CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 · model year

1994 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

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

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1994CHEVROLETSILVERADO 1500 carries 10 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 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 1994 SILVERADO 1500 is engine and engine cooling with 2 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic (2) and visibility:rear window wiper/washer:motor (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 2 investigation files overlapping the 1994 SILVERADO 1500, and 1 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.

10
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

10 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
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2
VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS1
SEATS1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH1
AIR BAGS1

Recent Complaints

20161209AIR BAGS

AIRBAGS NEED REPLACED.

20160314LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 (NA) CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WITHOUT WARNING, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LATCH FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO HOLD THE DOOR TOGETHER WITH A CONTRAPTION TO KEEP THE DOOR CLOSED. THE INDEPENDENT DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Mileage: 150,000

20151221SEATS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE METAL FROM THE SEAT WAS RIPPED. IN ADDITION, WHILE ACCELERATING, THE SEAT WOULD ROCK BACKWARDS. WHILE BRAKING, THE SEAT WOULD ROCK FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.

Mileage: 137,000

20111014CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, HE HAD TO DRIVE INTO A DITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE OWNER AND HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 215,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 215,000

20110909ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

AFTER BUYING THE VEHICLE, THE FORMER OWNER SAID THAT THE PDM WOULD OVERHEAT AND THE ENGINE WOULD JUST FAIL AND THERE WOULD BE NO ABILITY TO STEER OR TO BRAKE. HE SAID THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM WAS TO MOVE THE PDM AWAY FROM THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP. HE TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT AN HOUR BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD BE ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. HE SAID THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE PDM GETS TOO HOT WHICH CAUSES IT TO SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN, WHICH ONLY STANDS TO REASON. THE PDM IS AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT IN A SMALL BOX ATTACHED TO A PIECE OF METAL THAT REACHES TEMPERATURES IN EXCESS OF 300 DEGREES. HE TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO RELOCATE THE PDM AWAY FROM THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND UNTIL I DID THIS I WOULD HAVE TO MONITOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAREFULLY. AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, I POSTPONED FIXING THE PROBLEM AND FOOLISHLY DROVE FROM PHOENIX TO OREGON. NOW, I REALIZE HOW LUCKY I WAS THAT THE ENGINE DIDN'T QUIT ON ME GOING 70 MILES PER HOUR DOWN

Mileage: 160,000

20090413SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

BRAKE SWITCH (AT PEDAL) HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES, STARTING AT 70,000 MI. OTHERS HAD TO BE REPLACED WITHIN WEEKS OF USE (AFTERMARKET BRAND). PROBLEM NOT FIXED AS OF DATE. 1994 SILVERADO VIN. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

20080505FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 65-70 MPH, WHITE SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE TAIL PIPE. BEFORE THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD, FLAMES APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000. UPDATED 02-19-09 *BF UPDATED 02/19/09. *JB

Mileage: 180,000

20060919SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON A HIGHWAY, THERE WAS AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE UPON APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE MAIN BRAKE LINE RUSTED INTO RENDERING THE BRAKES INOPERABLE. THE REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE BRAKE LINE HAD CORRODED DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE OF THE VEHICLE BEING EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE ROAD SALTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.

Mileage: 160,000

20060906VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL CONTINUALLY WHEN IN OPERATION. IF I WIGGLE THE WIRING WHERE IT PLUGS INTO WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY THEY MIGHT WORK FOR A MOMENT. THIS VEHICLE EXHIBITS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS ALL VEHICLES LISTED IN RECALL #03V159000 , BUT CHEVROLET REFUSES TO ACCEPT IT FOR REPAIR. *NM

Mileage: 140,000

20060524VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE PROBLEM STARTED GRADUALLY AND HAS PROGRESSED TO TOTAL FAILURE. THE WIPERS FAILED IN THE UP POSITION; HOWEVER THE WIPERS ARE NOT BLOCKING THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, 03V159000, REGARDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

Mileage: 140,000

Compare 1994CHEVROLETSILVERADO 1500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1994 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 have?
The 1994 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 has 10 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500?
The most-complained component for the 1994 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC and VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR.
Is the 1994 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 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.