Owners have filed 10 complaints
about the 1994 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with NHTSA between 2006 and 2016.
The largest single group is the brakes.
Across this model's run it ranks 29 of 32 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 1
Against the median year of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
20% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 0
0% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 1994 compares with every other Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1994 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Brakes
330.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 160,000 mi
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
220.0%
Median failure at 140,000 miles
Engine & Cooling
220.0%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 170,000 mi
Doors, Latches & Locks
110.0%
Median failure at 150,000 miles
Seats
110.0%
Median failure at 137,000 miles
Airbags
110.0%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
50,000 – 74,999 miles
111.1%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
333.3%
150,000+ miles
555.6%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
May 2006peak 2Dec 2016
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 215,000 milesOreland Park, ILCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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 complaint #10430216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 180,000 milesDenton, TXFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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.
NHTSA complaint #10226630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Dallas, TX
AIR BAGS
AIRBAGS NEED REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10934205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150,000 milesBarnhart, MO
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
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 complaint #10849593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 137,000 milesNorco, CA
SEATS
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 complaint #10811467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 215,000 milesOreland Park, ILCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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 complaint #10430216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 160,000 milesLitchfield Park,, AZ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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.
NHTSA complaint #10424553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 70,000 milesWilmer, AL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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.
NHTSA complaint #10265189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 180,000 milesDenton, TXFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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.
NHTSA complaint #10226630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 160,000 milesBryans Road, MD
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
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.
NHTSA complaint #10168615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 140,000 milesDRY Prong, LA
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
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.
NHTSA complaint #10167459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 140,000 milesPowell, WY
VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
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 complaint #10158218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.