1995 Chevrolet Silverado Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about windshield wipers that quit or run intermittently, usually in rain, and many note their truck was not covered by the wiper recall because of its VIN. A second cluster of complaints describes the driver's seat frame or bracket cracking so the seat rocks or drops, plus brake pedal and brake line problems, some on trucks with very high mileage. Reported mileages range widely, from tens of thousands to nearly 300,000 miles.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield wipers quit or run intermittently in rain

   • 119 complaints (45%)
   • median 99,250 mi at 8.6 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1997–2006

   Complaints describe wipers that work for a few minutes and then stop, come on and off on their own, or fail to start at all, sometimes with the motor still audibly running and a grinding noise. Owners say this happens in heavy rain and forces them to pull over until the wipers move again. Several report that a dealer replaced the wiper module, circuit board or motor at their own expense, and many say the truck was not included in a wiper recall because of its VIN even though the symptoms matched. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 35,000 to over 225,000 miles, and almost always in wet weather.

   What to check: Turn the wipers on at every speed setting, including high, and watch for pauses or a stall; ask whether the wiper module, motor or circuit board has ever been replaced and keep the receipt.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Windshield wiper motor failed. Follow up with dealer after heard about recall and told recall did not cover my truck. I looked on your list of complaints filed and there appear to be over 100 failures reported related to these motors - why are these a recall item.”

   NHTSA complaint #10000725, filed 2003-01, 70,000 miles

   “The brakes pads failed at 35,000 miles, dealer would not replace, we did and have not had to again now at 84,000 miles, air conditioner relay sensor switch went bad, we paid to have replaced, windshield wipers do not come on half the time, nor does the horn does not work half the time.”

   NHTSA complaint #719413, filed 2000-02
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Engine and transmission oil leaks, stalling and clunking

   Mentioned in 8 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe oil leaking from the front axle and transmission seals, in one case after repeated seal replacements, and a clunk from the rear when accelerating or slowing that a dealer identified against a service bulletin. Owners also report intermittent stalling with no warning that dealers could not duplicate, and engine problems such as cracked heads and smoke from the exhaust. Mostly reported between roughly 6,500 and 143,000 miles; several complaints do not state mileage.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check for oil weeping at the front axle, transmission pan and seals, listen for a clunk on light acceleration and deceleration, and ask whether any driveline repairs or control module replacements have been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Engine failure while driving. I have made complaints to Chevrolet customer assistance regarding the engine failure on our 3/4 ton diesel truck and until the truck is in engine failure the mechanic cannot determine the cause. Mean while I was told until the computer can determine the cause, nothing can be done.”

   NHTSA complaint #10013965, filed 2003-04, 103,000 miles

   “After we had the truck for 2 years, I started hearing a clunking noise from the rear, when I accelerated, and when I slowed. After a few months, if I was traveling up a grade, the truck would hesitate, then make the clunking noise and lunge forward. I took it to one chevy dealer, who told me it was up to specs, then to another chevy dealer, who informed me of TSB #564401a, which is my exact problem, and provided me w/ a copy of the TSB. Although it says that the performance of the truck is not hindered, it's wrong. …”

   NHTSA complaint #704625, filed 1999-03
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake pedal to the floor or front brakes grabbing

   • 25 complaints (10%)
   • median 250,000 mi at 18.7 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2015

   Complaints describe the brake pedal going to the floor during a normal stop, with brake lines found rusted through and replaced, and other cases where the front brakes pulsed, grabbed or locked on wet pavement. Some owners report repeated pad and rotor replacement with grinding or locking that the dealer could not reproduce. One complaint describes a leaking master cylinder. Reported from about 25,000 miles up to roughly 250,000 miles, with the rusted-line cases on high-mileage trucks.

   What to check: Inspect the steel brake lines along the frame for rust and swelling, check the pedal for a firm feel with the engine running, and ask when the pads, rotors and fluid were last serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving had to make a normal stop for a bus when brake pedal goes to floor. Had to avoid cars by going to side off road. After looking at truck it was determined the brake lines had rusted into. Replaced brake lines.”

   NHTSA complaint #10759344, filed 2015-08, 250,000 miles

   “While driving had to make a normal stop for a bus when brake pedal goes to floor. Had to avoid cars by going to side off road. After looking at truck it was determined the brake lines had rusted into. Replaced brake lines.”

   NHTSA complaint #10759345, filed 2015-08, 250,000 miles
4. 4
   Seats

   Driver's seat frame or bracket cracks

   • 28 complaints (11%)
   • median 76,500 mi at 9.1 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2004

   Owners describe the driver's seat suddenly rocking, dropping or moving up and down, traced to a cracked bracket or split seat frame, including power seats. Complaints say the metal strip or nut attaching the frame breaks after repeated flexing. Several report paying for a new frame or repair themselves, and one owner was told by the manufacturer that the truck had too many miles for assistance. Often reported in the first 30,000-40,000 miles, with some cases at higher mileage.

   What to check: Sit in the driver's seat and rock your weight side to side and front to back, then look under the seat for cracks or repairs at the bracket and frame welds.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The power seat frame split it appears to be 16 guage metal with spot welds. When the frame to the seat ripped it allowed the seat to rock in all position. When I contacted the dealer and had the seat repaired at a $407. Dollar cost , he stated he had previously had repaired two seats a week . I contacted Chevrolet customer service and they said the problen existerd with too many miles. I reported the problem 1 year after it occurred with aproximately 30,000 more miles”

   NHTSA complaint #706036, filed 1999-04

   “Driver's side seat was unstable. Upon inspection of the driver's side seat consumer noticed that the bracket broke off the main seat frame. The cause of the bracket breaking was not determined. The consumer stated that the seat was poorly constructed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10095236, filed 2004-11, 35,000 miles
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Frame and underbody rust, spare tire hoist cable breaking

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report heavy rust on the frame, cross brackets and parts holding tanks and lines, with one case where the spare tire hoist cable broke and the spare wheel dropped onto the road while driving. Another describes both door handles breaking off within a few months so the doors had to be opened from outside through the window. Complaints describe rusted areas as beyond repair. Reported mainly on high-mileage trucks in the 250,000-290,000 mile range, in older vehicles.

   What to check: Look under the truck at the frame rails, crossmembers and the spare tire hoist for flaking or perforated rust, and check that the spare is secure and the cable intact.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The 16 inch spare tire wheel fell out from underneath the truck while driving. After taking truck to replace spare the spare tire hoist cable had broke. The cross brackets were rusted and beyond repair. The end of truck frame itself is rusted away. I see many issues coming because of excessive rust.”

   NHTSA complaint #10759342, filed 2015-08, 290,000 miles

   “While driving, the drivers seat snapped and broke loose, an electrical six way seat, the electrical system still works, but the seat rocks. Dealer has been contacted and ordering a new frame, dealer cannot duplicate the problem. Faulty lock, remote could not lock door, however key could.”

   NHTSA complaint #827348, filed 1998-08

Buying note. Give the wiper system, driver's seat frame and brake lines a close look before buying, since those are the most commonly reported trouble spots, and inspect the frame for rust on higher-mileage trucks. Records of past wiper module or seat frame repairs help confirm what has already been addressed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 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.