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1994 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 9 of 10 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 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

2 reports
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160,000 miles · Sep 9, 2011
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 A…

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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. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10424553

180,000 miles · May 5, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

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…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10226630

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.