1995 Chevrolet Chevrolet Truck Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 1995 Chevrolet truck most often describe windshield wipers that stop suddenly or run only intermittently, and some say the wipers worked again only after a short wait or a shake of the wiring. Some reports trace the problem to a control board or wiper motor, and some owners say a recall did not include their vehicle. Surging or jerking, and seat frame and seat belt hardware problems, appear in fewer reports, and most reports do not list mileage.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield wipers stop or work only intermittently

   • 13 complaints (25%)
   • typically at 4.4 yrs old
   • filed 1998–2001

   Owners describe wipers that quit or run only intermittently, sometimes during heavy rain or after the truck was washed, and some say a shake or knock on the wiper motor brought them back for a short time. According to complaints, some problems were traced to a control board with cracked solder joints or worn contacts, and wiper motors were repaired or replaced in some cases. Some owners say a repair or recall was refused because the VIN or serial number was not on a recall list. Another report describes a near accident because visibility was poor. Most of these reports do not give a mileage figure, and some describe the wipers stopping during rain or after washing the vehicle.

   What to check: Ask whether the wiper motor, control board, and any wiper recall were checked against this VIN, and request the dealer's answer in writing. A test with the wipers on a wet windshield can show whether they run consistently.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The wiper motor will operate only intermittently. I contacted capitol Chevrolet and was informed that there was a safety recall by VIN# and my truck was not on the list. I want Chevrolet to put my truck's VIN# on the list. This is a serious safety problem and Chevrolet should fix it. This intermittent operation has occurred approximately 10 times.”

   NHTSA complaint #709361, filed 1999-07

   “I wrote about this a few weeks ago that the wipers have been stopping during a rainstorm but the dealers landmark and norman frede Chevrolet in clear lake,tx will not replace them because my serial number is not included even though the problem can be duplicated simply by washing the vehicle. I have not received any response from NHTSA whether or not this last message was received.”

   NHTSA complaint #700815, filed 1998-11
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Unexpected surging, jerking, or speed changes

   • 5 complaints (9%)
   • median 170,000 mi at 10.1 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1996–2005

   Owners describe surging when the truck is first started or loses power at 55 to 75 mph, and surging on takeoff and when speed levels off. A report describes acceleration at a stoplight without pedal input and slowing on the highway, and another describes sputtering and jerking when coming to a complete stop. In a complaint, the fuel injection pump had been replaced more than once, and the dealer declined payment for a later repair because of mileage. Another complaint links a vacuum line problem at the throttle body to transmission failure and surging. Where mileage is given, it is about 170,000 miles, and reports describe surging on takeoff, at 55 to 75 mph, and when coming to a stop.

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body, vacuum lines, and fuel injection pump have been inspected or replaced, and request the repair records. On a test drive, accelerate gently from a stop and hold steady highway speed to check for surging or unexpected speed changes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dt: 1995 Chevrolet cheyenne. The consumer stated the throttle body messed up the vacuum line. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic, he stated it was a manufacturing defect. Also, the mechanic claimed this problem would prevent the vehicle from passing emissions. When the vehicle was purchased the previous owner complained that vehicle was getting sluggish. The vacuum caused the transmission to fail. Also, it surged when taking off, and when speed was leveled off.”

   NHTSA complaint #10132621, filed 2005-08, 170,000 miles

   “The vehicle surges when first started or losses power going about 55-75 MPH. Fuel injection pump has been replaced three previous times. This the fourth time for failure and dealer won't pay for it this time due to mileage.”

   NHTSA complaint #733401, filed 2000-10
3. 3
   Seats

   Seat frame, seat belt, and seat recall problems

   • 6 complaints (11%)
   • typically at 3.8 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2000

   Owners describe a broken driver seat frame and passenger seat parts that fell off, with the seat no longer working as it should. In a complaint, a seat belt did not retract and the owner was thrown into the dash, and the driver airbag did not deploy. Another describes an exposed metal hook on a seat belt clamp that injured passengers getting into the back seat, and a seat recall about fingers being cut when the seats are folded was reportedly not repaired because the warranty had expired. Reports describe injuries when getting into the back seat and when a seat belt did not retract, and the seat recall report says the warranty had expired.

   What to check: Ask whether the seat frame, seat belt retractor, and any seat recall were checked against this VIN. Check the seat belt clamp and hook for an exposed edge, and confirm that the belt retracts fully and locks as expected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Windshield wipers quit working during a heavy thunderstorm. Restarted after several minutes but before I could take to dealer. Same thing after I had washed the truck. I took it to norman frede Chevrolet in clear lake texas for a recall notice on the seats which could cut fingers if folded and they said that they could not fix because the warranty expired(3 years)even though the truck only has 20690 miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #700554, filed 1998-11

   “The seat belt didnot retract and I was thrown into the dash over the steering wheel giving me 21 stitches in my forehead and a bruised chest. Also, driver's airbag failed to deploy.”

   NHTSA complaint #737012, filed 2000-11

Buying note. Buyers considering this model year may want to ask whether the wiper motor and control board have been checked against the VIN for any recall, since some wiper reports mention a recall that did not include the vehicle. A test with the wipers on a wet windshield is a practical check.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 20 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.