2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2019 Silverado 2500 most often describe electrical and driver-warning problems: a persistent false low-coolant message, trailer brake system warnings, and occasional loss of power or limp mode. Engine and fuel-system complaints are also common and range from rough running and stalled fuel delivery to coolant sensor and DEF tank concerns, with many reports filed at low mileage.

1. 1
   Engine

   Loss of power / limp mode while driving

   • 9 complaints (12%)
   • median 23,900 mi at 2.7 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe sudden loss of power, shaking, and a message limiting speed, sometimes while towing at highway speed. Complaints mention codes related to the accelerator pedal sensors, a failed fuel pump control module, or an injector pigtail, with dealers replacing the affected part. Reported from low mileage up to around 70,000-194,000 miles, often at highway speed or under load.

   What to check: Ask for any stored powertrain codes and whether the fuel pump control module, injector wiring, or accelerator pedal sensors have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving my truck and lost full power to the truck. Which happened as I was pulling out of a parking. The truck went into a limp mode. With the truck losing full power, it put my child and I into a safety risk. The truck got repaired at the dealership. The dealer was able to reproduce the issue. The truck was inspected at the dealership. Warning system did come on saying speed would be limited if (roughly 150 miles to a max 65mph). …”

   NHTSA complaint #11650166, filed 2025-03

   “My truck went into limp mode with pulling a trailer on the highway due to a wide known injector pigtail failing. The truck would not accelerate, started shaking and lost speed suddenly. After resetting the DTC on my computer, each time the truck would hit a rough spot on the highway and vibrate, the truck would go back into limp mode. After getting the truck repaired at $566.67 cost, the dealer say they would not help with the cost. Said the NHTSA would have to force them to fix this now issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11714726, filed 2026-01
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission clunk and delayed engagement

   • 6 complaints (8%)
   • median 3,800 mi at 1.1 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2022

   Complaints describe the transmission briefly disengaging or neutralizing, a loud clunk on downshift below about 10 mph, and a bang when the exhaust brake is used downhill. Dealers reportedly told some owners the behavior was normal or could not duplicate it. Mostly reported under about 10,000 miles, often in cold weather or during the first drive of the day.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test drive from cold and listen for clunks on downshift; ask whether any transmission diagnostics or torque converter checks have been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving down hill about 65-70 I turned the exhaust brake on and the truck made a big bang noise and then sounded like something was grinding. Then went into limp mode light on dash came on too. I made it home but went to put in reverse and nothing, no reverse”

   NHTSA complaint #11323064, filed 2020-05, 3,800 miles

   “November 20, 2019 with only 1380 on the new 2019 silverado. While leaving a parking garage in the morning in reno, nevada it was 28 degrees. When driving out the transmission seemed to have lost connection. The engine was running but the transmission was not engaging. I feathered the throttle and it reengaged. After entering the street I travelled about 300 to 600 feet and the transmission went to shift but neutralized. Again, I feathered the throttle and it engaged again. At about 2500 miles the transmission did it again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11309550, filed 2020-02, 1,380 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Rough running and stalling (fuel delivery)

   • 9 complaints (12%)
   • median 55 mi at 0.6 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2025

   Owners report surging or sputtering during acceleration, RPM fluctuation, and occasional stalling, with some cases traced to a failed fuel pump or a collapsed fuel tank. Others describe the fuel gauge reading inaccurately before a stall. Reported from very low mileage up to around 70,000 miles, sometimes under towing load.

   Recall 23V047000

   What to check: Check the fuel gauge accuracy, ask about fuel pump or tank repairs, and confirm whether the dual fuel tank recall applies to the truck.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Severe shake when braking at high speeds, fuel tank failed (vehicle was spewing diesel) - it took 3 months to get a new tank, transfer case has failed multiple times. We have been having these problems since the day we picked up the truck.I have service records showing all the repairs. Gm is aware of the problems but claim 'there is nothing they can do but wait for a fix'.”

   NHTSA complaint #11389212, filed 2021-01, 867 miles

   “When vehicle is accelerating anywhere from 30-50 MPH, the truck loses power for several seconds, and starts sputtering or chugging. The RPM on the dash starts bouncing up and down. This goes on for several seconds and truck slows down. It then goes away and can continue driving. However, when towing trailers, the effect is only increased and the truck slows down even more.”

   NHTSA complaint #11180875, filed 2019-02, 10 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   False low coolant warning

   • 6 complaints (8%)
   • median 48,500 mi at 3.3 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2020–2025

   Owners describe a low coolant message appearing on the dash even though the reservoir is full, sometimes every time the truck is started. Some say the dealer traced it to the coolant level sensor built into the reservoir and recommended replacing the whole tank; others report the warning persists after a check or refill. Reported across a wide mileage range, from a few thousand miles up to about 72,000, and often after engine block heater recall work.

   Recall 21V496000Recall 19V3280001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the coolant reservoir and level sensor have been replaced, and check that the warning clears on a cold start with the reservoir full.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The truck was issued a recall for the engine blocker heater which was performed. Since that recall was performed I keep getting low coolant warnings on the dash in error. The vehicles was taken back to dealer and everything was checked. They refilled the system just incase there was an air pocket but they warned me about 4 out of 10 people that have the recall performed continually get a low coolant light. The truck was fine for 2 months and now I'm back to having the low coolant light on. The coolant level looks fine. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11374988, filed 2020-11, 25,000 miles

   “Every time the truck is started it will give a dash screen warning of Low Coolant Level even though the reservoir is completely full. It has been doing it for years now. The warning can simply be dismissed, but I worry that if it actually ever is low, I will never know until it's too late because myself and everyone affected is going to simply dismiss the warning as it is a daily occurrence. That is to say if the sensor works properly at all. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11644703, filed 2025-02
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Service trailer brake system warning

   • 6 complaints (8%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 5.6 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2022–2026

   Complaints describe a 'Service Trailer Brake System' message on the instrument panel, sometimes with trailer brakes failing to apply while towing. Owners report the warning returning after short periods of ownership and dealers often unable to reproduce or resolve it. Reported from near-new mileage up to about 139,000 miles, often while towing or shortly after start-up.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: If you tow, test the trailer brake controller with a trailer connected and ask whether the trailer wiring and brake module have been checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD a week ago and haven't even put 1000 miles on it and I'm already having the issues what many others have face with the Service trailer brake system”

   NHTSA complaint #11506319, filed 2023-02

   “I purchased a brand new Chevy Silverado 2500hd at the end of 2019. Periodically Service Trailer Brake System would pop up throughout the beginning, and soon became an increasing event causing my trailer brakes to stop working while towing heavy loads. This is an extreme safety hazard, not only for the driver, but for others on the road as well. How this isn't a recall already for the mere fact of the distracting chime, light alone the fact that the trailer brakes become inoperable at a moments notice is beyond me. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11481356, filed 2022-08

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection that checks stored codes, the coolant sensor, trailer brake function, and transmission behavior from a cold start. Ask the seller for service records covering the recalls and any prior fuel or electrical repairs.

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.