RoadVitals

1994 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 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.
10
Latest Dec 9, 2016
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
5
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.
2

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1994 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 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

  • Brakes330.0%
  • Engine220.0%
  • Interior & seats220.0%
  • Visibility220.0%
  • Airbags110.0%

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.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, HE HAD TO DRIVE INTO A DITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE OWNER AND HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 215,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID 10430216 · filed Oct 14, 2011

BRAKE SWITCH (AT PEDAL) HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES, STARTING AT 70,000 MI. OTHERS HAD TO BE REPLACED WITHIN WEEKS OF USE (AFTERMARKET BRAND). PROBLEM NOT FIXED AS OF DATE. 1994 SILVERADO VIN. *TR

NHTSA ID 10265189 · filed Apr 13, 2009

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

AFTER BUYING THE VEHICLE, THE FORMER OWNER SAID THAT THE PDM WOULD OVERHEAT AND THE ENGINE WOULD JUST FAIL AND THERE WOULD BE NO ABILITY TO STEER OR TO BRAKE. HE SAID THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM WAS TO MOVE THE PDM AWAY FROM THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP. HE TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT AN HOUR BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD BE ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. HE SAID THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE PDM GETS TOO HOT WHICH CAUSES IT TO SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN, WHICH ONLY STANDS TO REASON. THE PDM IS AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT IN A SMALL BOX ATTACHED TO A PIECE OF METAL THAT REACHES TEMPERATURES IN EXCESS OF 300 DEGREES. HE TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO RELOCATE THE PDM AWAY FROM THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND UNTIL I DID THIS I WOULD HAVE TO MONITOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAREFULLY. AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, I POSTPONED FIXING THE PROBLEM AND FOOLISHLY DROVE FROM PHOENIX TO OREGON. NOW, I REALIZE HOW LUCKY I WAS THAT THE ENGINE DIDN'T QUIT ON ME GOING 70 MILES PER HOUR DOWN THE HILLS AND ON THE FREEWAY OR IN LOS ANGLES TRAFFIC. YESTERDAY, IT WAS 109 DEGREES IN PHOENIX WHEN I EXPERIENCED THE TRUCK JUST QUITTING. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 15 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE TRUCK JUST QUIT. THERE WAS NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER. IT JUST QUIT. I COULDN'T STEER IT OR BRAKE OR TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAITED ONE HOUR IN 109 DEGREE HEAT AND THE TRUCK RESTARTED AS THE MAN HAD SAID. NOW AFTER HAVING EXPERIENCED THIS, I AM FRIGHTENED TO DEATH TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND EVERYTHING I AM READING ON THE INTERNET STATES THAT THIS PROBLEM CAN'T BE REMEDIED WITH RELOCATING THE PDM WITH THE RELOCATION KIT. I AM SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE THE TRUCK AND I AM AFRAID IF I DRIVE IT I WILL BE PUTTING NOT ONLY MYSELF, MY 15 YEAR OLD SON IN DANGER, BUT ALSO ANYONE ELSE THAT IS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY OR HIGHWAY WITH ME. I WILL BE SEEKING LEGAL ACTION. *TR

NHTSA ID 10424553 · filed Sep 9, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 65-70 MPH, WHITE SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE TAIL PIPE. BEFORE THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD, FLAMES APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000. UPDATED 02-19-09 *BF UPDATED 02/19/09. *JB

NHTSA ID 10226630 · filed May 5, 2008

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 (NA) CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WITHOUT WARNING, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LATCH FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO HOLD THE DOOR TOGETHER WITH A CONTRAPTION TO KEEP THE DOOR CLOSED. THE INDEPENDENT DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID 10849593 · filed Mar 14, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE METAL FROM THE SEAT WAS RIPPED. IN ADDITION, WHILE ACCELERATING, THE SEAT WOULD ROCK BACKWARDS. WHILE BRAKING, THE SEAT WOULD ROCK FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.

NHTSA ID 10811467 · filed Dec 21, 2015

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL CONTINUALLY WHEN IN OPERATION. IF I WIGGLE THE WIRING WHERE IT PLUGS INTO WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY THEY MIGHT WORK FOR A MOMENT. THIS VEHICLE EXHIBITS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS ALL VEHICLES LISTED IN RECALL #03V159000 , BUT CHEVROLET REFUSES TO ACCEPT IT FOR REPAIR. *NM

NHTSA ID 10167459 · filed Sep 6, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE PROBLEM STARTED GRADUALLY AND HAS PROGRESSED TO TOTAL FAILURE. THE WIPERS FAILED IN THE UP POSITION; HOWEVER THE WIPERS ARE NOT BLOCKING THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, 03V159000, REGARDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA ID 10158218 · filed May 24, 2006

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

AIRBAGS NEED REPLACED.

NHTSA ID 10934205 · filed Dec 9, 2016

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 .