. AT THE PRESENT TIME MY VEHICLE STALLS, HAS VERY POOR THROTTLE RESPONSE, MISFIRES, STALLS AFTER START, AND SOMETIMES STALLS DURING DECELERATION. ONE DEALER ALSO TOLD ME AFTER A PUMP REPLACEMENT, IF THE SAME PROBLEM CAME BACK, TO NOT COME BACK TO THEM, TAKE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. AT TIMES THIS ENGINE WILL QUIT WITH NO WARNING, IN TRAFFIC, GOING AROUND A CURVE, OR @ 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. PLEASE INFORM ME OF ANY COURSE OF ACTION I MAY HAVE TO GET MY VEHICLE REPAIRED. *AK

20000210VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO A BAD SOLDER JOINT. DEALER SAYS IT'S NOT ON RECALL. *AK

19990921VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINDSHIED WIPERS FAILED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WIPER BOARD, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY IN BAD WEAHTER CONDITIONS. *YC

19990217ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

TURBO BRACKET BROKE, REPLACE BRACKET.

19980126SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE REAR ABS BRAKES FAIL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. REPLACED BRAKING SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

19971203VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WIPERS FAILED ON MANY OCCASIONS, AT TIMES AFFECTS VISIBILITY,ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.

19971107SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

BRAKES: WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WILL PULL TO THE LEFT. INTERMITTENTLY, THE BRAKES WILL PULSATE, FEELS LIKE THERE ARE NO POWER BRAKES. BRAKE PEDAL MAKES A CLICKING SOUND WHEN PUSHING ON THEM. *AK

19970831POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

CLUTCH PEDAL IS HARD TO PUSH DOWN AND THERE'RE DIFFICULTIES SHIFTING GEARS. THE CLUTCH BALL AND FORK WERE BROKEN. ALSO, PROBLEMS EXISTED WITH THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM.

19970527ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

INTERMITTENT STALLING.

19970527EXTERIOR LIGHTING

PARKING LIGHTS FAILED.

19970527ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BATTERY EXPLODED.

19970527VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

WINDOW MOTOR INOPERATIVE.

19970409FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTION PUMP. THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP WAS REPLACED (5) TIMES WITHIN TWO YEARS. GM DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND DESIGN FLAW. *AK

Compare 1994CHEVROLETC3500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1994 CHEVROLET C3500 have?
The 1994 CHEVROLET C3500 has 32 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 CHEVROLET C3500?
The most-complained component for the 1994 CHEVROLET C3500 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY and VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR.
Is the 1994 CHEVROLET C3500 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 vintage: August 2026. 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.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1994 CHEVROLET C3500; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.