IllustrationWHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR. HAD BRAKES CHECKED, AND WORKED ON, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
1989 Chevrolet C1500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1989 Chevrolet C1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 41.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all C1500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 33 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports3 fire reports1 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
8 reportsTHE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM DEPLOYS WHEN TOWING A TRAILER AND BRAKING. THIS "MOVES A BLOCK" IN THE MASTER CYLINDER, ACCORDING TO A MECHANIC, WHICH THEN DISABLES THE FRONT BRAKES UNTIL A MECHANIC RESETS IT. I THE MEAN TIME, THE DRIVER IS UNAWARE OF THE EVENT, AND IS OPERATING THE VEHICLE WITH THE 1/2 OF THE BRAKES DISABLED, CAUS…
Read full complaint
THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM DEPLOYS WHEN TOWING A TRAILER AND BRAKING. THIS "MOVES A BLOCK" IN THE MASTER CYLINDER, ACCORDING TO A MECHANIC, WHICH THEN DISABLES THE FRONT BRAKES UNTIL A MECHANIC RESETS IT. I THE MEAN TIME, THE DRIVER IS UNAWARE OF THE EVENT, AND IS OPERATING THE VEHICLE WITH THE 1/2 OF THE BRAKES DISABLED, CAUSING UNEVEN AND INADEQUATE BRAKING, AND EXTREME WEAR ON THE REMAINING BRAKES. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WITH THE ANIT LOCK BRAKE DEVICE ON THE MASTER CYLINDER, AND THE ADDED WEIGHT OF A TRAILER WHEN BRAKING. (EVEN THOUGH THE TRUCK CAME WITH THE "TOWING PACKAGE" AND THE TRAILER IS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRIC BRAKES). *AK
STOPPING ON SLIPPERY SURFACE IS POOR! FRONT WHEELS LOCK UP AND REAR WHEELS FREE-WHEEL. DEALER SAYS SYSTEM OK.*AK
BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR WITH EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. MASTER CYLINDER REPAIRED, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.
BS BRAKES FAILED. DEALER ALSO REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER/CALIPERS AND ROTORS/BRAKELINES AND DRUMS. *AK
FRONT BRAKES WORK, BUT REAR BRAKES HAVE PROBLEMS. OWNER HAD MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED, BUT THAT DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. OWNER HAS HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM AND IS CONCERNED FOR HIS SFETY. *AK
KELSEY/HAYES ABS FAILURE, ON ANY ROAD CONDITIONS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, THE REAR BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION, PREVENTING THE VEHICLE TO STOP IN TIME.. TAKEN TO GM DEALER TWICE, DEALER STATED THAT IT IS A NORMAL FUNCTION. *AK
ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THERE IS A LOUD BANG AT THE SAME TIME. THE SYSTEM HAS ABS. *AK
Official recalls
190V170000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Sep 17, 1990
TRUCKS CAN CONTAIN INCORRECT INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PROPERLY ADJUST REAR SEAT LAP-SHOULDER BELTS AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 209.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: INCORRECTLY ADJUSTED SEAT BELT WOULD NOT PROPERLYRESTRAIN OCCUPANT IN AN ACCIDENT OF SUDDEN STOP; TRUCKS WOULD NOT COMPLY WITHFMVSS 209.
Remedy: PROVIDE OWNER'S MANUAL INSERT CONTAINING THE CORRECT REAR LAP-SHOULDER BELT INSTRUCTIONS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.