1990 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 1990 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
- Brakes729.2%
- Seat belts312.5%
- Fuel system28.3%
- Interior & seats28.3%
- Steering28.3%
- Body & structure28.3%
- Transmission14.2%
- Driver assistance14.2%
- Engine14.2%
- Exterior lighting14.2%
- Other / unspecified14.2%
- Powertrain (other)14.2%
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
DRIVING ON CITY STREET AT APPROX 30 MPH, STOP LIGHT CHANGED TO RED AS I APPROACHED. WAS CLOSE TO INTERSECTION, PRESSED HARD ON BRAKE PEDAL AND IT STARTED SLOWING VEHICLE, THEN AFTER ABOUT .5 SECONDS, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WITH MINIMAL BRAKING AT THAT POINT. DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AS SPEED WAS LOW ENOUGH THAT WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE HYDRALIC SYSTEM STOPPED VEHICLE. AFTER LIMPING VEHICLE HOME (WAS ONLY 3 BLOCKS FROM THERE), INSPECTION UNDER VEHICLE REVEALED STEEL BRAKE LINE RUBBING AGAINST FRAME RAIL JUST BEHIND FIREWALL, WHERE LINE TUCKS INTO FRAME RAIL, CAUSING WEAK SPOT THAT FAILED UNDER PRESSURE. REPAIRS NOT MADE YET, AS INCIDENT JUST OCCURED, WILL NEED NEW STEEL BRAKE LINE FROM ABS CONTROL TO REAR AXLE. CAN SAVE OLD PART. *JB
REPORTING NOW BECAUSE I HAVE BRAKE WARNING LITE AND NO APPARENT REASON FOR IT. FIRST AND SECOND FAILURES OF ISO VALVE WERE NOT LOSS OF BRAKES, ONLY A SQUISHY FEELING. I NOTE A CURRENT RECALL ON 91-96 GM UNITS THAT SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. NEED ADVICE ON HOW TO ATTEMPT RECOVERY OF OVER $500 WORTH OF REPAIRS THAT I PAID FOR WHICH NOW APPEAR TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT AND I NOW HAVE A BRAKE WARNING LITE WHICH MAY BE THE SAME ASSEMBLY GOING BAD AGAIN!. NOTE RECALL IS LIMITED TO 91 TO 96 UNITS AND I AM A 90. NEVERTHELESS I WANT TO TRY. DEALER HAS BEEN SERVICE HAS BEEN EXCEPTIONAL. NO COMPLAINT AGAINST THEM.
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
PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE HAS BROKEN, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY TO BECOME INOPERABLE. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER NO LONGER MAKES THE PARTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DOES NOT BUCKLE PRPERLY.WHICH WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF A CRASH. DEALER WILL REPLACE SEAT BELT SYSTEM AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
1990 CHEVY C1500 1/2 TON STEPSIDE PICKUP TRUCK. GENERAL GRABBER AP TIRES. SIZE 235/75/R15 M+S MADE IN MEXICO OTHER NUMBERS ON TIRE:OK-47410 P5501 25855 021943. 147,300 MILES ON VEHICLE WHEN LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH. TREAD SEPARATION CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO TRUCK, RIPPING FENDER MOUNTS OFF IN 4 PLACES, TEARING THE FUEL FILLER NECK FROM FUEL DOOR OPENING AND TEARING OFF THE GAS CAP. FIBERGLASS ON BOTTOM OF STEPSIDE FENDER WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED. TRUCK WAS IN OTHERWISE GOOD OPERATING CONDITION. TRUCK HAD LESS THAN 100 POUNDS OF CARGO; TIRE PRESSURES WERE VERIFIED TO BE 35PSI AT MOST 3 WEEKS EARLIER WITH NO LEAKS. PRESSURE GAUGE ACCURACY WAS VERIFIED BY COMPARING TO SEVERAL OTHER GAUGES. TIRES WERE INSTALLED AT 127,445 MILES WHEN DEFECTIVE FIRESTONE TIRES WERE REPLACED. TIRES WERE ROTATED AND BALANCED AT 144,000 MILES. SPARE TIRE WAS INSTALLED AT ROADSIDE. BLOWN OUT TIRE IS STILL IN TRUCK BED. TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED YET. *TR
GAS TANK LEAKING DUE TO CONTACT WITH RETAINING STRAPS. ALSO CRUISE CONTROL SOMETIMES ENGAGES BY ITSELF WITHOUT INPUT OR ACTION.**** DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****752237. *AK
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
DEFECTIVE HIGH BACK SEAT DESIGN--LEFT BOLT THAT ATTACHES THE DRIVER'S HIGH BACK SEAT TO THE BOTTOM SEAT SHEARED OFF 3 TIMES.
SEAT BACK BOLT BROKE THREE TIMES, CAUSING SEAT BOTTOM TO SAG/SEAT BACK TO SLAM INTO REAR WINDOW.
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
THE SERPENTINE ACCESSORY BELT STARTED TO FAIL. AS IT DID, PARTS OF IT WHIPPED THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE RUPTURING THE HOSE. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. SHE NEEDED MY HELP TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS NOT TOTALLY BROKEN. I HAD THE OLD BELT UNDER THE SEAT SO I SWAPPED IT FOR THE BELT THAT WAS FAILING. WITH MY HELP, WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND MAKE IT TO A AUTO PARTS STORE TO REPLACE THE HOSE. THE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING HOSE DUE TO AN INCOMPLETE FAILURE OF THE SERPENTINE BELT IS INEXCUSABLE. GM SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO SHIELD THE POWER STEERING HOSE FROM A SERPENTINE BELT FAILURE. IN MY EXPERIENCE, SERPENTINE BELTS DO NOT FAIL CATASTROPHICALLY. THEY MAKE NOISES AS THEY START TO FAIL GIVING ADEQUATE TIME TO SAFELY STOP THE VEHICLE. IN THIS CASE, WE HEARD THE NOISE OF THE BELT FAILING. BEFORE WE COULD IDENTIFY THE NOISE AS COMING FROM OUR VEHICLE AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. *JB
STEERING WHEEL HAD COME LOOSE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO TIGHTENED WHEEL, 1 YEAR LATER STEERING WHEEL LOOSE AGAIN.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
1990 CHEVY C1500 1/2 TON STEPSIDE PICKUP TRUCK. GENERAL GRABBER AP TIRES. SIZE 235/75/R15 M+S MADE IN MEXICO OTHER NUMBERS ON TIRE:OK-47410 P5501 25855 021943. 147,300 MILES ON VEHICLE WHEN LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH. TREAD SEPARATION CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO TRUCK, RIPPING FENDER MOUNTS OFF IN 4 PLACES, TEARING THE FUEL FILLER NECK FROM FUEL DOOR OPENING AND TEARING OFF THE GAS CAP. FIBERGLASS ON BOTTOM OF STEPSIDE FENDER WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED. TRUCK WAS IN OTHERWISE GOOD OPERATING CONDITION. TRUCK HAD LESS THAN 100 POUNDS OF CARGO; TIRE PRESSURES WERE VERIFIED TO BE 35PSI AT MOST 3 WEEKS EARLIER WITH NO LEAKS. PRESSURE GAUGE ACCURACY WAS VERIFIED BY COMPARING TO SEVERAL OTHER GAUGES. TIRES WERE INSTALLED AT 127,445 MILES WHEN DEFECTIVE FIRESTONE TIRES WERE REPLACED. TIRES WERE ROTATED AND BALANCED AT 144,000 MILES. SPARE TIRE WAS INSTALLED AT ROADSIDE. BLOWN OUT TIRE IS STILL IN TRUCK BED. TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED YET. *TR
TAILGATE: WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE TAILGATE JUST COLLAPSED. WHEN CLOSING THE GATE IT IS SECURE, BUT WHEN DRIVING IT JUST WORKS ITSELF LOOSE AND FALLS DOWN. TOOK VEHICLE IN AND DEALER TOOK IT APART, BUT COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
THERE IS A RECALL FOR TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKAGE, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS SPRAYING OVER THE WHOLE UNDER HOOD AND VEHICLES THAT TRAIL BEHIND.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
GAS TANK LEAKING DUE TO CONTACT WITH RETAINING STRAPS. ALSO CRUISE CONTROL SOMETIMES ENGAGES BY ITSELF WITHOUT INPUT OR ACTION.**** DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****752237. *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
CONSUMER WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP WHEN VEHICLE'S ENGINE DIED. HE WAS ABLE TO START IT AGAIN, AS SOON AS IT IDLED IT SHUT OFF AGAIN. CONSUMER POPPED HOOD AND SAW THAT THERE WERE FLAMES. VEHICLE BURNED TO A TOTAL LOSS. *AK
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
OVER A PERIOD OF TIME HEAD LIGHT COVERING HAS BECOME TRANSLUCENT (FADED-YELLOW) TO WHERE LIGHT DOESN'T PASS THROUGH 60-70% WHEN USED. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. THEY ARE LEXAN LENSES. PLEASE DESCRIBE DESCRIBE. *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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 CHEVROLET C1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CABLE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE WAS CORRODED. AS A RESULT, THE TIRE FELL FROM THE VEHICLE ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 206,000. UPDATED 08/04/09 *BF UPDATED 08/05/09.*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR END LOCKED , ALMOST ACCIDDENT BUT NO OTHER CARS IN OTHER LANE AT THE TIME!
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 .