1994 Chevrolet C20: complaints, problems and recalls

1994 CHEVROLET C20, LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND WENT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD, STRIKING THE CONCRETE MEDIAN WALL. *BF ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE TIRES SHOWED SUFFICIENT TREAD, BUT SHOWED SIGNS OF DRY ROT AND CRACKING. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0469-90) *JB UPDATED 09/13/10*BF

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10354252 at NHTSA ↗

ANTI LOCK BRAKES LOCKED UP SEVERAL TIMES, TWO ACCIDENTS FROM LOCK UP.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 536991 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER FEELS THERE IS INSUFFICIENT SPACE BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ENGINE COVER (THIS IS A VAN WITH THE ENGINE COVER LOCATED BETWEEN THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SEAT). WHEN THE DRIVER REMOVES HIS FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL IT WILL OCCASIONALLY GET CAUGHT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT. *YH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 564456 at NHTSA ↗

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED FUNCTIONING FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND HAVE INTERMITTENT OPERATION. POSSIBLE TO RESTART WIPERS BY TAPPING ON MOTOR HOUSING AND/OR MOVING WIRES THAT PLUG INTO WIPER MOTOR. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 705047 at NHTSA ↗

AT ANY SPEED WHEN APPLYING BRAKES BRAKING DISTANCE IS NOT WHAT IT SHOULD BE. REAR BRAKES NOT WORKING PROPERLY, LOCK UP. FRONT BRAKES REPLACED TWICE. *AK BRAKES ARE REAL BAD ON WET OR ICY ROADS. *YH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 880100 at NHTSA ↗

DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD HAS AN IRREGULARITY, THIS CAUSES DRIVER'S VIEW TO BE OBSTRUCTED, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S RAINING. AREA IS NOT ABLE TO BE CLEANED WHEN WIPER IS IN USE. ROAD IS HARD TO DISCIPHER WHEN THE WEATHER IS CLEAR AND SUNNY.*AK *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 894356 at NHTSA ↗

HAD A FRONTAL COLLISION, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960989 at NHTSA ↗

APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE, HELD THEM DOWN, WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 961095 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 1993-09-15 (September 15, 1993)

THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSH ROD RETAINER IS MISSING, MISPOSITIONED OR NOT PROPERLY SEATED.

Consequence: BRAKE PEDAL PUSH ROD PROBLEMS CAN CAUSE THE STOP LAMPSWITCH AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER PUSH ROD TO DISCONNECT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL,RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKE OPERATION, AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUTPRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: INSPECT VEHICLES TO ASSURE THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSH ROD RETAINER IS PRESENT AND FULLY SEATED IN ITS CORRECT POSITION.

Reported: 1993-12-14 (December 14, 1993)

THE SEATS HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITHOUT BOLTS THAT CONNECT THE UPPER SLAVE HINGE TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME, OR WITHOUT BOLTS THAT CONNECT THE SEAT TO THE SEAT ADJUSTER. IN EITHER CASE, THE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FNVSS NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS."

Consequence: THE MISSING BOLTS MAY CAUSE THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO BECOMELOOSE AND IN A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT MAY SUBJECT THE OCCUPANT TO INCREASEDRISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT SEATS FOR MISSING BOLTS AND INSTALL BOLTS IF REQUIRED.

Reported: 1994-04-05 (April 5, 1994)

TRUCKS WERE ASSEMBLED WITH THE LEFT-HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM TO FRAME REAR NUT TIGHTENED BELOW THE SPECIFIED TORQUE. LOW TORQUE ON THIS NUT MAY ALLOW THE ATTACHMENT BOLT TO LOOSED AND SUBSEQUENTLY FATIGUE AND BREAK. THE BOLT BREAKAGE CAN CAUSE THE LEFT HAND CONTROL ARM TO SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME.

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE LEFT-HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM TO FRAME REAR NUT TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATION.

Reported: 1994-10-26 (October 26, 1994)

THE WINDSHIELDS WERE INSTALLED WITH INCORRECT WINDSHIELD OPENING PINCH-WELD-FLANGE PRIMER. THIS PRIMER WILL NOT PROPERLY ETCH THE PAINTED SURFACE OF THE FLANGE, ALLOWING THE WINDSHIELD TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE DURING A COLLISION. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 212, "WINDSHIELD MOUNTING."

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE SEPARATION OF THE WINDSHIELD FROM THE VEHICLE DURING COLLISION INCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY FOR ALL PERSONS INVOLVED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE WINDSHIELD AND REINSTALL IT USING THE CORRECT PRIMER.

Reported: 1995-12-13 (December 13, 1995)

IF BOTH THE LAP-BELT AND SHOULDER-BELT ENERGY MANAGEMENT LOOPS ON THE FRONT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES RELEASE AT OR NEAR THE SAME TIME, ACCELERATION FORCES CAN CAUSE THE BUCKLE RELEASE MECHANISM TO ACTIVATE AND ALLOW THE BUCKLE TO SEPARATE FROM THE LATCH.

Consequence: IF THE BUCKLE RELEASED, THE SYSTEM WOULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT PROTECTION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE STITCHING THAT CREATES THE ENERGY MANAGEMENT LOOP IN THE SHOULDER BELT(S).

Reported: 1995-12-13 (December 13, 1995)

THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH FRONT SEAT BELT SYSTEMS WITH NO ENERGY MANAGEMENT LOOPS AND MAY NOT MEET THE HEAD INJURY CRITERIA REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANTS OF THESE SEATS MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RETRACTOR PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY(S) WITH ONE HAVING THE NEWLY DESIGNED ENERGY-MANAGEMENT TWIN-LOOP SYSTEM.

Reported: 1995-12-21 (December 21, 1995)

THE SEAT RECLINER TO SEAT FRAME ATTACHING BOLTS ON THESE VEHICLE COULD LOOSEN, FATIGUE AND FRACTURE, ALLOWING THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE.

Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, THIS COULD RESULT IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE ALL FOAM AND/OR FABRIC SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE RECLINER ASSEMBLY AND THE SEAT FRAME, INSTALL WASHERS BETWEEN THE SEAT RECLINER AND THE SEAT FRAME AT EACH ATTACHMENT POINT, AND INSTALL NEW ATTACHING BOLTS TORQUED TO A HIGHER SPECIFICATION. THESE CORRECTIONS WILL BE MADE TO BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATS.

Reported: 1999-02-05 (February 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: 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.