Chevrolet Silverado 1990

Model Silverado made in 1990 by Chevrolet got 40 consumer complains as well as 3 service bulletins. Consumer complaints with reference, among others things, to communications and electrical system. Technical service bulletines regarding power train and suspension.

Silverado year 1990

Technical Service Bulletins
Consumer Complaints

Car dealers

Model 1990

Bulletins

Bulletin	Bulletin date	Replacement Bulletin	Item no.	Summary	Added
POWER TRAIN
990730016A	10/01/2002	990730016B	10007838	Diagnostic information for intermittent transmission downshift, slip, busy/cycling tcc or noisy cooling fan. *tt	07/12/2004
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - LEVER AND LINKAGE - COLUMN SHIFT
020730024A	08/01/2005	020730024B	634999	Diagnosis of cracked or broken transmission case. tt 2006 and prior cars and light duty trucks. tt	10/11/2002
SUSPENSION - REAR
01570	01/01/2004		10005412	Spring slap noise from the rear of the gmt 400 series truck. *mn	02/25/2004

Consumer Complaints

Fail date	miles	occurences	Purchase date
COMMUNICATIONS - HORN ASSEMBLY
04/22/1999
	Horn doesn't work, and all lights don't work. consumer has contacted the dealer. *ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - STARTER ASSEMBLY
		5	11/01/1989
	Starter failed on five occasions. yh
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
08/21/2000		3	05/01/1990
	The brake system eats drums and shoes for breakfast as well as rotors cracking. this truck is highly inadequate for stopping at higher speeds and the brakes havce always felt spongy. this brake system is an economical and safety nightmare!! please help!!! the oil lines to the radiator oil cooler rubbed on the steering box and drained the engine of oil at 65 miles an hour on the freeway! thank god for prolong! the very same thing happened to my son's truck gmc 1990 a few days earlier. both were without warning!!! what gives??? shame on gm!!! what a piece of garbage is the braking system!!!
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE
04/01/1999
	While driving vehicle malfunctioned which may have caused an accident. been to dealer several times, but dealer cannot determine the problem. please provide further information. *ak
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
04/22/1999
	Horn doesn't work, and all lights don't work. consumer has contacted the dealer. *ak
EXTERIOR LIGHTING - TURN SIGNAL - FLASHER UNIT
		2	11/01/1989
	Turn signal light failed. yh
OTHER
04/01/2002	53000	1	04/01/1999
	This is a very dangerous and expensive component failure. dealership stated that they had many trucks come in with this problem. this part should not have failed, and i feel they should recall others to check out problem before we have any fatalities. also, i would like to get reimbursed for this safety issue. no safety defect listed.** dims 11 ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis*761182. ak *jb
		2	11/01/1989
	Dashboard instrument panel goes off. yh
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
		1	11/01/1989
	Transmission vibrates. yh
SEAT BELTS
12/16/2003		2	06/09/1999
	Seatbelts keep breaking on my 1990 chevy silveraldo c/k 1500 pickup. little plastic pieces inside the female part of the latching device. know of other people and other vehicles with with same problem. all seatbelts are broken in my truck.
SEAT BELTS - FRONT - ANCHORAGE
		2	11/01/1989
	Passenger seat belt and seat malfunctioned and fails to lock on rails. yh.
SEAT BELTS - FRONT - BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
12/16/2003		2	06/09/1999
	Seatbelts keep breaking on my 1990 chevy silveraldo c/k 1500 pickup. little plastic pieces inside the female part of the latching device. know of other people and other vehicles with with same problem. all seatbelts are broken in my truck.
08/28/2000
	Reporting driver side belt buckle fell apart; mfr's notified and unable to get replacement part. leaving occupant without any restraint. please provide further details:
08/18/1997
	Seat belt released upon impact, resulting in injuries. *ak
SEATS
		2	11/01/1989
	Passenger seat belt and seat malfunctioned and fails to lock on rails. yh.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
01/10/2009	7300
	Tl* the contact owns a 1990 chevrolet silverado pickup. he stated since purchase, the vehicle had poor brake stopping ability at various speeds from 5 mph and up. the vehicle was taken to his independent mechanic where it was found the rear brake line pinched under a hot rivet causing a decrease in brake stopping distance. this also caused a failure in the brake fluid reaching the rear brakes. the rear brake line and two rear brake cylinders were replaced at the owner's expense. since the repairs, brake stopping distance improved. the failure mileage was 7300 and the current was 156,000.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK

	While traveling at 35 mph and when depressing brake pedal vehicle would go into extended stopping distance. please provide further informaiton.*ak
02/01/1999		6	02/01/1999
	While slowing down to stop vehicle hit a bump and pedal started to vibrate. pedal will hit the floor. it has taken extended stoping distance in order for vehicle to stop. vehicle was taken to dealer, who had no remedy, and said get used to it. brakes have caused consumer to come close to an automobile accident for not being able to stop at an appropiate distance. also, truck does not stay in alignment. vehicle starts to pull to the right. dealer had advised consumer to give the vehicle a settle in period up to 500 miles, vehicle has 15000 miles, and problem still occurs. *ak
			06/01/1999
	Brake pedal does not respond under panic stop conditions. *ak
11/16/1998
	While driving on the highway another vehicle pulled out in front of consumer's vehicle. consumer applyied brakes, and it seemed like there was no brake pressure. this has happened several times. haven't contacted dealer. ak yc
05/15/1991
	Vehicle was on highway at approx. 45-50 mph. approaching railroad tracks, applied brakes to slow down. while slowing down, the rear wheel locked up, causing vehicle to slide into a train. *ak
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
		2	11/01/1989
	Brakes failed causing accidents. yh
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC
08/21/2000		3	05/01/1990
	The brake system eats drums and shoes for breakfast as well as rotors cracking. this truck is highly inadequate for stopping at higher speeds and the brakes havce always felt spongy. this brake system is an economical and safety nightmare!! please help!!! the oil lines to the radiator oil cooler rubbed on the steering box and drained the engine of oil at 65 miles an hour on the freeway! thank god for prolong! the very same thing happened to my son's truck gmc 1990 a few days earlier. both were without warning!!! what gives??? shame on gm!!! what a piece of garbage is the braking system!!!
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DRUM - DRUM
04/12/1999
	Rear brake drum's go out of shape due to the undersize for vehicle. had to replace three sets of brakes, and two sets of wheel cylinders. dealer can't determine the cause of the problem. *ak
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DRUM - WHEEL CYLINDERS
04/12/1999
	Rear brake drum's go out of shape due to the undersize for vehicle. had to replace three sets of brakes, and two sets of wheel cylinders. dealer can't determine the cause of the problem. *ak
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
			01/01/1991
	Brake line which runs near fuel tank had a hole in it, replace fuel lines
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - POWER ASSIST - VACUUM
		1	11/01/1989
	Brake booster can failed. yh
STEERING
04/13/2011	124000
	Steering colum on 1990 chevrolet c 1500 (silverado) is very loose and feels disconnected. steering wheel moves vertically over one inch and entire colum shakes.
09/13/2001
	Steering is very loose, and vehicle moves up and down and from side to side. contacted dealer, and the dealer was not willing to do anything.*ak
STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS
			07/01/1996
	Paint is peeling has been for 2years. truck is not old enough for paint to peel. paint is peeling not fading. no safety defect liste din the summary. *ak
SUSPENSION - FRONT
02/27/2003		1	02/24/1990
	The consumer's son was driving the vehicle when the driver's side leaned to the left, and the steering had become uncontrollable. the consumer was unsure if the tire had blown or if the ball joints failed. the consumer received a special policy letter in reference to the front suspension. mr scc *jb
02/01/1999		6	02/01/1999
	While slowing down to stop vehicle hit a bump and pedal started to vibrate. pedal will hit the floor. it has taken extended stoping distance in order for vehicle to stop. vehicle was taken to dealer, who had no remedy, and said get used to it. brakes have caused consumer to come close to an automobile accident for not being able to stop at an appropiate distance. also, truck does not stay in alignment. vehicle starts to pull to the right. dealer had advised consumer to give the vehicle a settle in period up to 500 miles, vehicle has 15000 miles, and problem still occurs. *ak
TIRES
05/29/2009		1
	I have bought a uniroyal laredo tire and not used but 900 miles on it and it bubbled on the inside could have blew out when on the highway thank god a trucker told me i had a 3 year old child with me. * tr
08/19/2000		1	09/01/1990
	I was just driving down the highway...the tire blew...looked shredded. the dealership replaced it, however, i have four of them. are they safe?*ak (dot number: pjhlvllr47 tiresize: p235/75r1)
TIRES - TREAD/BELT
10/02/2007	213070	1	09/06/2007
	Tl*the contact owns a 1990 chevrolet silverado. the vehicle has firestone steeltex at, size lt 245/75 r16 tires. while driving 65 mph, the vehicle began to shake and then a loud banging sound was heard. the contact thought that the engine fell out and was able to pull off the road. he inspected the vehicle and noticed that the front driver side tire had not blown out, however, the tread separated to reveal the steel belts. the tire did not deflate. the contact placed the spare tire on the vehicle and drove to the firestone dealer. the dealer informed him that a nail could have caused the failure. the contact stated that the tires have approximately 90% of tread remaining. she still has the tires along with pictures. the dot number was unknown. the current and failure mileages were 213,070.
TRAILER HITCHES
04/06/2000		1
	Iron on trailer hitch that comes with the truck is defective. because of overtime it will rust and possible cause a vehicle crash. this could happen if consumer has a boat or another vehicle on the back, it could disconnect. ak trailer hitch rusted out just about fell off. yh
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
03/12/1999		1	08/01/1990
	At a speed of 65mph, my truck suddenly accelerated and the engine revved up to the max rpm. i attempted to downshift, but the clutch would not engage and since i was approaching an of-ramp i put both feet on the brake, but could not stop, so i turned off the key, but had to swerve off to the grass to avoid crashing into the line of traffic stopped in the off-ramp. i waited a few moments to stop shaking and realized a noxious burning smell was filling the cab and i thought my truck was on fire. i waited a few panicky moments and restarted it and eased onto the feeder rd.and into a muffler shop. the owner looked at it, drove it and then disconnected the cruise control. he advised me to have my brakes inspected, since i probably damaged them while trying to stop. i went to a chev. dealer and they said no service bulletins could be found.

Car dealers selling

State	City	Zip	Name	Phone
AZ	TUCSON		WATSON CHEVROLET