Chevrolet C/K PICKUPS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
358 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
74,718 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 to 2002 model years. Data snapshot: . 266 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 51 of 358 complaints (14.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 106 | 29.6% |
| Steering behavior | 42 | 11.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 4.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 13 | 3.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 12 | 3.4% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 2.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 51 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 45 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 34 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 18 |
| Steering | 14 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 12 |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 10 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 9 |
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 51; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 45; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 34; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 18; Steering: 14; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module: 12; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System: 10; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 16 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 44 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 73 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 51 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 61 |
| 150,000 and above | 21 |
Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 44; 50,000 to 74,999: 73; 75,000 to 99,999: 51; 100,000 to 149,999: 61; 150,000 and above: 21
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (73). 92 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 75 |
| 2004 | 65 |
| 2005 | 83 |
| 2006 | 45 |
| 2007 | 17 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 14 |
| 2010 | 15 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 5 |
2000: 9; 2001: 6; 2002: 4; 2003: 75; 2004: 65; 2005: 83; 2006: 45; 2007: 17; 2008: 8; 2009: 14; 2010: 15; 2011: 2; 2012: 5; 2013: 4; 2014: 1; 2015: 5
Pattern summary
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 106 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 42 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 15 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10126941 · 2005-06-28 (June 28, 2005)
GM 6.5 DIESEL JUST SHUTS ITSELF OFF GOING DOWN THE ROAD LOSE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES GOOD WAY TO GET PEOPLE KILLED. GM REPLACED ONE PUMP AT 110,000 HAD THE PUMP REMOVED AND REBUILT AT 130,000 NOW IT STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN . COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS STYLE FUEL SYSTEM AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET CALLED GM THEY DIDNOT SEEM WORRIED ABOUT IT .
Owner-reported narrative. 167,359 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126941 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10164604 · 2006-08-05 (August 5, 2006)
BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK ON 1994 CHEVY Z71 PICK UP. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10164604 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10139729 · 2005-10-14 (October 14, 2005)
I BOUGHT A USED RV FROM A PRIVATE PARTY. RV IS A '92 TIGER CX BY PROVAN INDUSTRIES. I DROVE HOME AND NOTICED REAR END SWERVING WHEN DRIVING ON FREE WAY RUTS. VEHICLE MOVES 6" TO 8" TO LEFT/RIGHT, TAKES SEVERAL SEC. BEFORE REACTING TO STEERING INPUT. I THOUGHT CAUSE WERE BAD SHOCKS/TIRES. HAD NEW TIRES / SHOCKS INSTALLED AND AIR RIDE SUSPENSION TO STABALIZE VEHICLE. TOOK RV ON ROAD TRIP, WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THAT NEW TIRES/SHOCKS/AIR SUSPENSION MADE NO DIFFERENCE IN VEHICLES HANDLING. CONTACTED PROVAN, OWNER DAVID ROWE TOLD ME HE HADN'T HEARD…
Owner-reported narrative. 76 miles reported. Look up ODI 10139729 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049377 · 2003-12-07 (December 7, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 15,312 MILES, DEFAULTED TO 2ND GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SEEMING TO STAY IN GEAR AT 47,028 MILES, ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY REV-UP THEN SLOWLY TAKE OFF (DIAGNOSED BY DEALER AS FUEL PICK UP PROBLEM); HOWEVER, I HAD THEIR TRANSMISSION SERVICE DONE AT THAT TIME, 10 MONTHS AGO. NOW AT 53485 MILES THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING INTO GEARS AUTOMATICALLY (DEALER SAY IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN). *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 53,485 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049377 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10261251 · 2009-03-06 (March 6, 2009)
FACSIMILE FROM SENATOR CORNYN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE PROBLEMS WITH HIS 1994 CHEVROLET TRUCK. *NJ WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED WHITE SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE TAILPIPE. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER, EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE HOOD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONSUMER STATED HE DID HAVE A TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL PREVIOUSLY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10261251 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170429 · 2006-10-10 (October 10, 2006)
FRONT CROSS MEMBER THAT HOLDS UP THE FUEL TANK RUSTED (NOT THE STRAP) CAUSING THE FUEL TANK TO DROP. HAD TO REPLACE THE CROSS MEMBER. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10170429 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016685 · 2003-04-29 (April 29, 2003)
IN JULY 1998 I HAD AN ELECTRICAL FIRE WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE. THE SMOKE WAS SO INTENSE I HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND HOLD MY HEAD OUT IN ORDER TO SEE THE ROAD AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. I LOST THE USE OF MY DRIVER SIDE ELECTRICAL SEAT MOTORS AND THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS. HAMPTON ROADS BATTERY IN HAMPTON VIRGINIA (AUTO ELECTRICAL SHOP) DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE. CAUSE: THE DRIVER SEATS HAS A SPRING SUPPORT SYSTEM WHICH ALLOWS THE SEAT TO TRAVEL UP AND DOWN. APPARENTLY WHEN A PERSON IS SITTING IN THE DRIVER SEAT THIS …
Owner-reported narrative. 58,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016685 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051178 · 2003-12-27 (December 27, 2003)
I HAD A CHEVROLET PICKUP 1500 WITH THE TURBO 6.5 DIESEL ENGINE. I HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT FROM DAY ONE. I WOULD BE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF AND TURN ON BY ITSELF. WHEN I TOLD MECHANICS, THEY LAUGHED AT ME. CHEVROLET TOLD ME IT WAS THE FUEL INJECTOR, I CHANGED IT,DIDN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THEN NO CODES WOULD COME UP WHEN ON THE TECH'S COMPUTER, EVEN WHEN AUTOMOBILE REPEATED PROBLEM. IT WAS ASSUMED ON MANY OCCASIONS WHAT IT WAS AND AT MY EXPENSE I CHANGED MANY PARTS THAT NEVER MADE A DIFFERENCE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS PROBAB…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10051178 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039117 · 2003-09-18 (September 18, 2003)
I BOUGHT MY TRUCK (CHEVY WITH AN 6.5L DIESEL) USED IN 2000 WITH 106,250 MILES. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GM ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION PUMP. THE LETTER EXPLAINED THAT GM HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP TO 11 YEARS OR 120,000 MILES. IN JANUARY OF 2001, MY TRUCK (WITH 113,200 MILES) STARTED TO EXPERIENCE AN ENGINE STALLING PROBLEM. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT MY TRUCK DID NOT HAVE ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION PROBLEM. THEY WANT TO DISMANTLE THE TOP PORTION OF MY ENGINE TO CHECK FO…
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039117 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 |
| 1991 | 0 |
| 1992 | 0 |
| 1993 | 0 |
| 1994 | 1 |
| 1995 | 1 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
1990: 0; 1991: 0; 1992: 0; 1993: 0; 1994: 1; 1995: 1; 1996: 1; 1997: 1; 1998: 1; 1999: 1; 2000: 1; 2001: 0; 2002: 0