Chevrolet SILVERADO 3500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,008 owner complaints analyzed
44 distinct recall campaigns
51,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 571 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 128 of 1,008 complaints (12.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 336 | 33.3% |
| Steering behavior | 104 | 10.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 100 | 9.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 72 | 7.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 65 | 6.4% |
| Engine operation | 56 | 5.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 128 |
| Electrical System | 102 |
| Engine | 87 |
| Power Train | 87 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 69 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 67 |
| Unknown Or Other | 64 |
| Air Bags | 60 |
Service Brakes: 128; Electrical System: 102; Engine: 87; Power Train: 87; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 69; Fuel/Propulsion System: 67; Unknown Or Other: 64; Air Bags: 60
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 147 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 124 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 118 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 72 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 70 |
| 150,000 and above | 40 |
Under 25,000: 147; 25,000 to 49,999: 124; 50,000 to 74,999: 118; 75,000 to 99,999: 72; 100,000 to 149,999: 70; 150,000 and above: 40
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (147). 437 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 50 |
| 2001 | 30 |
| 2002 | 19 |
| 2003 | 28 |
| 2004 | 28 |
| 2005 | 28 |
| 2006 | 22 |
| 2007 | 32 |
| 2008 | 38 |
| 2009 | 26 |
| 2010 | 50 |
| 2011 | 42 |
| 2012 | 39 |
| 2013 | 18 |
| 2014 | 43 |
| 2015 | 32 |
| 2016 | 52 |
| 2017 | 48 |
| 2018 | 34 |
| 2019 | 36 |
| 2020 | 16 |
| 2021 | 26 |
| 2022 | 16 |
| 2023 | 48 |
| 2024 | 66 |
| 2025 | 81 |
| 2026 | 60 |
2000: 50; 2001: 30; 2002: 19; 2003: 28; 2004: 28; 2005: 28; 2006: 22; 2007: 32; 2008: 38; 2009: 26; 2010: 50; 2011: 42; 2012: 39; 2013: 18; 2014: 43; 2015: 32; 2016: 52; 2017: 48; 2018: 34; 2019: 36; 2020: 16; 2021: 26; 2022: 16; 2023: 48; 2024: 66; 2025: 81; 2026: 60
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 336 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 104 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 100 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10057527 · 2004-02-04 (February 4, 2004)
WHEN TRYING TO STOP VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE BRAKES BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN BRAKE FAILURE. ALSO, POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN TRYING TO TURN LEFT. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, AND MADE SOME REPAIRS TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM. HOWEVER, BRAKES STILL OPERATED POORLY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057527 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061628 · 2004-04-08 (April 8, 2004)
IN AN EMERGENCY OR PANIC STOP ABS BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. ONCE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES THERE WAS 3 OR 4 SECONDS OF NO BRAKING POWER. *AK AS A RESULT, CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER SAID THAT IT WAS A NORMAL BEHAVIOR OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS PERFORMING BY DESIGN. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10061628 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053119 · 2004-01-13 (January 13, 2004)
STEERING PROBLEMS. SINCE MY TRUCK WAS NEW I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING. I HAVE INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING, PARTICULARLY WHEN GOING AT LOW SPEED. SOMETIMES THERE IS ALSO UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST THAT PULLS THE CAR IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT A DEALER AND BEEN TOLD THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED BY A GM DEALER AND BEEN TOLD THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. SOMETIMES, WHEN I PULL INTO MY DRIVEWAY, WHICH IS USUALLY A LEFT HAND TURN, I TOTALLY LOSE THE POWER STEERING…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053119 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012035 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012035 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 723988 · 2000-06-13 (June 13, 2000)
THE PROBLEM I AM CONTACTING YOU ABOUT IS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AFTER SELECTING REVERSE. I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN TO MY SELLING DEALER 13 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. GM WAS APPARENTLY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND CALLED IT AN "IDLE FLARE-UP". WHEN THIS VEHICLE HAD IT'S "IDLE FLARE-UP" IT WOULD SUDDENLY SURGE BACKWARDS 6 INCHES TO 6 FEET, DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF THE "FLARE-UP" AND HOW QUICKLY I COULD GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED.SOMETIMES IT WOULDN'T DO IT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, THEN IT WOULD DO IT 5 OR 6 TIMES IN ONE DAY.GM ENGINEERING HAD THE DEALER PER…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 723988 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10216683 · 2008-02-01 (February 1, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND HAS TO BE RESTARTED. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE FAILS TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER THREE TIMES AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE INJECTOR PUMP ASSEMBLY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 07/08/08. *BF UPDATED *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216683 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034581 · 2003-08-25 (August 25, 2003)
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT THE GAS TANK. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 84000 MILES. FUEL TANK SPLIT BETWEEN TWO TO THREE INCHES IN BETWEEN THE TANK. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON 1998 MODEL, BUT CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER, AND MANUFACTURER WILL NOT REIMBURSE THE MONEY.DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED, VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT AN INDEPENDENT SHOP.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034581 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 561850 · 2001-07-02 (July 2, 2001)
THE BATTERY WAS INOPERATIVE CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO START. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 561850 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013794 · 2003-04-01 (April 1, 2003)
AFTER TOWING A TRAILER, THE REAR TAIL LIGHT BULBS BLEW OUT, THEY WERE REPLACED AND BLEW AGAIN ALONG WITH A MAIN RELAY FUSE UNDER THE HOOD (NEVER SMALL FUSE FROM DASH FUSE BOX). AFTER REPLACING THAT TWICE WE CONTINUED TO HAVE A PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY SO WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS SHORTING OUT BECAUSE OF A BARE WIRE AND THEY FIXED WITH BLACK TAPE(STILL HAVE NOT LOCATED THAT WIRE) THE WARRANTY EXPIRED SHORTLY AFTER AND THE MECHANIC DID NOT DO AN INVOICE FOR ELECTRICAL TAPE...SINCE THEN WE HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE NUM…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013794 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10512529 · 2013-05-17 (May 17, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,000. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 132,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10512529 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2010: 5; 2011: 5; 2012: 4; 2013: 4; 2014: 3; 2015: 7; 2016: 6; 2017: 6; 2018: 6; 2019: 7; 2020: 8; 2021: 5; 2022: 3; 2023: 1; 2024: 3; 2025: 1; 2026: 3
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 1 | 0 | Not available |
| 1996 | 1 | 0 | Not available |
| 1997 | 34 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | 39 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | 38 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | 80 | 1 | +1 |
| 2001 | 72 | 1 | 0 |
| 2002 | 50 | 1 | 0 |
| 2003 | 42 | 0 | -1 |
| 2004 | 41 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | 46 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | 52 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | 39 | 5 | +5 |
| 2008 | 31 | 4 | -1 |
| 2009 | 10 | 6 | +2 |
| 2010 | 2 | 5 | -1 |
| 2011 | 29 | 5 | 0 |
| 2012 | 23 | 4 | -1 |
| 2013 | 26 | 4 | 0 |
| 2014 | 10 | 3 | -1 |
| 2015 | 52 | 7 | +4 |
| 2016 | 51 | 6 | -1 |
| 2017 | 13 | 6 | 0 |
| 2018 | 19 | 6 | 0 |
| 2019 | 21 | 7 | +1 |
| 2020 | 42 | 8 | +1 |
| 2021 | 39 | 5 | -3 |
| 2022 | 27 | 3 | -2 |
| 2023 | 15 | 1 | -2 |
| 2024 | 49 | 3 | +2 |
| 2025 | 12 | 1 | -2 |
| 2026 | 2 | 3 | +2 |