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NHTSA recalls & complaints · 1995–2018

Chevrolet C3500 recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 73 owner complaints for the Chevrolet C3500, covering model years 1995 to 2018. The 1995 model year drew the most complaints (47), and Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Chevrolet C3500 VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

  • 1 recall campaign on file
  • 73 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
  • 3 model years with data (1995–2018)
  • most complaints: 1995 (47 for that model year)
  • top component: Service Brakes, Hydraulic (18 complaints)
  • latest recall 19V236000 (reported Mar 26, 2019)
  • 2 complaints reporting a crash (2.7%)
  • 2 complaints reporting a fire (2.7%)
  • 1 complaint reporting an injury (1.4%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Chevrolet C3500 complaints by model year

2 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 1995 model year has the most complaints: 47 of 73, or 64.4%. Next come 1996 (26).

Chevrolet C3500 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Chevrolet C3500 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model yearComplaintsReporting a crashReporting a fireReporting an injuryReporting a death
1995472100
1996260110
All model years732210

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Chevrolet C3500 components

top 15 · NHTSA categories

Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the component named most often, in 18 complaints (24.7% of all 73), followed by Fuel System, Gasoline (13) and Engine and Engine Cooling (12).

Components named most often in Chevrolet C3500 complaints (top 15)
Components named most often in Chevrolet C3500 complaints (top 15)
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1824.7%
Fuel System, Gasoline1317.8%
Engine and Engine Cooling1216.4%
Power Train1115.1%
Visibility1013.7%
Electrical System79.6%
Tires68.2%
Structure56.8%
Exterior Lighting34.1%
Suspension34.1%
Equipment22.7%
Fuel System, Diesel22.7%
Steering22.7%
Latches/Locks/Linkages11.4%
Seat Belts11.4%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

  • They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
  • Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
  • Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
  • One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
  • Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Chevrolet C3500 recalls

1 campaign · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name C3500, newest first. The only campaign, 19V236000, covers model year 2018.

  • 1 recall campaign
Chevrolet C3500 recall campaigns covering each model year
2018: 1 campaign

  1. NHTSA campaign 19V236000

    Reported

    Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights

    Model year 2018

    Excellance, Inc. (Excellance) is recalling certain 2018 Ambulances and Emergency Vehicles built on Ford E-350, E-450, F-650, F-550 4x4, Chevrolet G4500, G4500 Diesel, C3500, G3500, Freightliner M2, International 4300, and Dodge 4500 chassis and equipped with Whelen brake lights. Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

    Consequence:
    If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Excellance has notified owners, instructing them to contact Whelen to have the brake lights replaced, free of charge. The recall began on March 21, 2019. Owners may contact Whelen customer service at 1-860-718-2331 or Execellance at 1-256-772-9321.

    Filed by Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means
What each recall field means
FieldWhat it tells you
Campaign numberNHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
ComponentThe system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
SummaryWhat the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
ConsequenceThe safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
RemedyWhat the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.
  • Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
  • A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
  • Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Chevrolet C3500 questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Chevrolet C3500 have?

NHTSA lists 1 vehicle recall campaign for the Chevrolet C3500, covering model years 1995 to 2018. The campaign, 19V236000, was reported on March 26, 2019 and is filed under “Exterior lighting”.

Which Chevrolet C3500 model year has the most complaints?

The 1995 model year, with 47 of the 73 complaints in NHTSA’s file (64.4%). The next is 1996 (26). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Chevrolet C3500 complaint?

Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the component named most often: 18 complaints, or 24.7% of all 73. Fuel System, Gasoline (13) and Engine and Engine Cooling (12) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Chevrolet C3500?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Chevrolet dealer.

How many Chevrolet C3500 complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 73 complaints, 2 report a crash, 2 a fire, 1 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

Other Chevrolet models

8 models · most complaints first

The Chevrolet models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Chevrolet VIN decoder with every Chevrolet model page, WMI code and VIN note.

All Chevrolet models and WMI codesLook up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.