1994 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 1994 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
- Visibility621.4%
- Brakes517.9%
- Fuel system517.9%
- Engine310.7%
- Transmission310.7%
- Electrical27.1%
- Heating & air conditioning13.6%
- Exterior lighting13.6%
- Body & structure13.6%
- Powertrain (other)13.6%
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
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR QUIT WITHOUT NOTICE FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME AND START AGAIN . *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO A BAD SOLDER JOINT. DEALER SAYS IT'S NOT ON RECALL. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE PULLING A HEAVY LOAD WITH VEHICLE CLUTCH PEDAL WILL GO TO FLOOR, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CLUTCH. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS IS THE RESULT OF HEAT COMING FROM EXHAUST PIPE IN ENGINE BEING TOO EXCESSIVE, AND CAUSING SLAVE CYLINDER TO MALFUNCTION.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE ENTIRE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM HAS BEEN FLUSHED SEVERAL TIMES, ALSO THE SLAVE CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM IS STILL NOT RESOLVED. *JB
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE REAR ABS BRAKES FAIL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. REPLACED BRAKING SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *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
NHTSA CAMPAIGN NO: 951005000, GM RECALL NO: 94C57/ THIS IS A PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT STARTED ON THE DATE OF PURCHASE. DURING THE FIST TWO YEARS THE INJECTOR PUMP WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES. NOW I HEAR OF THE RECALL AND GM @ 1-800-222-1020 FILE NO: C01138552 SAY THEY HAVE NO RECALLS OF THIS NATURE ON MY DIESEL POWERED TRUCK. AT THE PRESENT TIME MY VEHICLE STALLS, HAS VERY POOR THROTTLE RESPONSE, MISFIRES, STALLS AFTER START, AND SOMETIMES STALLS DURING DECELERATION. ONE DEALER ALSO TOLD ME AFTER A PUMP REPLACEMENT, IF THE SAME PROBLEM CAME BACK, TO NOT COME BACK TO THEM, TAKE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. AT TIMES THIS ENGINE WILL QUIT WITH NO WARNING, IN TRAFFIC, GOING AROUND A CURVE, OR @ 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. PLEASE INFORM ME OF ANY COURSE OF ACTION I MAY HAVE TO GET MY VEHICLE REPAIRED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTION PUMP. THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP WAS REPLACED (5) TIMES WITHIN TWO YEARS. GM DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND DESIGN FLAW. *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
2ND 1-95 SORRY 3RD 9-95 STRANGE 4TH. 10-97 DEFECTIVE PUMPS 4TH. 10-97 REBUILD DEFECTIVE PUMP 5TH 4-00 COST $1559.63 DEFECTIVE PUMP 6TH 11-00 DEFECTIVE PUMP $1900.00 PLEASE CALL FOR DETAIL ALL WORK DONE AT SAME DEALER. *AK
NHTSA CAMPAIGN NO: 951005000, GM RECALL NO: 94C57/ THIS IS A PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT STARTED ON THE DATE OF PURCHASE. DURING THE FIST TWO YEARS THE INJECTOR PUMP WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES. NOW I HEAR OF THE RECALL AND GM @ 1-800-222-1020 FILE NO: C01138552 SAY THEY HAVE NO RECALLS OF THIS NATURE ON MY DIESEL POWERED TRUCK. AT THE PRESENT TIME MY VEHICLE STALLS, HAS VERY POOR THROTTLE RESPONSE, MISFIRES, STALLS AFTER START, AND SOMETIMES STALLS DURING DECELERATION. ONE DEALER ALSO TOLD ME AFTER A PUMP REPLACEMENT, IF THE SAME PROBLEM CAME BACK, TO NOT COME BACK TO THEM, TAKE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. AT TIMES THIS ENGINE WILL QUIT WITH NO WARNING, IN TRAFFIC, GOING AROUND A CURVE, OR @ 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. PLEASE INFORM ME OF ANY COURSE OF ACTION I MAY HAVE TO GET MY VEHICLE REPAIRED. *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
WHILE PULLING A HEAVY LOAD WITH VEHICLE CLUTCH PEDAL WILL GO TO FLOOR, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CLUTCH. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS IS THE RESULT OF HEAT COMING FROM EXHAUST PIPE IN ENGINE BEING TOO EXCESSIVE, AND CAUSING SLAVE CYLINDER TO MALFUNCTION.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE ENTIRE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM HAS BEEN FLUSHED SEVERAL TIMES, ALSO THE SLAVE CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM IS STILL NOT RESOLVED. *JB
CLUTCH PEDAL IS HARD TO PUSH DOWN AND THERE'RE DIFFICULTIES SHIFTING GEARS. THE CLUTCH BALL AND FORK WERE BROKEN. ALSO, PROBLEMS EXISTED WITH THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM.
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
TURBO BRACKET BROKE, REPLACE BRACKET.
TRANSMISSION DISINTEGRATED/WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICANT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION DISINTEGRATED/WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICANT.
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
TURBO BRACKET BROKE, REPLACE BRACKET.
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
THE FRAME IS CRACKING IN TWO PLACES, AND FIVE INJECTOR PUMPS WERE REPLACED IN TRUCK . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK
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 TIRES MEASURE APPROX. 96 FRONT TIRES APPROX 91. DT
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 .