IllustrationWHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT REAR ABS BRAKES HAVE FAILED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
1989 Chevrolet Silverado
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Fewer warning signs than most model years
Owner complaints for the 1989 Chevrolet Silverado are lower than the model-year median of 76.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Silverado 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: 1 of 22 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 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 3 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 reports3 fire reports1 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
5 reportsTHE ROTOR ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL RUSTED DANGEROUSLY THIN WHERE THE CENTER SECTION AND THE FRICTION PLATE MEET, AND BROKE ALMOST COMPLETELY APART WHILE I WAS DRIVING. IT IS DIFFICULT TO TELL THAT IT IS RUSTED SO THIN UPON VISUAL INSPECTION, EVEN WHEN THE FRICTION PLATE THAT THE PADS CONTACT LOOKS FINE. IT BECAME BRITTLE AND CAU…
Read full complaint
THE ROTOR ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL RUSTED DANGEROUSLY THIN WHERE THE CENTER SECTION AND THE FRICTION PLATE MEET, AND BROKE ALMOST COMPLETELY APART WHILE I WAS DRIVING. IT IS DIFFICULT TO TELL THAT IT IS RUSTED SO THIN UPON VISUAL INSPECTION, EVEN WHEN THE FRICTION PLATE THAT THE PADS CONTACT LOOKS FINE. IT BECAME BRITTLE AND CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES. I STOPPED AND TOOK THE WHEEL OFF TO INSPECT EVERYTHING, AND IT TOOK A WHILE FOR ME TO SEE THE HAIRLINE FRACTURE AROUND THE RING. THIS COULD BE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS TO SOMEONE COMING TO A STOP FROM A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE FRICTION RING COULD COME COMPLETELY LOOSE, AS MINE WAS ABOUT TO DO, AND BIND UP THE WHEEL CAUSING A SKID AND AN ACCIDENT. THE ROTOR CENTER NEEDS TO BE MADE THE SAME THICKNESS AS THE OLDER 70'S MODELS WERE TO PROVIDE MORE "MEAT" AND REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF THIS BRITTLENESS AND CRACKING WITH AGE AND RUST.
ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH BRAKE SYSTEM; WHENEVER VEHICLE WOULD RUN OVER A BUMP OR A POTHOLE AT A LOW SPEED OF 35 MPH OR LESS, IT CAUSED THE REAR WHEELS TO LOCK-UP AND BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR FOR A FEW SECONDS. THEN BRAKES WOULD REENGAGE BY THEMSELVES. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE APPLYING ABS BRAKES, THE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR; THIS WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO HAVE A MUCH GREATER STOPPING DISTANCE THAN IT SHOULD. ITS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK
MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED TWICE.
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.