IllustrationVEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS
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
What owners actually said
22 reportsVEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS
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
TAIL LIGHT BULB HOLDER IS MELTING, CAUSING BULBS TO FALL OUT, RESULTING IN SAFTEY HAZARD. *AK
BELTS NOT AVAILABLE - MUST BE ORDERED IN FULL SETS ONLY AT $130 PLUS TAX. ALL WRECKING YARDS ARE SELLING THE BELTS OUT AS FAST AS THEY RECEIVE THEM. THIS MEANS THE CUSTOMER IS INSTALLING BELTS THAT CARRY THE SAME UNSAFE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE RECALL ON THESE BELTS !!!
REAR SEAT BELT ON THE BENCH SEAT WOULDN'T LOCK BECAUSE PLASTIC PART BROKE OFF. *AK
CONSUMER'S FRIEND RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR A 1996 CHEVROLET. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED, AND HE'S EXPERIENCING THE EXACT DEFECTS. APPROXIMATELY 5 TIMES A YEAR SINCE 1991, WINDSHIELD WIPER S WORK INTERMITTENTLY, AND SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. DEALERS SAYS THE CIRCUIT BOARD CRACKS IN THE SOLDER JOINTS, CAUSING THIS PROBLEM…
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CONSUMER'S FRIEND RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR A 1996 CHEVROLET. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED, AND HE'S EXPERIENCING THE EXACT DEFECTS. APPROXIMATELY 5 TIMES A YEAR SINCE 1991, WINDSHIELD WIPER S WORK INTERMITTENTLY, AND SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. DEALERS SAYS THE CIRCUIT BOARD CRACKS IN THE SOLDER JOINTS, CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE CONSUMER STARTED SLOWING DOWN DUE TO THE FUEL INJECTION PROBLEMS. WATER IS IN THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, AND CONSUMER CAN SMELL FUMES IN THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE IS EMITTING A LOT OF VAPORS. *AK
PAINT BEGAN TO PEEL OFF BODY. CLAIMS IT IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT.
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60MPH WHEN HE NOTICED SMOKE ENTERING VEHICLE THROUGH THE DASH. HE THE STOPPED VEHICLE, AND OPENED THE DOOR AND PULLED THE HOOD LATCH. BEFORE HE COULD GET OUT OF TRUCK THE SMOKE HAD TURNED TO FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID FIRE MAY HAVE STARTED FROM THE DISTRIBUTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
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.