Total Complaints
96 filings
CHEVROLET C3500 · model year
96 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1995CHEVROLETC3500 carries 96 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 1 fire, 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 1995 C3500 is fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system with 8 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (5) and visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor (5). 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 1995 C3500, 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
96 filings
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 8 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 5 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 5 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 4 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH | 4 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 3 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE) | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 2 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 CHEVROLET C3500 EQUIPPED WITH ACHILLES DESERT HAWK A/P TIRES, SIZE LT225/75R16. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SIDEWALL THREAD SEPARATED AND A BUBBLE HAD DEVELOPED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE TIRE PRODUCTION DATE (4511) WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12T006000 (TIRES). THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 193,000. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Mileage: 193,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 CHEVROLET C3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INJECTION PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Mileage: 30,000
I HAVE A 1995 3500 DULLY 6.5 TURBO, ENG F, SERIAL # [XXX]. I BOUGHT IT 4 YEARS AGO 170,000 MILES. THIS TRUCK IS USED FOR TOWING AND HAULING HEAVY LOADS IN MY BUSINESS.. ONE MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT IT AND AFTER SEVERAL STALLS (CREATING SOME CLOSE CALLS) AND HARD STARTING AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AT FIXING STALLING, STARTING PROBLEM I LEARNED OF THE PMD PROBLEM. I REPLACEMENT AND RELOCATED PMD WITH STANADYNE PART # 34583, AND RELOCATED TO FIREWALL. AFTER DRIVING A FEW MONTHS STARTED EXPERIENCING SOME HARD STARTING AND STALLING AGAIN. THIS SUMMER 2010 WHEN TEMPERATURES REACHED THE 90S IT GOT REALLY BAD. ONCE DYEING ON A RIGHT HAND DOWNHILL CURVE THAT CAUSED THE TRUCK TO CROSS THE CENTER LINE FORCING AN ON COMING CAR TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID A HEAD ON COLLISION BEFORE I GOT IT UNDER CONTROL. I HOPE YOU NEVER HAVE TO EXPERIENCE CONTROLLING A CHEVROLET 3500 DULLY WITHOUT POWER GOING DOWN A HILL USING EXTREME EFFORTS TO STEER AND STOP. AND I HOPE YOU NEVER MEET ONE IN LIK
Mileage: 170,000
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND WIPERS FAILED DURING RAIN. LEAVE THE SWITCH ON AND HOPE THEY START WORKING AGAIN. THIS TRUCK NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL, BUT DOES THE SAME THING AS RECALLED TRUCKS. TRANSMISSION REFUSES TO SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEARS. STOP TRUCK, SHUT OFF ENGINE, RESTART AND PROCEED SEEMS TO WORK MOST OF THE TIME TO GET TRANSMISSION WORKING CORRECTLY. SOMETIMES MUST REPEAT SEVERAL TIMES. CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. BOTH SHIFTERS REPLACED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. ALTERNATOR REPLACED 3 TIMES. AIR CONDITIONING PUMP REPLACED 3 TIMES. THIS PROBLEM CANNOT BE REMEDIED BECAUSE THE CLUTCH FREEZES UP ON EACH ONE SHORTLY AFTER INSTALLED. HARMONIC BALANCER PULLEY WAS FIRST TO GO. REPLACED IT 1 TIME SO FAR, VACUUM PUMP BLEW A HOLE IN SIDE AND REPLACED AS WELL. BOTH DOORS HAD HINGE PINS REPLACED AS BOTH DOORS WERE HANGING. PASSENGER DOOR WAS THE WORST. PASSENGER DOOR LINKAGES REPLACED AS WELL BUT FAILED WITHIN A FEW DAYS AFTER REPLACEMENT. ALL PROBLEMS STARTED IN FALL OF 2000.*AK
Mileage: 100,000
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND WIPERS FAILED DURING RAIN. LEAVE THE SWITCH ON AND HOPE THEY START WORKING AGAIN. THIS TRUCK NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL, BUT DOES THE SAME THING AS RECALLED TRUCKS. TRANSMISSION REFUSES TO SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEARS. STOP TRUCK, SHUT OFF ENGINE, RESTART AND PROCEED SEEMS TO WORK MOST OF THE TIME TO GET TRANSMISSION WORKING CORRECTLY. SOMETIMES MUST REPEAT SEVERAL TIMES. CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. BOTH SHIFTERS REPLACED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. ALTERNATOR REPLACED 3 TIMES. AIR CONDITIONING PUMP REPLACED 3 TIMES. THIS PROBLEM CANNOT BE REMEDIED BECAUSE THE CLUTCH FREEZES UP ON EACH ONE SHORTLY AFTER INSTALLED. HARMONIC BALANCER PULLEY WAS FIRST TO GO. REPLACED IT 1 TIME SO FAR, VACUUM PUMP BLEW A HOLE IN SIDE AND REPLACED AS WELL. BOTH DOORS HAD HINGE PINS REPLACED AS BOTH DOORS WERE HANGING. PASSENGER DOOR WAS THE WORST. PASSENGER DOOR LINKAGES REPLACED AS WELL BUT FAILED WITHIN A FEW DAYS AFTER REPLACEMENT. ALL PROBLEMS STARTED IN FALL OF 2000.*AK
Mileage: 100,000
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND WIPERS FAILED DURING RAIN. LEAVE THE SWITCH ON AND HOPE THEY START WORKING AGAIN. THIS TRUCK NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL, BUT DOES THE SAME THING AS RECALLED TRUCKS. TRANSMISSION REFUSES TO SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEARS. STOP TRUCK, SHUT OFF ENGINE, RESTART AND PROCEED SEEMS TO WORK MOST OF THE TIME TO GET TRANSMISSION WORKING CORRECTLY. SOMETIMES MUST REPEAT SEVERAL TIMES. CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. BOTH SHIFTERS REPLACED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. ALTERNATOR REPLACED 3 TIMES. AIR CONDITIONING PUMP REPLACED 3 TIMES. THIS PROBLEM CANNOT BE REMEDIED BECAUSE THE CLUTCH FREEZES UP ON EACH ONE SHORTLY AFTER INSTALLED. HARMONIC BALANCER PULLEY WAS FIRST TO GO. REPLACED IT 1 TIME SO FAR, VACUUM PUMP BLEW A HOLE IN SIDE AND REPLACED AS WELL. BOTH DOORS HAD HINGE PINS REPLACED AS BOTH DOORS WERE HANGING. PASSENGER DOOR WAS THE WORST. PASSENGER DOOR LINKAGES REPLACED AS WELL BUT FAILED WITHIN A FEW DAYS AFTER REPLACEMENT. ALL PROBLEMS STARTED IN FALL OF 2000.*AK
Mileage: 100,000
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND WIPERS FAILED DURING RAIN. LEAVE THE SWITCH ON AND HOPE THEY START WORKING AGAIN. THIS TRUCK NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL, BUT DOES THE SAME THING AS RECALLED TRUCKS. TRANSMISSION REFUSES TO SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEARS. STOP TRUCK, SHUT OFF ENGINE, RESTART AND PROCEED SEEMS TO WORK MOST OF THE TIME TO GET TRANSMISSION WORKING CORRECTLY. SOMETIMES MUST REPEAT SEVERAL TIMES. CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. BOTH SHIFTERS REPLACED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. ALTERNATOR REPLACED 3 TIMES. AIR CONDITIONING PUMP REPLACED 3 TIMES. THIS PROBLEM CANNOT BE REMEDIED BECAUSE THE CLUTCH FREEZES UP ON EACH ONE SHORTLY AFTER INSTALLED. HARMONIC BALANCER PULLEY WAS FIRST TO GO. REPLACED IT 1 TIME SO FAR, VACUUM PUMP BLEW A HOLE IN SIDE AND REPLACED AS WELL. BOTH DOORS HAD HINGE PINS REPLACED AS BOTH DOORS WERE HANGING. PASSENGER DOOR WAS THE WORST. PASSENGER DOOR LINKAGES REPLACED AS WELL BUT FAILED WITHIN A FEW DAYS AFTER REPLACEMENT. ALL PROBLEMS STARTED IN FALL OF 2000.*AK
Mileage: 100,000
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND WIPERS FAILED DURING RAIN. LEAVE THE SWITCH ON AND HOPE THEY START WORKING AGAIN. THIS TRUCK NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL, BUT DOES THE SAME THING AS RECALLED TRUCKS. TRANSMISSION REFUSES TO SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEARS. STOP TRUCK, SHUT OFF ENGINE, RESTART AND PROCEED SEEMS TO WORK MOST OF THE TIME TO GET TRANSMISSION WORKING CORRECTLY. SOMETIMES MUST REPEAT SEVERAL TIMES. CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. BOTH SHIFTERS REPLACED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. ALTERNATOR REPLACED 3 TIMES. AIR CONDITIONING PUMP REPLACED 3 TIMES. THIS PROBLEM CANNOT BE REMEDIED BECAUSE THE CLUTCH FREEZES UP ON EACH ONE SHORTLY AFTER INSTALLED. HARMONIC BALANCER PULLEY WAS FIRST TO GO. REPLACED IT 1 TIME SO FAR, VACUUM PUMP BLEW A HOLE IN SIDE AND REPLACED AS WELL. BOTH DOORS HAD HINGE PINS REPLACED AS BOTH DOORS WERE HANGING. PASSENGER DOOR WAS THE WORST. PASSENGER DOOR LINKAGES REPLACED AS WELL BUT FAILED WITHIN A FEW DAYS AFTER REPLACEMENT. ALL PROBLEMS STARTED IN FALL OF 2000.*AK
Mileage: 100,000
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND WIPERS FAILED DURING RAIN. LEAVE THE SWITCH ON AND HOPE THEY START WORKING AGAIN. THIS TRUCK NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL, BUT DOES THE SAME THING AS RECALLED TRUCKS. TRANSMISSION REFUSES TO SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEARS. STOP TRUCK, SHUT OFF ENGINE, RESTART AND PROCEED SEEMS TO WORK MOST OF THE TIME TO GET TRANSMISSION WORKING CORRECTLY. SOMETIMES MUST REPEAT SEVERAL TIMES. CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. BOTH SHIFTERS REPLACED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. ALTERNATOR REPLACED 3 TIMES. AIR CONDITIONING PUMP REPLACED 3 TIMES. THIS PROBLEM CANNOT BE REMEDIED BECAUSE THE CLUTCH FREEZES UP ON EACH ONE SHORTLY AFTER INSTALLED. HARMONIC BALANCER PULLEY WAS FIRST TO GO. REPLACED IT 1 TIME SO FAR, VACUUM PUMP BLEW A HOLE IN SIDE AND REPLACED AS WELL. BOTH DOORS HAD HINGE PINS REPLACED AS BOTH DOORS WERE HANGING. PASSENGER DOOR WAS THE WORST. PASSENGER DOOR LINKAGES REPLACED AS WELL BUT FAILED WITHIN A FEW DAYS AFTER REPLACEMENT. ALL PROBLEMS STARTED IN FALL OF 2000.*AK
Mileage: 100,000
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND WIPERS FAILED DURING RAIN. LEAVE THE SWITCH ON AND HOPE THEY START WORKING AGAIN. THIS TRUCK NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL, BUT DOES THE SAME THING AS RECALLED TRUCKS. TRANSMISSION REFUSES TO SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEARS. STOP TRUCK, SHUT OFF ENGINE, RESTART AND PROCEED SEEMS TO WORK MOST OF THE TIME TO GET TRANSMISSION WORKING CORRECTLY. SOMETIMES MUST REPEAT SEVERAL TIMES. CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. BOTH SHIFTERS REPLACED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. ALTERNATOR REPLACED 3 TIMES. AIR CONDITIONING PUMP REPLACED 3 TIMES. THIS PROBLEM CANNOT BE REMEDIED BECAUSE THE CLUTCH FREEZES UP ON EACH ONE SHORTLY AFTER INSTALLED. HARMONIC BALANCER PULLEY WAS FIRST TO GO. REPLACED IT 1 TIME SO FAR, VACUUM PUMP BLEW A HOLE IN SIDE AND REPLACED AS WELL. BOTH DOORS HAD HINGE PINS REPLACED AS BOTH DOORS WERE HANGING. PASSENGER DOOR WAS THE WORST. PASSENGER DOOR LINKAGES REPLACED AS WELL BUT FAILED WITHIN A FEW DAYS AFTER REPLACEMENT. ALL PROBLEMS STARTED IN FALL OF 2000.*AK
Mileage: 100,000
PROBLEMS WITH STEERING ON 1995 CHEVROLET C3500 CREW CAB PICKUP. *MR WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO VIBRATE THEN MOVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT HE WAS GOING TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS THE CONSUMER SLOWED TO STOP, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL AS IT ROCKED BACK AND FORTH FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE OBVIOUSLY SWAYED BACK AND FORTH AS WELL. WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, HE FOUND THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE HAD BALLOONED ALONG WITH SIDEWALL AND TREAD DAMAGE. *SC *JB
BOTH ENGINE HEAD GASKETS CRACKED. AS A RESULT, WATER SEEPED INTO THE ENGINE WHICH BURNED WHITE SMOKE. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN 95 DIESEL 6.5 ENGINES BETWEEN 130K MILES AND 140K MILES. (THIS WAS A METAL PROBLEM) *SC *JB
Mileage: 143,000
TECH-COR, INC. IS A RESEARCH SUBSIDIARY OF THE ALLSTATE NON-LIFE HOLDING CO. WE RECEIVE AND ANALYZE INQUIRIES FROM ALLSTATE INSURED CUSTOMERS. ONE, A MR. HENRY ALWARDT, OF KEY LARGO, FL, TOLD OF A DEFECT IN THE FUEL INJECTOR PUMP CIRCUIT OF THEGENERAL MOTORS 6.8L DIESEL ENGINE, WHICH WAS OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT ON CHEV. & GMC TRUCKS FROM 1995-2000. ACCORDING TO MR. ALWARDT, THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FOR THE FUEL INJECTOR WOULD FAIL WITHOUT WARNIONG, CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING & BRAKE CONTROL, WHICH COULD CONTRIBUTE TO AN ACCIDENT. HE SAID THAT HE HAS HAD 4 OF THESE PUMPS AND THE ELECTRONIC MODULES REPLACED ON HIS 1995 CHEV. TRUCK , UNDER WARRANTY, SINCE HE BOUGHT IT NEW IN 1995. HE FURTHER STATED THAT AS A RESULT OF PERSONAL CONTACTS WITH OTHER OWNERS, THAT GM DEALERS HAVE BEEN INUNDATED WIT SIMILAR FAILURES AND SUBSEQUENT WARRANTY REPAIRS. HE IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL RISK OF INJURY TO DRIVERS, PASSENGERS AND OCCUPANTS OF OTHER VEHICLES, IF ONE OF THESE VEHICLES EXPERIENCES THIS
SIDE WALL FAILURE RESULTING IN BLOWOUT.*AK (DOT NUMBER: 8XOR 65C 5 TIRESIZE: 235/85R16)
DRIVER'S SEAT BRACKET IS BROKEN. HE WAS TOLD THAT THESE SEATS BREAK ALL THE TIME.*AK CONSUMER STATED IT IS THE SEAT MOUNTING BRACKET. *TT
WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS DUE TO PROBLEM WITH SOLDER JOINTS. VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER 98V1500001. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED SHIFTER WOULD SLIP OUT OF GEAR. CLUCH WOULD ALSO SLIP WIITH NOISE. HAD VEHICLE SERVICED. TECHNICIAN STATED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: 2013MS TIRE SIZE: LT225/75R/ )
TIRE TREAD CAME OFF AND TIRE EXPLODED WHIL I WAS COMING FROM FLORIDA. TIRE MAKER IN FAYETTEVILLE SAID THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED IN THE TIRE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I HAVE PROOF THAT TIRE MADE PRIOR TO 1999, MAY HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFORMATION. I STILL HAVE THE TIRE.( DOT NUMBER: )
ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED WHILE DRIVING UP HILL WITH TRAILER. ENGINE WAS REPLACED WITH NO REASON GIVEN FOR FAILURE. LESS THAN 2000 MILES LATER THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP FAILED CAUSING THE TRUCK TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN UNCONTROLLABLY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THIS VEHICLE IN WHICH THE TRUCK HAS ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY FOR FUEL INJECTION RELATED REASONS. ANOTHER 170 MILES LATER THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP FAILED AGAIN AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS REPLACED WITH A REMANUFACTURED PUMP WHICH, IN FACT, DID NOT COME WITH THE 12MONTH/12,000 MILE WARRANTY I WAS TOLD IT CAME WITH 4 DAYS EARLIER. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS CONTACTED AFTER THE INITIAL PUMP FAILURE (4/30/00) SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT. AFTER FOUR WEEKS(5/30/00) AND SEVERAL RETURN CALLS TO GM, I STILL HAVE NO ANSWER ON REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE ORIGINAL PUMP FAILURE WHICH COST ME $1900. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENTS HAVE BEEN VERY UNHELPFUL AND INCONSISTENT IN THEIR REASONS FOR FAILURE TO RESPOND TO MY REQUESTS. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE
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.