RoadVitals

1994 Chevrolet Silverado

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.
210
Latest Jul 25, 2014
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.
0
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.
11
4 injuries, 1 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 210 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 Chevrolet Silverado, most frequently naming the visibility, interior & seats and brakes categories. 5 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.

What owners report

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.

Safety recalls

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.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 210
Engine
Filed Jul 25, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS HE APPROACHED A STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT ENGINE FAILED AND RECOMMENDED SOME OF THE PARTS BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,652. UPDATED 09/02/14*LJ UPDATED 09/18/2014 *JS

NHTSA ID
10616330
Incident
Oct 24, 2013
Mileage
142,652 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 11, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, SHE NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DISPLAYED THAT THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RADIATOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. UPDATED 11/12/13*CN

NHTSA ID
10543086
Incident
Jan 30, 2010
Mileage
200,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 4, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE SFAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ID
10491460
Incident
Jan 1, 1996
Mileage
20,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 17, 2012

WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES AS I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY , THE BRAKE PETAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION UNDER MY TRUCK I NOTICE BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM BETWEEN THE FRAME AND FUEL TANK . I THEN NOTICE THAT THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND I HAD NO WARNING . THE BRAKE LINES ARE LOCATED WHERE YOU CANNOT SEE THEM MAKING INSPECTION OF THEM NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE . I WAS LUCKY WHERE I WAS WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED .

NHTSA ID
10462644
Incident
Jun 13, 2012
Mileage
139,887 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 27, 2010
Fire reported

1994 CHEVY SILVERADO K2500 V8 HEATING SYSTEM IS FAULTY AND AFTER USE IT CATCHES ON FIRE. CAUSING A SAFETY CONCERN TO YOURSELF AND THOSE AROUND YOU. MY TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE ON THE FREEWAY CAUSING SAFETY CONCERNS HERE IS A LINK OF OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/SILVERADO/2005/ELECTRICAL/BLOWER_MOTOR_WIRING_CAUGHT_FIRE.SHTML. *TR

NHTSA ID
10362569
Incident
Aug 15, 2004
Mileage
200,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 24, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 03V159000, REGARDING THE VISIBILITY WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA ID
10156000
Incident
Apr 23, 2006
Mileage
129,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Feb 8, 2006
Crash reported1 injury reported1 death reported

1994 CHEVROLET SILVERADO WAS IN VEHICLE CRASH. CRASH WAS OFFSET FRONTAL CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. OHIO STATE PATROL SAYS THE 1994 CHEVROLET WENT LEFT OF CENTER, COLLISION WAS WITH AN ADVANCE CEMENT TRUCK. MY FATHER IN LAW WAS DRIVING AND WAS WEARING SEAT BELT. PARAMEDICS UNBELTED HIM TO TREAT HIM, ACCORDING TO THE OFFICER. THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY CORONERS REPORT LISTS BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA TO THE CHEST AS CAUSE OF DEATH. MOST OF HIS RIBS, HIS STERNUM, THE LEFT PELVIS, AND MOST OF THE BONES IN HIS LEFT LEG WERE BROKEN. HE DIED AS A RESULT OF THIS CRASH, AND I BELIEVE THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY TO ALLOW HIS CHEST TO CONTACT THE STEERING COLUMN. *JB

NHTSA ID
10149837
Incident
Jan 5, 2006
Mileage
68,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 16, 2005

MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. THIS JUST HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY (THEY WORK TODAY). IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR QUITE SOMETIME. FORTUNATELY IT DOES NOT RAIN TOO OFTEN IN THE LA AREA. THIS WINDSHIELD WIPER ISSUE HAS LED TO SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS. I SUSPECT THAT MY VEHICLE HAS A DEFECTIVE UNIT AS DESCRIBED IN YOUR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V159000. I CONTACTED A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I DISAGREE COMPLETELY. MY VIN NUMBER IS [XXX]. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE IN GETTING THIS ISSUE RESOLVED. MORE IMPORTANTLY, I WOULD LIKE OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE BE NOTIFIED THAT THEY SHOULD GET THEIR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR INSPECTED AND REPAIRED. RESPECTFULLY YOURS, [XXX]. *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
10142870
Incident
Nov 15, 2005
Mileage
191,500 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

130089009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)

Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

020730024A

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. *TT

01570

SUSPENSION:REAR

SPRING SLAP NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE GMT 400 SERIES TRUCK. *MN

990730016A

POWER TRAIN

DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION FOR INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFT, SLIP, BUSY/CYCLING TCC OR NOISY COOLING FAN. *TT

3325

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

SUPPLEMENT TO BULLETIN 99-06-04-047A FOR FUEL SYSTEM CLEANING. *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.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet Silverado by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
20171250040.0
2016520—
2015767052.7
201412414053.5
2013643050.8
2012682052.0
2011752048.6
2010621038.1
2009760037.9
20081622050.7
20071834258.7
200618210052.8
200531614050.7
200462215159.9
200369513862.5
2002710151266.5
2001877151366.8
20001,305201366.6
19991,660171463.5
19982790243.0
19972720038.1
19961860039.2
19952630035.9
1994Viewing2100037.1
1993690037.5
1992400036.9
1991170028.0
1990250040.0
1989220042.3
1988150038.7
1987200—
1985300—
1984500—
1982200—
1980200—

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.