1993 Chevrolet C3500 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 1993 Chevrolet C3500, 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
- Brakes635.3%
- Visibility423.5%
- Electrical15.9%
- Body & structure15.9%
- Interior & seats15.9%
- Steering15.9%
- Tires & wheels15.9%
- Engine15.9%
- Driver assistance15.9%
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 CHEVROLET C3500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE BUT THE BRAKES SUDDENLY FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DESPITE THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT WAS A MECHANIC AND PLANNED TO PERSONALLY REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,000.
WHILE APPLYING BRAKES THEY LOCKED UP WITHOUT INDICATION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *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
WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING .I HAD TO PUT PRESSURE ON HARNESS CONNECTOR WITH BUNGE CORD OR PROP STICK BEHIND MOTOR TO PUT PRESSURE ON UNIT IN ORDER TO WORK. THEN THEY ONLY OPERATED WHEN THEY WANTED TO. MOST ANY TIME WHEN A DRIVER USES THE WIPERS IT IS WHEN THEY ARE NEEDED, (RAIN, BAD WEATHER & THE LIKE), AND IT'S AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. DOESN'T GM REALIZE THIS COMPLAINT COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENT,( HOPEFUL NOT A FATALITY). I HAD CONTROL MODULE REPLACED ON FACE OF WIPER MOTOR AND WIPERS NOW WORK AS INTENDED. MODULE COST ME $29.00 AND LESS THAN 5 MINUTES TO REPLACE. JUST 3 SMALL SCREWS AND UNPLUG / PLUG HARNESS CONNECTOR. MY COMPLAINT IS NOT FOR REIMBURSEMENT NOW THAT I'VE GOT WIPERS WORKING. PLEASE ---SOMEONE DO SOMETHING TO MAKE GM STAND BEHIND THE STANDARDS FOR SAFETY BEFORE SOMEONE DOES GET KILLED OR KILL SOMEONE ELSE. THIS STARTED AROUND 2004 OR 2005 AND HAD BEEN A PROBLEM UNTIL I REPLACED THE PART. *TR
WINDSHIELD WIPERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 03V15000; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
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
WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING .I HAD TO PUT PRESSURE ON HARNESS CONNECTOR WITH BUNGE CORD OR PROP STICK BEHIND MOTOR TO PUT PRESSURE ON UNIT IN ORDER TO WORK. THEN THEY ONLY OPERATED WHEN THEY WANTED TO. MOST ANY TIME WHEN A DRIVER USES THE WIPERS IT IS WHEN THEY ARE NEEDED, (RAIN, BAD WEATHER & THE LIKE), AND IT'S AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. DOESN'T GM REALIZE THIS COMPLAINT COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENT,( HOPEFUL NOT A FATALITY). I HAD CONTROL MODULE REPLACED ON FACE OF WIPER MOTOR AND WIPERS NOW WORK AS INTENDED. MODULE COST ME $29.00 AND LESS THAN 5 MINUTES TO REPLACE. JUST 3 SMALL SCREWS AND UNPLUG / PLUG HARNESS CONNECTOR. MY COMPLAINT IS NOT FOR REIMBURSEMENT NOW THAT I'VE GOT WIPERS WORKING. PLEASE ---SOMEONE DO SOMETHING TO MAKE GM STAND BEHIND THE STANDARDS FOR SAFETY BEFORE SOMEONE DOES GET KILLED OR KILL SOMEONE ELSE. THIS STARTED AROUND 2004 OR 2005 AND HAD BEEN A PROBLEM UNTIL I REPLACED THE PART. *TR
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
WHILE DRIVING FRAME DETACHED FROM BODY OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER ALSO NOTES MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER IS VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY. *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
SEAT BOLTS FAILED AFTER RECALL REPAIR, CAUSING SEATBACK TO COLLAPSE.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 CHEVROLET C3500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE BUT THE BRAKES SUDDENLY FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DESPITE THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT WAS A MECHANIC AND PLANNED TO PERSONALLY REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,000.
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
TIRE TREAD SEPARATION/ DAMAGED REAR FINDER. *JB
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 TAILPIPE FELL OFF AND STRUCK THE FRONT WINDSHIELD OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING (OHIO TURNPIKE COMMISSION). NLM
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
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH IGNITION ON, IT TOOK OFF IN REVERSE AND HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. VEHICLE GEARS WERE STILL IN PARK. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *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 .