Chevrolet W3500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
17 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
38,266 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 to 2009 model years. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 17 complaints (17.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 5 | 29.4% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 17.6% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 11.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 11.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 5.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Electrical System: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Steering: 2; Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module: 1; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 7 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2003: 4; 2004: 2; 2005: 3; 2007: 4; 2011: 1; 2014: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 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 10111370 · 2005-02-11 (February 11, 2005)
THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING HYDRAULIC FLUID, WHICH MADE THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT. TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR TWICE ON THE POWER STEERING BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY CONSUMER.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10111370 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020395 · 2003-05-22 (May 22, 2003)
THE BRAKES PULLED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION WHEN APPLIED. THE DEALER WAS BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020395 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031687 · 2003-07-31 (July 31, 2003)
THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. AT 14,000 MILES THE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS TRUCK. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031687 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10094656 · 2004-09-29 (September 29, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT FUEL PUMP, COMPUTER SENSOR, AND FUEL LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ,AND REPLACED THEM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10094656 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10111276 · 2005-03-08 (March 8, 2005)
VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 40 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY OWNER.*AK *TC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10111276 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10191376 · 2007-05-21 (May 21, 2007)
I HAVE A 2006 SILVERADO 3500 DURMAX DIESAL. ALSO MY BROTHER IN-LAW AND FRIEND HAVE THE SAME TRUCK, WE ALL BOUGHT THIS TRUCK BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD IT WAS HEAVY DUTY AND MADE TO HAUL. WE ALL HAD PROBLEMS WITH FUEL PUMP INJECTORS, FUEL RAILS, FUEL PUMP, COMPUTER CODES GOING ON, AND WILL NOT LET YOU GO OVER 10 MILES . *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10191376 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10197719 · 2007-07-28 (July 28, 2007)
THIS 07 TRUCK GET HOT AND THE TRANS SLIPS. I HAVE HAD IT TO MANY DEALERS WITH NO ONE FIXING THE PROBLEM. ITS BACK IN THE SHOP NOW. GM REP SAYS DON'T DO ANYTHING TO IT UNTIL IT DOES IT IN THE SHOP. IT ONLY DOES THIS WHEN I AM PULLING A RV WITH THE TRUCK. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK TO PULL RVS TO CAL EVERY WEEK AND I SPENT MORE TIME IN SHOPS THAN WORKING. NOW I AM GETTING BEHIND ON MY PAYMENTS BECAUSE I CAN'T KEEP IT RUNNING. I KNOW THERE JUST WAITING FOR THE WARRANTY TO RUN OUT THEN THEY WILL TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG. THEY HAVE PUT ONE INJECTOR IN IT AND …
Owner-reported narrative. 34,531 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197719 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10189432 · 2007-05-01 (May 1, 2007)
TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 7,500 MILES; AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP COMPLAINING THAT TRANS WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY, THE SERVICE REP- TOLD ME THAT THERE ARE NO CODES SHOWING AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. BUT AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT A MILE THE TRANS WOULD START ACTING UP. UNTIL I BROKE DOWN ONE NIGHT HAD TO BE TOWED IN . THE NEXT DAY, THE SERVICE REP- CALLED AND TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS TOTAL BURNT UP, AND THEY WOULD REPLACE WITH NEW TRANSMISSION , WHICH IF FOUND THAT GM REPLACES WITH REBUILT TRANS ONLY. EVE…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10189432 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 |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2 |
1998: 1; 2001: 0; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 0; 2006: 3; 2007: 3; 2008: 3; 2009: 2