RoadVitals

1993 Chevrolet C35 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
20
Latest Sep 21, 2000
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
11
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.
3

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1993 Chevrolet C35, 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

  • Brakes29.5%
  • Interior & seats29.5%
  • Transmission29.5%
  • Powertrain (other)14.8%
  • Steering14.8%
  • Tires & wheels14.8%
  • Visibility14.8%
  • Electrical14.8%
  • Engine14.8%
  • Other / unspecified14.8%

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

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

8
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WE OWN A 1993 CHEVROLET 1 TON DUALLY PICKUP TRUCK, AND TO THIS DATE WE ARE STILL PAYING ON A LOAN FOR THIS TRUCK. WHILE WASHING THE TRUCK 2 WEEKS AGO, I DISCOVERED THAT THE PICKUP BOX HAD BROKEN LOOSE FROM THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK. NOT KNOWING AT THIS POINT EXACTLY WHAT HAD HAPPENED, I GOT THE TRUCK TO A HOIST AND DID FURTHER INVESTIGATION, ONLY TO FIND THAT THE FRAMEWORD UNDER THE PICKUP BOX, WHICH IS PIA TO THE PICKUP BOX, HAVE BROKEN LOOSE. THESE ARE THE CROSSMEMBERS THAT ATTACH THE BOX TO THE FRAME, USING A J CLIP IN THE CROSSMEMBER, AND A BOLT FROM THE FRAME TO THE CROSSMEMBER. MY COMPLAINT IS WHAT HOLDS THIS BOX ON? IT DOES NOT RELIE ON ANY NUTS AND BOLTS TO HOLD THE BOX ON, BUT RELIES ON SPOT WELDS.BECAUSE THE BED IS NOT BOLTED ON, THE CROSSMEMBER IS. I USE THIS TRUCK AS A HAULER FOR MY CAMPER, AND INTERESTING ENOUGH, THE RV INDUSTRY SELLS THE HOLD-DOWNS THAT ATTACH A PICKUP CAMPER TO THE BOX. AT THIS POINT, THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE CAMPER ON THE TRUCK IS THOSE SAME SPOT WELDS, BECAUSE THE NUTS AND BOLTS ONLY HOLD THE CROSSMEMBER, NOT THE ACTUAL BOX. WE THINK THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE OUT OF THE ORDINARY, AND TRULY THOUGHT THAT GENERAL MOTORS WOULD THINK SO TO AND FIX OUR PICKUP TRUCK. WHILE TALKING CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE, THE SERVICE REP. AGREED HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE, AS DID THE BODY SHOP MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP WE TOOK IT TO. THE CLAIM WAS DENIED FROM GM REP. DUE TO MILEAGE. WE FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY CLAIM, FOR IT SHOULD HAVE NO BEARING ON THE MILEAGE, BUT BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE. WE CANNOT BEAR THE THOUGHT OF WHAT WOULD HAD HAPPENED IF THIS BOX HAD BROKE LOOSE WHILE WE WERE TRAVELING ON THE ROAD. WHAT A DISASTER IT WOULD HAVE BEEN. I WORK FOR A AUTOMOTIVE PROTOTYPE ENGINEERING FIRM , I AM NOT AN ENGINEER BUT A MECHANIC, BUT I SEE NEW IDEAS AND THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY TRYING TO COST CUT VEHICLES ALL THE TIME, AND I FEEL THAT THE CONSTUCTION OF THE BOX IS NOT SAFE.

NHTSA ID 704486 · filed Mar 16, 1999

SUB-MEMBERS AND FRAME BROKE IN HALF, BROKE WHILE DRIVING, *AK

NHTSA ID 985176 · filed Jun 3, 1996
All 8 reports naming body & structure

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TOTAL LOSS OF THE REAR BRAKES, EQUIPPED WITH REAR ABS BRAKES. *AK

NHTSA ID 979489 · filed Feb 21, 1996

AT 10,000 MILES BRAKE HEATS UP THE FRONT ROTOR AND WARP DISC DEALER REPAIR THIS PROBLEM FOUR TIMES CAN'T FIND PROBLEM . TT

NHTSA ID 976315 · filed Dec 7, 1995

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TRUCK WAS PARKED ON THE STREET AND TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE . TT THE FIRE DEPATMENT INVESTIGATED THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE AND DETERMINED THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE REAR DOME LIGHT. *YH

NHTSA ID 974774 · filed Nov 8, 1995

THE BOLTS THAT HOLD SECURE DRIVERS SEAT BROKE OFF. TT

NHTSA ID 958971 · filed Jan 20, 1995

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE HYDRAULIC SLAVE CYLINDER HAS BLOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE INOPERABLE. THE OWNER HAS REPLACED THE CLYINDER THREE TIMES PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID 826886 · filed Aug 18, 1998

TRANSMISSION WON'T SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE SOMETIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID 517841 · filed Jun 24, 1997

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

DIFFERENTIAL FLUID LEAK. *AK

NHTSA ID 509948 · filed Oct 16, 1996

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CAST IDLER PULLEY FAILS W/SERPENTINE BELT DESIGN. COMPONENT REPLACED (3) TIMES LOSING POWER STEERING IMMEDIATELY. TT CONSUMER STATES THAT TENSIONER FAILS IN THE MIDDLE OF CASTING, THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE, SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AS DEALERS IN TWO DIFFERENT STATES WERE USED TO BUT REPLACEMENT PART, MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO .*JB

NHTSA ID 975689 · filed Nov 29, 1995

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

PE00 020; WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A BANGING NOISE, TREAD FROM TIRE WAS BANGING AGAINST VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING. DRIVER LOST CONTROL, AND VEHICLE WENT INTO AN ENBANKMENT. RIGHT FRONT TIRE TREND SEPARATED, AND VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. TIRE IS TBC INC 235-85R16. CONSUMER STATED THAT HE WILL CONTACT CHEVROLET. HE WASN'T HURT. *AK

NHTSA ID 871193 · filed Sep 21, 2000

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

PURCHASED TRUCK NEW AND THE MIRRORS MOVE OUT OF PLACE, DEALER TIGHTENED THEM, STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

NHTSA ID 980880 · filed Mar 18, 1996

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

HAS PROBLEM SINCE 1994 WITH ELECTRICAL SHORTS SUCH AS THE RADIO AND ELECTRICAL WIRING. TT

NHTSA ID 964566 · filed May 1, 1995

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CAST IDLER PULLEY FAILS W/SERPENTINE BELT DESIGN. COMPONENT REPLACED (3) TIMES LOSING POWER STEERING IMMEDIATELY. TT CONSUMER STATES THAT TENSIONER FAILS IN THE MIDDLE OF CASTING, THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE, SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AS DEALERS IN TWO DIFFERENT STATES WERE USED TO BUT REPLACEMENT PART, MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO .*JB

NHTSA ID 975689 · filed Nov 29, 1995

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

VEHICLES REAR STUDS ON WHEELS BROKE INSIDE THE HUB ON DRIVERS SIDE REAR DUE TO METAL FATIGUE. TT

NHTSA ID 961536 · filed Mar 8, 1995

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

Data on this page last refreshed .