RoadVitals

1989 Chevrolet C1500

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
33
Latest Dec 30, 2008
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Oct 24, 2007
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
5
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 33 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Chevrolet C1500, most frequently naming the brakes, transmission and steering categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes1134.4%
  • Transmission515.6%
  • Steering412.5%
  • Seat belts412.5%
  • Other / unspecified26.3%
  • Exterior lighting13.1%
  • Interior & seats13.1%
  • Engine13.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
07E088000

EQUIPMENT

Oct 24, 2007
121,680 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. FRAM RACING HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS NOT BEARING A DATE CODE IN THIS RANGE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. THE GASKET OF THE OIL FILTER BECOMES MORE PLIABLE UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES.
The risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
06E043000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

May 19, 2006
88,303 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
The risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
The remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
90V170000

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

Sep 17, 1990
194,243 units potentially affected
The defect: TRUCKS CAN CONTAIN INCORRECT INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PROPERLY ADJUST REAR SEAT LAP-SHOULDER BELTS AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 209.
The risk: INCORRECTLY ADJUSTED SEAT BELT WOULD NOT PROPERLYRESTRAIN OCCUPANT IN AN ACCIDENT OF SUDDEN STOP; TRUCKS WOULD NOT COMPLY WITHFMVSS 209.
The remedy: PROVIDE OWNER'S MANUAL INSERT CONTAINING THE CORRECT REAR LAP-SHOULDER BELT INSTRUCTIONS.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 33
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 30, 2008

BRAKE LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10253204
Incident
Dec 15, 2008
Mileage
109,954 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 1, 2006
Fire reported

1989 CHEVROLET C-1500 CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. *TS THE FIRE ORIGINATED UNDER THE HOOD. *NM

NHTSA ID
10175390
Incident
Sep 11, 2006
Mileage
180,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 24, 2004

THE EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE REPLACED TWICE, CONSUMER FOUND ON THE NHTSA WEB PAGE, MANY CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
10089568
Incident
Aug 24, 2004
Visibility
Filed Sep 16, 2002

WIPER MOTOR SOMETIMES WORKS WHEN THE SWITCH IS NOT ON, UNTIL THE FUSE IS REMOVED OR THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE VOLT GAUGE FLUCTUATES UP AND DOWN, AND THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON. ALSO SOMETIMES WIPERS DON'T WORK WITH SWITCH TURNED ON. WHEN THE WIPERS DON'T MOVE WHEN THE SWITCH IS TURNED ON, THE VOLT GAUGE FLUCTUATES UP AND DOWN. THESE INSTANCES HAPPEN USUALLY DURING RAIN OR SNOW. THE TRUCK IS EQUIPPED WITH DELAY WIPERS.*AK

NHTSA ID
767239
Brakes
Filed Aug 21, 2002

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR. HAD BRAKES CHECKED, AND WORKED ON, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
8016885
Incident
Aug 21, 1991
Brakes
Filed Jun 20, 2001

THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM DEPLOYS WHEN TOWING A TRAILER AND BRAKING. THIS "MOVES A BLOCK" IN THE MASTER CYLINDER, ACCORDING TO A MECHANIC, WHICH THEN DISABLES THE FRONT BRAKES UNTIL A MECHANIC RESETS IT. I THE MEAN TIME, THE DRIVER IS UNAWARE OF THE EVENT, AND IS OPERATING THE VEHICLE WITH THE 1/2 OF THE BRAKES DISABLED, CAUSING UNEVEN AND INADEQUATE BRAKING, AND EXTREME WEAR ON THE REMAINING BRAKES. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WITH THE ANIT LOCK BRAKE DEVICE ON THE MASTER CYLINDER, AND THE ADDED WEIGHT OF A TRAILER WHEN BRAKING. (EVEN THOUGH THE TRUCK CAME WITH THE "TOWING PACKAGE" AND THE TRAILER IS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRIC BRAKES). *AK

NHTSA ID
747178
Incident
Jul 15, 1996
Brakes
Filed Oct 6, 2000

STOPPING ON SLIPPERY SURFACE IS POOR! FRONT WHEELS LOCK UP AND REAR WHEELS FREE-WHEEL. DEALER SAYS SYSTEM OK.*AK

NHTSA ID
733636
Incident
Feb 14, 1990
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 23, 2000

WAS DRIVING 70MPH WHEN FELT SOMETHING HITTING THE UNDERBODY OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE STARTED TO SWERVE. VEHICLE WAS CONTROLLABLE. PULLED VEHICLE TO SIDE OF THE ROAD & STOPPED. NOTICED TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE LEFT REAR TIRE. THE TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED & HAD NOT BLOWN. DURALON RADIAL BAJA WHITE TRACK P235/75R15 WITH 25,000 MILES, DOT VDHLFOX. A GENERIC BRAND. ON A 1989 CHEVEROLT TRUCK C1500.*AK DURALON P235/75/R15 *MW

NHTSA ID
868482
Incident
Aug 17, 2000

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

020864016

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON FRONT DOOR HINGE PIN BUSHING WEAR, FRONT DOOR SAG, OR DOOR CHUCKING MOVEMENT IN EXTREME OPERATING CONDITIONS. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet C1500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
19962292049.0
19952092152.4
19941522149.9
1993642050.0
1992412052.8
1991392047.1
1990223045.2
1989Viewing333054.3
1988322055.0

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.