RoadVitals

1989 Chevrolet C1500 Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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
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
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Sep 18, 1996

What this page shows

Our database holds 33 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Chevrolet C1500. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 33 · page 1 of 2

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
Other / unspecified
Filed Jan 23, 2000

THE SCISSOR JACK BROKE WHILE VEHICLE WAS JACKED UP. IT WAS IMPROPERLY DESIGNED OR PUT TOGETHER. THE SWIVEL PART ON THE TOP, SWIVELED ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK AND ALLOWED THE TRUCK TO FALL. THE GEARS DO NOT FIT TOGETHER CORRECTLY. *AK

NHTSA ID
717745
Steering
Filed Aug 24, 1999

1ST TIME STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE AND MECHANIC TIGHTEN IT UP (HE STATED THAT HE HAD DONE THIS TO SEVERAL VEHICAL OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL). THE SECOND TIME IT CAME LOOSE ( ABOUT 4 MONTHS LATER) BEFORE I COULD GET IT BACK TO THE MECHANIC, THE COLUMN BROKE WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN IN AN INTERSECTION, SHUTING OFF THE MOTOR CAUSING ME TO HAVE TROUBLE STOPPING THE VEHICAL. WHILE WAITING FOR A TOW THE POLICE HAD TO DIRECT TRAFFIC AROUND ME.

NHTSA ID
710477
Brakes
Filed Jun 5, 1999

BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON WHEN PEDAL WAS RELEASED. CAUSED MULTIPLE BULB REPLACEMENTS ALONG WITH 4 BATTERIES. THE PAINT ON THE BODY HAS STARTED TO PEEL TWO YEARS AGO. IT WAS SMALL IN NATURE BUT LAST YEAR REALLY STARTED TO EXPAND. IN TALKING WITH A DEALER ABOUT REPAINTING THE PICK-UP, HE INDICATED THAT THE TIME TO BE REPAINTED WAS OVER BY THE MANUFACTURE. WHY DID GM/CHEVROLET NOT SEND ANY INFORMATION OUT ON EITHER OF THESE PROBLEMS TO OWNERS? I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST MY 89 WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM UNTIL TALKING WITH SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS. THE PAINT PROBLEM I HAD SEEN ON OTHER CARS BUT AGAIN DID NOT KNOW OF ANY COMPANY PROGRAM OR THAT IT HAD EXPIRED. *AK

NHTSA ID
707238
Filed Jun 4, 1999

WHITE PAINT IS PEELING FROM THE GRAY PRIMER THROUGH OUT THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

NHTSA ID
707221
Transmission
Filed May 24, 1999

CLUTCH PRESSURE PLATE AND OTHER PARTS MALFUNCTIONED. ALSO, THE SHIFTER MALFUNCTIONED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
838341
Brakes
Filed Dec 22, 1998

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH BRAKE LIGHTS SHORTING OUT DUE TO DEFECTIVE SOCKETS. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK

NHTSA ID
832530
Incident
Jan 15, 1998
Steering
Filed Nov 9, 1998
Crash reported

TILT STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, COULD NOT MOVE, CAUSING ACCIDENT AND SEVERE INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID
830435
Incident
Oct 23, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Jul 16, 1998
Crash reported2 injuries reported

DURING REAR IMPACT AT 40 TO 45 MPH, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK. *AK SEAT BELTS DID NOT PREVENT DRIVER AND PASENGER FROM BEING THROWN FORWARD RESULTING IN FACE AND LEG INJURY. *YD

NHTSA ID
825479
Incident
Jul 8, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Apr 7, 1998

THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT LATCH. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
822264
Transmission
Filed Jan 10, 1998

CLUTCH FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID
533846
Incident
Jan 5, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Dec 30, 1997

SEAT BELTS FAILED.

NHTSA ID
527152
Incident
Sep 1, 1990
Interior & seats
Filed Nov 24, 1997

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT CUT LOOSE WHILE AT A STAND STILL.OWNER NOTES FATIGUE FAILURE AFFECTED STRESS RISERS ON SEAT TRACKS.OWNER VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY. *AK

NHTSA ID
819430
Steering
Filed Nov 21, 1997

STEERING COLUMN STARTS GETTING LOOSE IN THE AREA WHERE IT NORMALLY TILTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
523476
Brakes
Filed Nov 17, 1997

BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR WITH EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. MASTER CYLINDER REPAIRED, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

NHTSA ID
524821
Brakes
Filed Nov 17, 1997

BS BRAKES FAILED. DEALER ALSO REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER/CALIPERS AND ROTORS/BRAKELINES AND DRUMS. *AK

NHTSA ID
524390
Other / unspecified
Filed Sep 17, 1997

LEFT REAR WHEEL BROKE LOOSE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
522193
Incident
Aug 8, 1997
Transmission
Filed Jul 21, 1997
Fire reported

TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED ONTO CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, CAUSING FIRE.

NHTSA ID
519561

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.

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Data on this page last refreshed .