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1994 Chevrolet C3500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
18Owner complaints

Model-year median: 8

1Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
3
19918
199215
199318
199447
199526
1996
Compare all C3500 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Visibility
6Fuel System, Gasoline
5Service Brakes, Hydraulic
5Power Train
4Engine And Engine Cooling
3
All reported categories
Electrical System
2Equipment
1Exterior Lighting
1Structure
1

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: 1 of 18 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.

  • Visibility. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · May 17, 2001
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE PULLING A HEAVY LOAD WITH VEHICLE CLUTCH PEDAL WILL GO TO FLOOR, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CLUTCH. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS IS THE RESULT OF HEAT COMING FROM EXHAUST PIPE IN ENGINE BEING TOO EXCESSIVE, AND CAUSING SLAVE CYLINDER TO MALFUNCTION.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE ENTIRE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM HAS BEEN FLUSHED SEVERAL…

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WHILE PULLING A HEAVY LOAD WITH VEHICLE CLUTCH PEDAL WILL GO TO FLOOR, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CLUTCH. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS IS THE RESULT OF HEAT COMING FROM EXHAUST PIPE IN ENGINE BEING TOO EXCESSIVE, AND CAUSING SLAVE CYLINDER TO MALFUNCTION.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE ENTIRE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM HAS BEEN FLUSHED SEVERAL TIMES, ALSO THE SLAVE CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM IS STILL NOT RESOLVED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #888512

Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE REAR ABS BRAKES FAIL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. REPLACED BRAKING SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #820867

Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES: WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WILL PULL TO THE LEFT. INTERMITTENTLY, THE BRAKES WILL PULSATE, FEELS LIKE THERE ARE NO POWER BRAKES. BRAKE PEDAL MAKES A CLICKING SOUND WHEN PUSHING ON THEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #818522

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS BRAKE FAILURE, WHEN APPLIED LOCKUP OR VEHICLE PULLS TO LEFT OR RIGHT, PULSATE CAUSING VIBRATION

NHTSA ODI #808867

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 1997
Electrical SystemEquipmentPower Train

TRANSMISSION DISINTEGRATED/WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICANT.

NHTSA ODI #513408

Official recalls

1

99V025000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Feb 5, 1999

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS WOULD FAIL TO WARN A FOLLOWING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING AND COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE SWITCH AND REVERSE THE WIRING.

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

1

EA97023 · Driver's Seat Frame Failure

Opened Oct 31, 1997 · Closed Jun 1, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION HAS RECEIVED 375 REPORTS ALLEGING FAILURE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME WHICH IS PRONE TO BREAKAGE AT THE LEFT FRONT ATTACHING POINT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE SEAT MAY TILT AWAY FROM THE RISER DURING ACCELERATING OR BRAKING.(SEE CLOSING REPORT)