Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 22 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Chevrolet Silverado, most frequently naming the brakes, seat belts and suspension categories. 2 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 1996 | 1 | 1 |
| Nov 1997 | 1 | 2 |
| Jan 1998 | 1 | 3 |
| Aug 1998 | 1 | 4 |
| Dec 1998 | 1 | 5 |
| Apr 1999 | 1 | 6 |
| Aug 1999 | 2 | 8 |
| Sep 1999 | 1 | 9 |
| Dec 1999 | 1 | 10 |
| Mar 2000 | 2 | 12 |
| May 2000 | 1 | 13 |
| Jun 2001 | 1 | 14 |
| Sep 2001 | 1 | 15 |
| Jan 2002 | 1 | 16 |
| Feb 2002 | 1 | 17 |
| Jun 2002 | 1 | 18 |
| Jun 2003 | 1 | 19 |
| Nov 2003 | 1 | 20 |
| Aug 2004 | 1 | 21 |
| Jan 2011 | 1 | 22 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR AXLE U BOLTS WERE FRACTURED AS A RESULT OF RUST AND CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
WHEN PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE FRONT END COLLAPSED. THE DEALER STATES THE LOWER BALL JOINT HAD FAILED. *LA *SC *JB
WHILE AT REPAIR SHOP FOR SERVICE MECHANIC NOTICED THE BRAKE AND FUEL LINE WAS RUSTED. LOCATION IS NEAR REAR TIRE ON DRIVER SIDE, BOTH LINES ARE CLUSTERED TOGETHER. A SECTION ABOUT 3-4 INCHES IN LENGTH IS AFFECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE VIN NUMBER UPON RECEIPT OF THIS COMPLAINT. *NLM
AT LESS THAN 10 MPH REAR DRIVER TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION. 2 WEEKS LATER STEEL BELT BROKE IN BOTH FRONT TIRES AT 55 MPH.*AK
TIRE TREAD SEPARATION ON THE FRONT TWO TIRES AFTER LESS THAN TWO YEARS. "CUPPING ON THE BACK TWO TIRES AND POSSIBLE TIRE TREAD SEPARATION" EVEN AFTER PROPER ROTATION. TIRES WERE SOLD TO ME BY DON OLSEN TIRES PLUS OF NORTH WOODLAND BOULEVARD, DELAND, FLORIDA, AND WERE RETURNED TO THEM AND CONSEQUENTLY REPLACED. THEY SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED YOU OF THE DOT # OF THOSE TIRES AND THAT THERE WERE INHERENT DEFECTS. I AM UNSURE OF THE ACTUAL DOT #, AS I GOT THAT FROM THE REPLACEMENT TIRES, SORRY. THE REST IS CORRECT.*AK
DRIVER'SAND PASSENGER'S SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RELEASE FROM RETRACTING MECHANISM, CAUSING SEAT BELTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT REAR ABS BRAKES HAVE FAILED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
CONSUMER WAS BACKING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AND HEARD A NOISE. RIGHT BALL JOINT BROKE . DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
SUSPENSION:REAR
SPRING SLAP NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE GMT 400 SERIES TRUCK. *MN
POWER TRAIN
DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION FOR INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFT, SLIP, BUSY/CYCLING TCC OR NOISY COOLING FAN. *TT
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 125 | 0 | 0 | 40.0 |
| 2016 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2015 | 76 | 7 | 0 | 52.7 |
| 2014 | 124 | 14 | 0 | 53.5 |
| 2013 | 64 | 3 | 0 | 50.8 |
| 2012 | 68 | 2 | 0 | 52.0 |
| 2011 | 75 | 2 | 0 | 48.6 |
| 2010 | 62 | 1 | 0 | 38.1 |
| 2009 | 76 | 0 | 0 | 37.9 |
| 2008 | 162 | 2 | 0 | 50.7 |
| 2007 | 183 | 4 | 2 | 58.7 |
| 2006 | 182 | 10 | 0 | 52.8 |
| 2005 | 316 | 14 | 0 | 50.7 |
| 2004 | 622 | 15 | 1 | 59.9 |
| 2003 | 695 | 13 | 8 | 62.5 |
| 2002 | 710 | 15 | 12 | 66.5 |
| 2001 | 877 | 15 | 13 | 66.8 |
| 2000 | 1,305 | 20 | 13 | 66.6 |
| 1999 | 1,660 | 17 | 14 | 63.5 |
| 1998 | 279 | 0 | 2 | 43.0 |
| 1997 | 272 | 0 | 0 | 38.1 |
| 1996 | 186 | 0 | 0 | 39.2 |
| 1995 | 263 | 0 | 0 | 35.9 |
| 1994 | 210 | 0 | 0 | 37.1 |
| 1993 | 69 | 0 | 0 | 37.5 |
| 1992 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 36.9 |
| 1991 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 28.0 |
| 1990 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 40.0 |
| 1989Viewing | 22 | 0 | 0 | 42.3 |
| 1988 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 38.7 |
| 1987 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1980 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
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.