Chevrolet C3500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
49 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
84,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 to 2018 model years. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 49 complaints (14.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 10.2% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 8.2% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 6.1% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 6.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 4.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 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 | 7 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 6 |
| Tires | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | 3 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 |
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 7; Tires:Tread/Belt: 6; Tires: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors: 3; Structure:Frame And Members: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 34 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 |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2000 | 17 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
1996: 1; 2000: 17; 2001: 7; 2002: 4; 2003: 5; 2004: 2; 2005: 3; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 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 727000 · 2000-08-08 (August 8, 2000)
NHTSA CAMPAIGN NO: 951005000, GM RECALL NO: 94C57/ THIS IS A PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT STARTED ON THE DATE OF PURCHASE. DURING THE FIST TWO YEARS THE INJECTOR PUMP WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES. NOW I HEAR OF THE RECALL AND GM @ [phone removed] FILE NO: C01138552 SAY THEY HAVE NO RECALLS OF THIS NATURE ON MY DIESEL POWERED TRUCK. AT THE PRESENT TIME MY VEHICLE STALLS, HAS VERY POOR THROTTLE RESPONSE, MISFIRES, STALLS AFTER START, AND SOMETIMES STALLS DURING DECELERATION. ONE DEALER ALSO TOLD ME AFTER A PUMP REPLACEMENT, IF THE SAME P…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 727000 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 802532 · 1996-09-17 (September 17, 1996)
THE FRAME IS CRACKING IN TWO PLACES, AND FIVE INJECTOR PUMPS WERE REPLACED IN TRUCK . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 802532 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 763464 · 2002-06-25 (June 25, 2002)
SEPARATION OF WHEEL, HUB AND AXLE ASSEMBLY FROM VEHICLE WHILE UNDERWAY. INSPECTION OF THE COMPONENTS REVEALED A CRACKED BEARING RETAINING NUT, WHICH ALLOWED THE NUT'S INSIDE DIAMETER TO EXPAND AND SLIDE OFF THE THREADED HUB. RECOVERED PARTS INCLUDE THE NUT, KEY, AND RETAINER RING, ALL OF WHICH APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ASSEMBLED. ALSO DAMAGED AT THE TIME OF FAILURE WAS THE AXLE SHAFT, WHICH FRACTURED AT THE OUTBOARD EDGE OF THE SPLINE AREA, ABOUT 3 INCHES FROM THE TIP. I COULD NOT DETERMINE IF THE AXLE FRACTURE OCCURRED WHILE THE AXLE W…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 763464 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10496033 · 2013-02-01 (February 1, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 CHEVROLET C3500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE BUT THE BRAKES SUDDENLY FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DESPITE THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT WAS A MECHANIC AND PLANNED TO PERSONALLY REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTUR…
Owner-reported narrative. 187,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10496033 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10350878 · 2010-08-21 (August 21, 2010)
I HAVE A 1995 3500 DULLY 6.5 TURBO, ENG F, SERIAL # [XXX]. I BOUGHT IT 4 YEARS AGO 170,000 MILES. THIS TRUCK IS USED FOR TOWING AND HAULING HEAVY LOADS IN MY BUSINESS.. ONE MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT IT AND AFTER SEVERAL STALLS (CREATING SOME CLOSE CALLS) AND HARD STARTING AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AT FIXING STALLING, STARTING PROBLEM I LEARNED OF THE PMD PROBLEM. I REPLACEMENT AND RELOCATED PMD WITH STANADYNE PART # 34583, AND RELOCATED TO FIREWALL. AFTER DRIVING A FEW MONTHS STARTED EXPERIENCING SOME HARD STARTING AND STALLING AGAIN. T…
Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10350878 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007916 · 2003-02-21 (February 21, 2003)
TECH-COR, INC. IS A RESEARCH SUBSIDIARY OF THE ALLSTATE NON-LIFE HOLDING CO. WE RECEIVE AND ANALYZE INQUIRIES FROM ALLSTATE INSURED CUSTOMERS. ONE, A MR. HENRY ALWARDT, OF KEY LARGO, FL, TOLD OF A DEFECT IN THE FUEL INJECTOR PUMP CIRCUIT OF THEGENERAL MOTORS 6.8L DIESEL ENGINE, WHICH WAS OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT ON CHEV. & GMC TRUCKS FROM 1995-2000. ACCORDING TO MR. ALWARDT, THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FOR THE FUEL INJECTOR WOULD FAIL WITHOUT WARNIONG, CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING & BRAKE CONTROL, WHICH COULD CONTRIBUTE TO AN ACCIDENT. HE SAID THAT H…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007916 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118488 · 2005-04-26 (April 26, 2005)
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND WIPERS FAILED DURING RAIN. LEAVE THE SWITCH ON AND HOPE THEY START WORKING AGAIN. THIS TRUCK NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL, BUT DOES THE SAME THING AS RECALLED TRUCKS. TRANSMISSION REFUSES TO SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEARS. STOP TRUCK, SHUT OFF ENGINE, RESTART AND PROCEED SEEMS TO WORK MOST OF THE TIME TO GET TRANSMISSION WORKING CORRECTLY. SOMETIMES MUST REPEAT SEVERAL TIMES. CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. BOTH SHIFTERS REPLACED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. ALTERNATOR REPLACED 3 TIMES. AIR CONDITIONING PUMP REPLACED 3 TIMES. THIS PROBLEM…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118488 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 881572 · 2001-02-27 (February 27, 2001)
WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED SHIFTER WOULD SLIP OUT OF GEAR. CLUCH WOULD ALSO SLIP WIITH NOISE. HAD VEHICLE SERVICED. TECHNICIAN STATED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 881572 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 871995 · 2000-10-02 (October 2, 2000)
BATTERY ACID WAS LEAKING ONTO ENGINE. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 2YEARS AGO. DEALER & MANUFACTURER KNEW IT WAS A PROBLEM, BUT WON'T DOING ANYTHING UNTIL A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 871995 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 |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 |
2018: 1