2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe transmission shuddering, hard or delayed shifts, and jerking that sometimes leaves the truck unable to move, along with complaints of reduced power assist at low brake pedal speeds, and a rear sliding window that shatters when the defroster is on. Many reports come in during normal driving at moderate mileage, and several owners say dealers could not duplicate the problem or offered a fluid service rather than a repair.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder, hard shifts, and jerking

   • 178 complaints (25%)
   • median 48,500 mi at 4.0 yrs old (76 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $5,850 (median of 12 quotes)
   • filed 2017–2026

   Complaints describe shuddering, hesitation, and hard shifts, especially between the lower gears, with some owners saying the truck feels as if it has been bumped from behind. Several also report banging or clunking noises during gear changes, slipping between gears, or the transmission staying in neutral, and a few say the truck stalled and would not move. Some owners say dealers told them the condition was common for the year and recommended a fluid change, while others report no problem found or that the truck needed a transmission replacement. Mostly reported between roughly 20,000 and 120,000 miles, often during stop-and-go or low-speed driving.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive at low speeds and in stop-and-go traffic, listening for shudder, clunks, or delayed engagement, and ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced and what the service history shows.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Purchased my vehicle just a few months ago and had zero issues, other than pesky afm bull. Within the last month, transmission began shuddering and jerking as if slipping gears under normal driving conditions. Soon thereafter, a whining noise started that was more prevalent during gear change. Spoke to technicians at my local GM dealership service department and he informed me that this is an extremely common issue with this year model and transmission. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11375618, filed 2020-11, 62,000 miles

   “When I first purchased this vehicle it has always shifted hard and shuddered. I took it to the shop and they told me it was because my auto 4 wheel drive was on. It continued to have issues for the next couple of years and each time I took it in for an oil change they would tell me there was nothing wrong with it. The check engine light was on. I took it in again and they said it was because the hood latch needed replaced. Replaced that and 2 days later the check engine light was on again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11328736, filed 2020-06, 100,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Rough idle, misfire, and injector or lifter noise

   • 137 complaints (19%)
   • median 56,500 mi at 4.0 yrs old (60 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $6,500 (median of 17 quotes)
   • filed 2017–2026

   Complaints describe rough idling, shaking, hesitation on acceleration, and a flashing or steady check engine light, with several owners told that fuel injectors or the fuel pump needed replacement. Others report ticking or tapping noises diagnosed as sticking or bent lifters or a damaged camshaft, and some say the truck stalled or lost power while driving; a few note dealers found no fault or quoted large repair estimates. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 140,000 miles, with several cases appearing under 50,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Listen for ticking at cold start, watch for a rough idle or stumble on a test drive, and ask for any record of injector, lifter, or camshaft work and stored engine codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Code p0300 and p050d keep on being thrown. Vehicle started having these issues back when I had 30k miles and now at 45k, I am getting them more often. The downshifts because of this are bad, the vehicle jerks when it downshifts. Feels like someone is rear-ending you. Vehicle sometimes shakes and sounds like its misfiring. I can sometimes turn off the vehicle and turn back on and it will work fine like nothing is wrong. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11415118, filed 2021-05, 30,000 miles

   “My 2017 (1500) silverado ltz runs rough when ever the truck is in motion. It even run rough when it's parked and not moving. The shifting is rough as well. For example, when I'm at a red light, a stop sign or just at a complete stop, I have to take off fast because if I take off slowly, my truck will jerk incredibly hard. I turned on my truck one morning and it just was shaking so bad and out of control. I took my truck to a Chevrolet dealership to get a diagnosis done and I have 3 bad fuel injectors. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11383382, filed 2020-12, 43,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake pedal firm or spongy, reduced assist at low speed

   • 206 complaints (29%)
   • median 46,400 mi at 3.7 yrs old (96 state mileage)
   • 15 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners describe the brake pedal going firm or spongy and losing power assist at low speeds, typically in parking lots, drive-throughs, or when backing slowly, requiring a hard push to stop. Some reports mention a brake assist warning message, a ticking or vibration with the pedal, or brake fade; a few say the pedal extended to the floor or that the truck rolled when backing down a ramp. Complaints also describe the brake control module being replaced or a vacuum pump diagnosis, and some mention that existing recalls did not cover their truck. Usually reported between roughly 35,000 and 60,000 miles, most often at walking-pace speeds.

   Recall 19V645000Recall 19V7610001 related service bulletin

   What to check: With the engine running, press the pedal slowly at a crawl and note any firmness or hiss, check for warning lights, and ask whether recall 19V645000 or 19V761000 work has been completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While in the drive through, my brakes faded and my truck would barley stop. The pedal felt different. I almost rear ended the car in front of me. My service brake assist warning came on. From what I read, it appears to very similar to what other trucks my year are experiencing but mine wasn't covered by any recalls??”

   NHTSA complaint #11387958, filed 2021-01, 35,000 miles

   “I was driving in traffic going 5mph or less. Brakes kept slipping and had to push down on the brakes to make my truck stop almost causing me to hit the vehicle in front of me multiple times. Brake assist kept popping up on the dash. Problem only occurs at low speeds.”

   NHTSA complaint #11388542, filed 2021-01, 45,000 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Power steering assist drops out

   • 65 complaints (9%)
   • median 47,200 mi at 3.9 yrs old (36 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners report the power steering assist cutting out suddenly, making the wheel hard to turn, sometimes accompanied by a service power steering message, StabiliTrak and ABS lights, or an engine stall. Several say it recurred over time, and some reports note a steering torque sensor code or a control module reprogramming, while others say dealers cleaned ground connections or could not guarantee a fix. Mostly reported between roughly 30,000 and 125,000 miles, often while turning or hitting a bump.

   What to check: Check for stored steering trouble codes and any record of a steering control module update, and drive over uneven pavement at low speed to see whether assist drops out or the wheel fails to return to center.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While traveling down the road at different speeds, the steering wheel will rapidly jerk and then I lose all power steering. Took it to a mechanic, I was told there was a malfunction code of c0545, which is a power steering torque sensor malfunction and that the power steering control module needed to be reprogrammed and updated.”

   NHTSA complaint #11339654, filed 2020-07, 125,000 miles

   “Driving down the road and power steering goes out when I hit a bump in the road. Comes back in when turn of the vehicle and turn it back on almost through me in the ditch a number of times. Just losses all power steering all at once.”

   NHTSA complaint #11365256, filed 2020-10, 92,000 miles
5. 5
   Other or unknown

   Rear window shatters with defroster on

   • 43 complaints (6%)
   • median 79,000 mi at 5.8 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2026

   Complaints describe the rear sliding or fixed rear glass shattering with a loud pop while the rear defroster is on, sometimes with a burning odor, smoke, or visible burn marks on the glass rail. Owners report the glass failing while parked, in drive-throughs, or moving at highway speed, and some say the dealer related the failure to the rear defrost. Reported from very low mileage up to about 140,000 miles, frequently in cold weather when the defroster is used.

   What to check: Inspect the rear glass for chipped edges or burn marks near the defroster grid, test the defroster briefly, and ask whether the rear window has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Rear glass shattered with defrost on. Prior to shattering I could smell something burning. I was parked in a fast food drive through when this happened. I had previously used the remote start to start the car.”

   NHTSA complaint #11383299, filed 2020-12, 95,000 miles

   “While driving to the store the rear glass blow up for no reason, dealers said it has something to do with the rear defrost. My car got full of smoke, I thought it was going to catch on fire.”

   NHTSA complaint #11400395, filed 2021-03, 80 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection that includes a scan for stored codes, a low-speed brake and transmission test drive, and a look at the rear glass and service records would be worthwhile on this model year, and it is worth confirming which open recalls and bulletins have already been addressed.

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.