1989 Chevrolet C1500 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1989 Chevrolet C1500, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes1134.4%
- Transmission515.6%
- Steering412.5%
- Seat belts412.5%
- Other / unspecified26.3%
- Exterior lighting13.1%
- Interior & seats13.1%
- Engine13.1%
- Tires & wheels13.1%
- Electrical13.1%
- Visibility13.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE REPLACED TWICE, CONSUMER FOUND ON THE NHTSA WEB PAGE, MANY CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR. HAD BRAKES CHECKED, AND WORKED ON, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
CLUTCH PRESSURE PLATE AND OTHER PARTS MALFUNCTIONED. ALSO, THE SHIFTER MALFUNCTIONED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
CLUTCH FAILURE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
TILT STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, COULD NOT MOVE, CAUSING ACCIDENT AND SEVERE INJURIES. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT LATCH. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
LEFT REAR WHEEL BROKE LOOSE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKE LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
1989 CHEVROLET C-1500 CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. *TS THE FIRE ORIGINATED UNDER THE HOOD. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, UNDER THE HOOD ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, WILL PROVIDE THE FIRE REPORT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .