RoadVitals

1994 GMC C3500

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.
8
Latest Oct 25, 1996
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.
2
Latest Oct 24, 2007
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.
1
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 GMC C3500, most frequently naming the brakes, body & structure and transmission categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes562.5%
  • Body & structure225.0%
  • Transmission112.5%

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

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
07E088000

EQUIPMENT

Oct 24, 2007
121,680 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. FRAM RACING HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS NOT BEARING A DATE CODE IN THIS RANGE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. THE GASKET OF THE OIL FILTER BECOMES MORE PLIABLE UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES.
The risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
99V025000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

Feb 5, 1999
988,587 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS, CREW CABS, UTILITY TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE POLARITY OF THE WIRING FOR THE ZERO ADJUST BRAKE SWITCH REVERSED FROM WHAT WAS SPECIFIED ON THE SWITCH DRAWING. WITH THE REVERSED POLARITY, THE CONTACTS IN THE BRAKE SWITCH CAN WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. THE BRAKE SWITCH WILL PERFORM NORMALLY UNTIL THE BRAKE SWITCH CONTACTS WEAR OUT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE BRAKE LAMPS WITHOUT ANY WARNING TO THE DRIVER.
The risk: THIS WOULD FAIL TO WARN A FOLLOWING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING AND COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE SWITCH AND REVERSE THE WIRING.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.Manufacturer number 98065View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE97027ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

DRIVERS SEAT FAILURE

Opened Jun 17, 1997
Closed Oct 31, 1997

THE COMPLAINANTS ALLEGE THE DRIVERS SEAT MOUNTING FAILS, ALLOWING THE SEAT TO MOVE OR TIP REARWARD INTO A RECLINED POSITION.

SEATS

Recent owner complaints

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

Brakes
Filed Oct 25, 1996

ANTILOCK BRAKES FAIL ON WET PAVEMENT.

NHTSA ID
601637
Incident
Oct 17, 1996
Brakes
Filed Oct 25, 1996

ANTILOCK BRAKES FAIL ON WET PAVEMENT.

NHTSA ID
510606
Incident
Oct 17, 1996
Transmission
Filed Jul 11, 1996

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN MOVING FROM COLD START AUTO-TRANSMISSION MAY NOT CAUSE IT TO MOVE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
986762
Body & structure
Filed Apr 5, 1996

FRAME CRACKED IN HALF, VEHICLE INOPERATIVE. *AK

NHTSA ID
982390
Incident
Mar 26, 1995
Body & structure
Filed Jan 12, 1996

FRONT FRAME FAILED. TT

NHTSA ID
500795
Incident
Jan 1, 1995
Brakes
Filed Dec 11, 1995

PURCHASE TRUCK NEW BEEN IN THE SHOP 18 FOR PROBLEM DEALER CAN'T FIND PROBLEM WILL DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE . TT

NHTSA ID
976374
Brakes
Filed Oct 30, 1995

VEHICLES BRAKING SYSTEM IN FRONT ON WET ROADS WHEEL LOCK-UP. TT DEALER REPLACED BRAKE VALVE AND BRAKE LININGS. *SLC

NHTSA ID
974182
Incident
Aug 3, 1994
Brakes
Filed Jan 24, 1995

INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE TO DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL. *TW

NHTSA ID
480635
Incident
Jan 24, 1995

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

455006

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

UNKNOWN

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

GMC C3500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1996210—
1995511—
1994Viewing821—
1993420—
1992230—
1991222—
1990031—
1989131—
1988112—
1987012—
1986112—
1985012—
1984012—
1983011—
1982011—
1981011—
1980011—
1979011—
1978011—
1977011—
1976011—
1975011—
1974021—
1973001—
1972001—
1971031—
1970011—

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.