AIRBAGS NEED REPLACED.
1994 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Owners filed 10 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling. No safety recall has been issued.
| Component | Reports | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Visibility › Rear Window Wiper/Washer › Motor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Air Bags | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
What owners reported
Newest filingsTL* 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.
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.
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.
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 I
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
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
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON A HIGHWAY, THERE WAS AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE UPON APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE MAIN BRAKE LINE RUSTED INTO RENDERING THE BRAKES INOPERABLE. THE REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE BRAKE LINE HAD CORRODED DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE OF THE VEHICLE BEING EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE ROAD SALTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.
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
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.
10 of 10 complaints, reproduced as filed.
Across model years
Worst on record: 2014| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Deaths | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 93 | 3 | 1 | 0 | Do not drive |
| 2025 | 98 | 0 | 4 | 0 | Routine |
| 2024 | 306 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Above average |
| 2023 | 373 | 3 | 6 | 0 | Above average |
| 2022 | 619 | 6 | 6 | 0 | Above average |
| 2021 | 817 | 8 | 11 | 0 | Above average |
| 2020 | 728 | 12 | 9 | 0 | Above average |
| 2019 | 1,078 | 10 | 8 | 0 | Above average |
| 2018 | 516 | 7 | 4 | 1 | Fatalities reported |
| 2017 | 711 | 6 | 12 | 0 | Do not drive |
| 2016 | 793 | 11 | 10 | 1 | Do not drive |
| 2015 | 1,104 | 11 | 14 | 1 | Fatalities reported |
| 2014 | 1,434 | 6 | 18 | 4 | Fatalities reported |
| 2013 | 301 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Above average |
| 2012 | 216 | 2 | 1 | 0 | Above average |
| 2011 | 563 | 4 | 4 | 1 | Fatalities reported |
| 2010 | 362 | 3 | 1 | 0 | Above average |
| 2009 | 444 | 3 | 6 | 0 | Above average |
| 2008 | 914 | 3 | 9 | 1 | Fatalities reported |
| 2007 | 849 | 2 | 14 | 2 | Fatalities reported |
| 2006 | 359 | 0 | 15 | 0 | Above average |
| 2005 | 525 | 0 | 34 | 2 | Fatalities reported |
| 2004 | 797 | 0 | 8 | 1 | Fatalities reported |
| 2003 | 805 | 0 | 7 | 0 | Above average |
| 2002 | 509 | 0 | 5 | 1 | Fatalities reported |
| 2001 | 468 | 0 | 5 | 3 | Fatalities reported |
| 2000 | 614 | 0 | 5 | 3 | Fatalities reported |
| 1999 | 587 | 2 | 5 | 2 | Fatalities reported |
| 1998 | 361 | 2 | 11 | 0 | Above average |
| 1997 | 555 | 2 | 13 | 1 | Fatalities reported |
| 1996 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Fatalities reported |
| 1995 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 1994 — this page | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Routine |
Reading this record
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.