1994 Chevrolet C20
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Chevrolet › C20 › 1994
These records cover every 1994 Chevrolet C20. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
10 recalls name the 1994 Chevrolet C20. Newest first.
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…
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
The seat recliner to seat frame attaching bolts on these vehicles could loosen, fatigue and fracture, allowing the seat back to suddenly recline.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
The seat recliner to seat frame attaching bolts on these vehicle could loosen, fatigue and fracture, allowing the seat back to suddenly recline.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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).
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."
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks, vans and motorhomes equipped with electronically fuel injected 6.5L diesel engine. this IS not a safety recall in accordance with federal regulation part 573. However, it IS deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency. the campaign will improve the overall driveability of these vehicles.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Certain vehicles can exhibit some driveability concerns such as poor throttle response, stalling, misfire, poor hot or cold starting, extended cranking of a hot engine, or stalling after start. trucks with manualtransmissions can exhibit poor acceleration from start or could stall during deceleration.
Remedy
Dealers will install some recently developed enhancements which will improve the overall driveability of these vehicles.
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."
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
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."
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
The brake pedal push rod retainer IS missing, mispositioned or not properly seated.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
Owner complaints
12 complaints3 involved a crash4 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Tires
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
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Pedals and linkages
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
- Visibility › Windshield
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
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
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
- Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
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
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Anti lock brakes locked up several times, two accidents from lock up.
- Seats
Drivers seat bracket that secures the frame broke. *ak the bracket broke on th back seat, had a rocking motion which felt very unsafe particulary if there would be an accident, consumer contacted dealership and they repaired it.*jb
- Vehicle speed control
The car idles at 1100 to 1500 rmp when you release the pedal. Has taken the car back to dealers seven times nothing happened. tt
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Seat belt has been replaced twice, will lock up unexpectedly. tt
- Electrical system › Ignition
Vehicle stalls without warning while driving at any speed, pe94-091 active. tt
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Applied brakes to stop vehicle, held them down, would not stop vehicle, resulting in an accident. tt
- Air bags › Frontal
Had a frontal collision, air bag did not deploy. tt
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Front seat back collapse
Front seat back recliner attachment bolts loosen, fatigue, and fracture, allowing the seat to collapse backwards without warning.
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10246631Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
Every Chevrolet C20 model year
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