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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 →
22Owner complaints

Model-year median: 76

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
198715
198822
198925
199017
199140
1992
Compare all Silverado years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
5Engine And Engine Cooling
3Fuel System, Gasoline
3Seat Belts
3Suspension
3
All reported categories
Tires
2Electrical System
1Exterior Lighting
1Structure
1Visibility
1

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

Suspension complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2011
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR AXLE U BOLTS WERE FRACTURED AS A RE…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR AXLE U BOLTS WERE FRACTURED AS A RESULT OF RUST AND CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10379478

106,500 miles · Aug 12, 2004
Suspension

WHEN PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE FRONT END COLLAPSED. THE DEALER STATES THE LOWER BALL JOINT HAD FAILED. *LA *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10083433

Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2001
Suspension

CONSUMER WAS BACKING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AND HEARD A NOISE. RIGHT BALL JOINT BROKE . DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #896156

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.

Go deeper into Chevrolet Silverado problems

Chevrolet Silverado transmission problems →Chevrolet Silverado electrical problems →