2,656 of the
23,432 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Silverado 1500
are about the electrical system —
11% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2014.
i was driving down the highway, turned on left signal to make left turn. the truck engine died with no warning, could not steer, almost ran into bank. all the dash lights went black, no power at all. the radio starts playing on occasion without being turned on. the clock loses time when it wants to.the blower on the ac comes on and off when it wants to.have had battery, alternator, ignition system checked. all these check out just fine. there were no codes , and absolutely no lights or warnings on dash. our truck was still in the highway lane. luckily the police stopped and assisted by directing and holding up traffic as necessary. i have had similar issues on other occasions but was always more brief and the truck would crank back up right away.
NHTSA complaint #11758428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
When I put the pickup in park, I get a message that states "Shift to Park". The pickup is completely stopped, the gear shift indicator is in "P". When I get out of the vehicle I get two loud two-horn alerts indicating that the pickup in not in Park, when in fact it is. Doing some research, I have seen that this is a common problem for GM vehicles. The console shift vehicles are actually involved in a class action lawsuit, while the steering column shift vehicles are not.
NHTSA complaint #11758467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While traveling in bumper to bumper highway traffic in my 2022 Chevrolet Silverado RST, I attempted to accelerate and the vehicle suddenly malfunctioned. I experienced sever loss/restriction of propulsion and the vehicle would not respond normally to accelerator input. I was able to maneuver toward the shoulder of the road while avoiding a major multi-car pile up involving innocent motorists. When I attempted to stop, I did not have normal braking ability and was unable to stop in the manner I expected. I had to use the shoulder of the highway to slow the truck down until I could come to a complete stop. This created an immediate risk of serious or fatal collision on the highway, and as I maneuvered the truck out of traffic to the side of the road. Had I been unable to reach the shoulder of the road, I could have been struck by surrounding traffic. Had this failure occured un an urban area or at an intersection, near pedestrians, or at a school bus stop- I could have seriously injured or killed people or myself. After I was able to come to a complete stop. I shut it off and turned it back on, then the truck read there was no gas left (I had a 1/2 tank). This incident is not isolated electronic glitch, I have experienced electrical malfunctions including the truck failing to start, unlocking, responding at all. This all occured after an engine replacement due to a recall. I am concerned that there are unresolved electrical and power-distribution, communication-network, propulsion or braking issues that presents a serious safety risk to myself and others. My concern is that if this malfunction occurred on my drive to work in the city, around pedestrians- it could have resulted in multiple fatalities.
NHTSA complaint #11758426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The digital dashboard display began to flicker. Off more so than on making the dash unreadable. No speedometer, no fuel gauge, no gauges of any kind. When you received an audible notification from the vehicle, you had no way to see the message. As far as any vehicular information, you were not able to see anything.
NHTSA complaint #11758384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The wiring harness failed causing erratic and unpredictable behavior at 65 MPH on this 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with 77,500 miles on the odometer. General Motors no longer makes the wiring harness and there are none available in the market. This otherwise flawless truck (for which I paid $40,000 at a reseller in 2024) is essentially now totaled (undrivable) and GM will not take any responsibility or provide any other remedy beside $750 toward the purchase of a brand new truck.
NHTSA complaint #11758051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Everything on the dash flickered and during that the vehicle started losing light meaning headlights and emergency lights, shortly after it completely stopped without any power. We were on the side of the interstate and it was very scary. There were no warning message be fore any of this occurred. There also wasn't any problems before then. We are waiting on the next business day to have it inspected.
NHTSA complaint #11757266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The key will not release from the ignition when in park. This is all over the internet as a very big problem. People are bypassing the ignition interlock so they don’t have to leave the vehicle unattended with the key in the ignition inviting theft. Therefore while driving the ignition could be cut off and the key can come out. This is a huge safety issue. This will kill people.
NHTSA complaint #11757276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
COMPONENT: Electric power steering (EPS) and electrical/power distribution. Available for inspection. FAILURE: My 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT (5.3L, 4WD) intermittently loses EPS assist during tight low-speed turns; steering becomes suddenly and severely heavy. On one occasion the engine shut off completely while I was turning - steering went heavy immediately before the stall. The same events bring random Service StabiliTrak warnings, Tow/Haul messages I did not request, and loss of stereo audio and turn-signal chime, sometimes together. Shutting off, opening the driver's door, waiting a minute, then remote starting restores normal operation - modules appear to reset when the truck fully powers down. SAFETY RISK: Loss of steering assist plus complete engine shutdown occurred while turning. Losing both in traffic could readily cause a crash. RECALL: NHTSA 18V-586 (GM 18289, EPS Loss of Steering Assist) was completed on this VIN 2018-10-11. Eight years later the vehicle still loses steering assist, now with engine stall. GM's Part 573 report states the remedy only reduces EPS current draw so voltage stays above the 8.8V cutoff; it appears inadequate here. GM TSB 18-NA-161 describes this same symptom set and attributes it to high-resistance battery cable connections, a poor BCM ground at G218, a shorted B+ cable at the starter solenoid, or a faulty battery - a hardware condition never made subject to recall despite causing engine stall and loss of steering assist. INSPECTION: Hotchkiss Auto could not recreate the failure; the vehicle set numerous codes across multiple modules, making the fault impossible to isolate. Not inspected by manufacturer, police, or insurance. No crash, injury, or fire. PRIOR REPAIR: Two months ago I cleaned and tightened two grounds (front passenger wheel area, under driver's dash). Symptoms stopped two months, then returned. WARNINGS: StabiliTrak and Tow/Haul messages precede and accompany the failures. First appeared June 2025.
NHTSA complaint #11756917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the residence and jump-started. The vehicle was then driven to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the grounding straps were damaged, and one strap was severely corroded and fractured, while the other strap was severely corroded. The dealer determined that the grounding straps needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired at the owner's expense. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with GM Customer Satisfaction Program: N252515590. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the cost of the repair could be reduced at the discretion of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.
NHTSA complaint #11756559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Unknown which system failed. While driving on the freeway, truck lost power for a few seconds. Dash lights turned off and back on. Our safety and the safety of others on the freeway were at risk as we had no control of the vehicle. Have not had the truck checked for the problem. Scared to drive it. No warnings appeared.
NHTSA complaint #11756271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tailgate keeps randomly opening when driving down the road. Vehicle was taken to a Chevrolet dealership for them to address. GM denied warranty claim and will not provide anything in writing. This is a huge safety concern for a work truck that hauls tools and equipment on a daily basis. And the fact that GM will not give anything in writing on the denial is absolute BS.
NHTSA complaint #11756288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Odometer Fraud. The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The contact stated that at the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was approximately 54,753. The current mileage was approximately 56,000. As per a Carfax report, the contact discovered the vehicle was reported stolen on May 2nd, 2025, with the vehicle mileage at 102,610. The contact was concerned that the odometer was altered prior to the purchase.
NHTSA complaint #11754960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Approximately one week ago I was driving at a safe speed on a two-lane highway. Suddenly, my steering wheel and truck jerked to the right. For 8-10 seconds a warning message was displayed "Power Steering ... Drive Carefully." I took the truck to my local dealership. They scanned for trouble codes. The technician said something about an interruption communicating with the electrical system. My service advisor took the truck on a 15-mile drive and had no problem. They scanned again and there were no trouble codes. The service advisor said they could not fix the problem if they did not know the cause of the problem. I left the dealership. Since then, I have had 4 more incidents. Once the warning message appeared again, but no jerk of the steering wheel or truck; once there was the same warning message and a jerk of the steering wheel and truck; and twice there were sudden jerks of the steering wheel and truck but no warning message. I have reported each of these incidents to the dealership. I also called Chevrolet Customer Assistance. I explained the problem and asked if they would assign a Field Service Engineer to assist the dealership. hey declined my request. Because I momentarily lose control of steering the truck, I fear for my safety and the safety of others.
NHTSA complaint #11752802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NHTSA Safety Complaint To: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Regarding: Vehicle Safety Hazard / Fraudulent Repairs on 2017 Chevrolet Silverado VIN: [XXX] To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to file an emergency vehicle safety complaint regarding a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado, VIN [XXX], purchased on XXX. Huntley Ford performed unauthorized, fraudulent, and unsafe repairs that resulted in the vehicle being returned to me as an active fire hazard, directly violating federal motor vehicle safety expectations. Huntley Ford forced a salvage engine onto the vehicle, stripped me of my repair rights, and intentionally cleared dashboard error codes to mask severe, systemic mechanical defects. Following an engine replacement, transmission replacement, and catalytic converter replacement, I took the vehicle to Sunrise Chevrolet for inspection. The technician at Sunrise Chevrolet discovered that the vehicle was actively burning fluid onto the alternator. The technician explicitly stated that the vehicle was a fire hazard and that there was an emergency safety brake problem, and brakes. Huntley Ford knowingly delivered a structurally compromised and life-threatening vehicle. I request a full investigation into Huntley Ford’s repair safety practices to protect the public from further hazardous non-compliance. I have a 16 page paper trail Word document letter proving Huntley Ford committed auto fraud, has practiced illegal practices, lied, sold us a truck that they cleared codes, after only a few months full transmission, c. converter replacement, engine, and did not fix the truck properly still, returned it back to us when they knew it was not ok, lied, cleared codes, we brought our own scanner, they lied again, said the codes just needed to be cleared. When we notified [XXX], Huntley Ford's repair manager, he did nothing. Sincerely, [XXX]/[XXX] ________________________________________ INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11752824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was camping at a state park outside of Kenton Ohio. On Sunday July 19 2026 while backing up my travel trailer I lost power steering to my 2019 Silverado 1500. then a message came on my display saying service power steering soon and then a check wiring harness warning. I turned off truck and restarted it and warnings cleared and power steering came back. The following morning July 20th started the truck, no power steering and service engine light was on drove to Kenton and had codes read. Had multiple codes for different control modules. Power steering came back and I was able to drive home. Called my dealer and was able to get appointment on July 24. Tried to start truck and it would crank, start run rough for a few seconds then stall out. Had to have it towed to dealer for repair. End result faulty ground strap from body to frame, loss of electric power steering ability while driving due to a ground cable could have been a very dangerous situation for everyone in the vehicle and on the road
NHTSA complaint #11752809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The Electronic Parking Brake System on my 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500 continuously malfunctions. Chevy/ GM Customer Support has been made aware of this issue and continues to disregard it entirely. The Electronic Parking Brake, which is an automatic function that cannot be turned off or bypassed, fails to fully disengage when the vehicle is taken out of Park. The Electronic Parking Brake remains very slightly engaged, producing a slight noise while driving and causing excessively premature wear on the vehicles pads and rotors. My vehicle has about 64,000 miles on it, and I have had to replace my rear brakes twice now already, due to this issue. The majority of those 64,000 miles are from uninterrupted highway driving. Each time the rear brakes were replaced, I had the dealership inspect the braking system. The dealership was not able to definitively confirm for some reason but was able to speculate that the aforementioned is likely what is going on. I find that any malfunction of such a critical part of the vehicle and the safety of it's operators and passengers poses a major safety risk.
NHTSA complaint #11751449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I have been having issues with my vehicle for the last 1,000 miles or so where it appears to be losing power while accelerating normally, i'm not sure if the issue lies with the engine or powertrain/transmission. I took to dealer last week and they were unable to reproduce. The issues have been getting more frequent and intially were only occuring after the vehicle warmed up, now it has started while vehicle is cold. Feels like the power drops (rpms drop) during a normal acceleration. As of 7/16 I now have a check engine light on, onstar indicates an issue with my engine, transmission, electrical. This is putting myself at safety risk along with others as during my normal drive the engine is losing power and could either leave me stranded or cause an accident.
NHTSA complaint #11750973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that a body-to-chassis grounding strap was previously replaced under GM Customer Satisfaction Program: N252515590 (Corroded Ground Strap); however, after the repair, the vehicle experienced electrical failures. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the engine failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the starter and the ECM were replaced. Additionally, the dealer determined that a secondary grounding strap needed to be replaced, but the part was not covered under the Customer Satisfaction Program. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired again. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #11750545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
May 28 ,2026 I left work to get some lunch And when I went back inside my vehicle I turned it on and the check engine light came On and on the dash it was telling me to park the truck and it wasn’t going more then 45mph so I called my dealer ship simspson Chevrolet in garden grove and they told me they couldn’t do anything because it wasn’t under warranty so I had to take my truck to a near by auto shop because my truck is my daily and I use to get to work so the. The body shop found out the problem it was the wiring harness it was the way they installed the wiring harness it’s manufacturing I called my insurance company and I called GMC directly and they don’t want to help me
NHTSA complaint #11750532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message that the rear seats were occupied and that the windows were rolled down was displayed, which required the contact to press the OK button. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was purchased, but no assistance was provided. The traction control and the ABS warning lights were illuminated while depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, the cruise control mode was inoperable. The contact replaced the brake pedal position sensor independently, and the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who reprogrammed the sensor. The contact stated that after the repair, the brake lights erroneously illuminated while the vehicle was turned off, causing the battery to drain. The contact disconnected and reconnected the battery, which reset the vehicle; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not further diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 110,881.
NHTSA complaint #11750243 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.