RoadVitals

1989 Chevrolet C3500

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.
7
Latest May 10, 2011
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.
2
Latest May 19, 2006
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Chevrolet C3500, most frequently naming the tires & wheels, body & structure and brakes categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year.

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

  • Tires & wheels337.5%
  • Body & structure112.5%
  • Brakes112.5%
  • Fuel system112.5%
  • Powertrain (other)112.5%
  • Visibility112.5%

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

2 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
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

Tires & wheels
Filed May 10, 2011

TIRES CHUNKING AND WEAK SIDEWALLS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10399942
Incident
Apr 12, 2011
Mileage
35,200 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 25, 2002

SEPARATION OF WHEEL, HUB AND AXLE ASSEMBLY FROM VEHICLE WHILE UNDERWAY. INSPECTION OF THE COMPONENTS REVEALED A CRACKED BEARING RETAINING NUT, WHICH ALLOWED THE NUT'S INSIDE DIAMETER TO EXPAND AND SLIDE OFF THE THREADED HUB. RECOVERED PARTS INCLUDE THE NUT, KEY, AND RETAINER RING, ALL OF WHICH APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ASSEMBLED. ALSO DAMAGED AT THE TIME OF FAILURE WAS THE AXLE SHAFT, WHICH FRACTURED AT THE OUTBOARD EDGE OF THE SPLINE AREA, ABOUT 3 INCHES FROM THE TIP. I COULD NOT DETERMINE IF THE AXLE FRACTURE OCCURRED WHILE THE AXLE WAS IN THE HOUSING OR IF THE DAMAGE WAS THE RESULT OF THE AXLE EXTENDING OUT OF THE HOUSING OR THE SUBSEQUENT TUMBLING OF THE WHEEL/AXLE ASSEMBLY AFTER SEPARATION. THIS IS A NON-POSITRACK REAREND SO THE AXLE FAILURE COULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED VERY LONG BEFORE THE ASSEMBLY SEPERATION. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED IN A RURAL AREA AND RESULTED IN NO DAMAGE OTHER THAN TO THE REAR AXLE HOUSING AND BRAKE BACKING PLATE. ALL AXLE BEARINGS TURN FREELY. THERE IS NO VISUALLY APPARENT CAUSE FOR THE FRACTURE OF THE BEARING RETAINER NUT. THIS IS NOT A PART NORMALLY SUBJECT TO WEAR OR PREVENTITIVE MAINTENANCE REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ID
763464
Incident
Jun 3, 2002
Tires & wheels
Filed Jun 29, 2001

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND SHAKE . HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND NOTICED THAT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. TREAD CAME COMPLETLY OFF. BRIDGESTONE, DULLER, 9.50X16.5 #DOT VD. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
891713
Incident
Jun 24, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Apr 3, 2001

TREAD SEPARATION. *AK (DOT NUMBER: 7BA3PUA208 TIRESIZE: 245/75R16)

NHTSA ID
743486
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Mar 15, 2000

PAINT HAS CONTINUED TO PEEL UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, POWER DOOR LOCKS WORK INTERMITENTLY, POWER WINDOWS ALSO WORK SPORADICALLY. THE DOOR LOCK CYLINDERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES.

NHTSA ID
720125
Incident
Dec 31, 1990
Brakes
Filed Aug 11, 1999

ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE FAILING TO STOP PROPERLY WHILE DRIVING. NO MTTER WHAT THE SPEED MAY BE. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
844892
Incident
Sep 1, 1998
Fuel system
Filed Jun 25, 1997

VEHICLE HAS TWO SIDE SADDLE FUEL TANKS, WHICH IS A POOR DESIGN.

NHTSA ID
519239

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet C3500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2018010—
1996261037.1
1995471143.2
1994182143.1
1993151042.8
1992820—
1991310—
1990520—
1989Viewing720—
1988010—

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.