2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe brake pedal problems — a hard or stiff pedal, longer stopping distances and, in some cases, having to press with both feet — frequently after recall work had already been done. Power steering assist dropping out and oil/fuel issues around the high-pressure fuel pump also appear repeatedly in the sample. Many reports come in between roughly 40,000 and 100,000 miles, with a number of brake and steering accounts appearing at lower mileage.

1. 1
   Steering

   Power steering assist drops out (stiff wheel)

   • 146 complaints (13%)
   • median 51,000 mi at 4.7 yrs old (94 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,295 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners describe the power steering cutting out intermittently, leaving the wheel stiff or very hard to turn, sometimes while parking or at low speed and sometimes at highway speed. Several complaints mention a 'Service Power Steering' or 'Service Stabilitrak' message on the dash, and a few say the engine or electrical power briefly shut off at the same time. According to complaints, some vehicles had a steering software update performed under a recall but the loss of assist came back; others were told the dealer could not duplicate the problem, and one was diagnosed with a failed rack and pinion. Reported anywhere from delivery mileage up to about 180,000 miles, with many accounts between 25,000 and 55,000 miles.

   Recall 18V586000

   What to check: Ask whether the electric power steering recall update (18V586000) was applied, and whether the assist has dropped out since. During a test drive, turn the wheel at parking speed and watch for a steering warning message.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “During slower driving and turning wheel, power steering hardens up and motor has shut down while in motion. When trying to turn wheel turning hard into parking or turning sharper turns while driving this occurs! Very concerned for my safety and causing a crash. Busy street driving on highway and also in parking areas this has occurred”

   NHTSA complaint #11408054, filed 2021-04, 54,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving 80 MPH the steering wheel became firm. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and a software update was performed; however, the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 108,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11509982, filed 2023-03, 108,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Hard or stiff brake pedal, reduced stopping power

   • 363 complaints (33%)
   • median 57,250 mi at 4.3 yrs old (264 state mileage)
   • 26 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $794 (median of 26 quotes)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe the brake pedal feeling much harder than normal, sometimes dropping halfway before becoming stiff, and the truck continuing to roll at low speeds in traffic, parking lots or when reversing. Several owners say the pedal had to be pumped or pressed with both feet to stop. Some report that a dealer performed recall remedies (an electronic brake control module update or a vacuum pump replacement) but that the pedal still felt stiff afterward; others were told the vehicle operated as intended or that further diagnosis would be at their cost. Reported from roughly 26,000 to about 188,000 miles, most often in the 40,000–100,000 mile range and frequently at low speed or in reverse.

   Recall 19V645000Recall 19V761000

   What to check: Ask whether the vacuum pump and brake control module recalls were completed and whether the brake pedal was checked afterward. On a test drive, try several low-speed stops and a reverse stop and note whether the pedal feels unusually firm.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Breaks will not catch . As I'm driving and trying to stop the truck will keep rolling . This is even when driving slow . The break pedal is hard . And will not stop. I took truck in for a recall on the break system but the light sensor is still on and breaks will not catch. This is going forward backward parked or going to light . Has been happening off and on for a month.”

   NHTSA complaint #11384403, filed 2020-12, 104,000 miles

   “I was driving and the brake strength went extremely low. I took it to the auto shop and they said the brake vacuum pump went had. Also, the driver side seat has a rock to it when your weight is shifted sometimes.”

   NHTSA complaint #11316634, filed 2020-03, 60,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission hard shifting or failure

   • 113 complaints (10%)
   • median 49,000 mi at 4.4 yrs old (64 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $4,900 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe harsh or delayed shifting, the transmission dropping into neutral on its own while the engine revs, hesitation when accelerating and in one case a refusal to engage any gear. Some owners report being told the transmission needed replacement, and others say the dealer could not reproduce the behavior. Some complaints tie the shifting concerns to rough running or misfires elsewhere in the drivetrain. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 150,000 miles, including some vehicles still under 10,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the truck from a stop and through several upshifts and downshifts and note any clunk, flare or delay. Ask for service records showing transmission fluid changes or repairs, and have a shop scan for stored transmission codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The truck was on street. Transmisionwould not engage in the. Second gear, or any gear. Turned car off. Started truck again same problem. Even in reverse. Truck was in lake arrowhead on mountain road by houses. Called flat bed tow truck. Towed back home to long beach. 200 miles!. The truck is in my drive way waiting for an transmission appointment. Strange drove around the block and had no problem. Even backed in to my driveway with no problem. So not trust truck now.”

   NHTSA complaint #11387509, filed 2021-01, 1,000 miles

   “Our 2015 SILVERADO 1500 has stuttering/ hesitation when accelerating, when turning on to a street you can not get up to speed quick enough it acts like there is something hold it back. We have replaced the spark plug and wire and all the coil packs. The voltage meter on the truck keep fluctuating so we replaced the alternator and the battery and that did nothing and kept fluctuating so we got another alternator and another and another and another.. So 5 alternators later and still no fix. But the hard shifting is the main concern. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11320362, filed 2020-04, 116,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Rear window shatters after defroster use

   • 58 complaints (5%)
   • median 65,000 mi at 5.3 yrs old (36 state mileage)
   • 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Complaints describe a clicking, hissing or burning-plastic smell from the rear window area when the rear defroster is on, followed by the sliding rear glass cracking in a spiderweb pattern or shattering. Some owners report smoke from the defroster connection at the bottom of the slider, and others report the glass breaking after shutting the door or while parked. Several say the dealer identified the rear defroster as the failed part, and some note their vehicle was not covered by a related recall. Reported between about 1,000 and 104,000 miles, often in winter weather with the defroster in use.

   What to check: Inspect the sliding rear window and its defroster grid for cracks, scorching or loose connections, and ask whether the rear glass or defroster has been replaced. Test the rear defroster briefly and listen for clicking or hissing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving down the highway on a typical winter day in michigan. The rear defroster was on to melt some snow/ice on the rear window. After being quiet/normal, suddenly a loud hissing/sizzling sound was coming from the rear window defroster, lasted less than a minute before I was smelling something burning. The defroster circuit then fried in a large puff of smoke with a substantial pop sound. After a brief delay of just a few seconds, the rear window glass exploded/shattered. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11385568, filed 2020-12, 28,000 miles

   “I turned on the rear defrost and the window spider web cracked. There is an open recall but my VIN number wasn't in the range so GM is refusing to cover it.”

   NHTSA complaint #11301560, filed 2020-01, 55,000 miles

Buying note. Because brake pedal feel and steering assist problems dominate the sample, a careful test drive with several low-speed and reverse stops plus a check of open recall status is worthwhile. Ask for service records showing whether recalls 18V586000 and 19V645000 were completed and whether the pedal or steering symptoms returned afterward.

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.