2015 Chevrolet Silverado Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year cluster around two themes: a vibration or shake felt through the truck at highway speed (often attributed to tires, driveshaft, or balance) and a group of steering complaints describing intermittent loss or binding of power steering assist. Engine and electrical complaints are also common, many filed at very low mileage, while a smaller set of high-mileage reports covers brake assist and lifter noise.

1. 1
   Steering

   Highway-speed vibration or shake

   • 12 complaints (16%)
   • median 1,750 mi at 0.8 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • filed 2014–2016

   Owners describe a shake, shimmy or heavy vibration that appears at highway speeds, roughly 60 to 80 mph, felt through the steering wheel, the seat or the whole cab. Complaints say tires were balanced or replaced, and in some cases the driveshaft was blamed or replaced, without the vibration going away. Several report the dealer could not duplicate or diagnose it, and a few say they were told the vibration was normal. Mostly reported under about 15,000 miles, often within the first weeks of ownership and typically at highway speeds.

   Recall 14V819000

   What to check: Drive the truck at 60-80 mph on a smooth road and watch for shake through the wheel and floor. Ask whether tires were replaced or road-force balanced and whether the driveshaft was checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased a brand new 2015 silveradeo on 7/24/15 and at about 700 miles or so I noticed a bad vibration as the truck was in motion, took it back to the dealer cause I was very upset it being an $56,000.00 truck and all. They wanted me to leave the truck overnight and did not offer any vehicle to drive so I did not leave it with them. So I took the truck to ratfield tire and had the tire's balanced,all 4 tire's were out of balance, which I paid for out of pocket myself not GM.... …”

   NHTSA complaint #10837374, filed 2016-02, 800 miles

   “Had been complaining since 2 days after purchase that transmission was shaking/shimmying/sputtering. Was pulling onto a county highway off of a residential type road (after picking up granddaughter from school - she was in truck) and truck bogged down & wouldn't go. Intersection is at top of hill and around a corner. Was clear when I started pulling out, but was almost hit by oncoming truck before I got my truck to get on across the intersection. Has been in shop twice to fix it. First time to double transmission flush. That didn't work. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10853780, filed 2016-04, 1,500 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Stalling, shutdown or no-start electrical faults

   • 16 complaints (21%)
   • median 10,925 mi at 1.0 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2023

   Owners report the engine shutting off while driving, sometimes with the whole instrument panel going dark and steering assist dropping out, and the truck restarting after being cycled off and on. Others describe a dead battery or no-start after the truck sat, intermittent no-crank with a theft-deterrent message, or the ignition key moving out of the run position. Complaints say dealers often could not duplicate the fault or reset codes without a lasting fix. Mostly reported under about 15,000 miles, though some later reports appear at 50,000 miles and above.

   Recall 15V6400002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition lock actuator recall was completed for the VIN, and check for stored codes and any history of repeat no-start or stalling visits.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On monday october 5, 2015, I was driving truck at approximately 60 MPH on highway when suddenly all electronics went black and complete loss of power on highway. Luckily, I was able to pull of to side of road. I turned the key to off position (engine was not running) and waited several minutes then turned truck on and it started. The traction light kept coming on and off but the truck did not loose power again-thankfully. I could have been killed or caused a serious accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #10780654, filed 2015-10, 16,400 miles

   “After sitting for two days, I went out to start my 2015 Chevrolet Silverado to drive to town and it was dead - no power, lights, horn, ignition, nothing. The vehicle was absolutely stone cold dead. Having two decades in the car restoration business, I grabbed my battery charger and hooked it up and charged the battery for 4 hours. Attempting to start the Silverado again resulted in the same thing - stone cold dead. I swapped the batteries to no avail. The vehicle still wasn't powering up. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10743675, filed 2015-07, 4,213 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Intermittent loss or binding of power steering

   • 8 complaints (11%)
   • median 10,950 mi at 2.5 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2025

   Complaints describe the steering wheel suddenly becoming hard to turn, a 'service power steering' or 'loss of power steering' message, or the wheel sticking in a turn and needing force to return to center. In several cases restarting the truck restored assist, and the problem then came back intermittently. Some owners say the dealer could not reproduce the condition; others had the electric power steering diagnosed as failed. Reported across a wide mileage range, from a few hundred miles to well over 100,000, at both low and highway speeds.

   Recall 14V7190002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the electric power steering recall for this model year was performed for the VIN, and test the steering at parking-lot and highway speeds, including a long sweeping turn.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving at high way speed ( 70 MPH posted limit ) and making a right hand long sweeping turn the trucks steering would stick or lock in the turn position. This condition would require a me to force the steering wheel back to center. At this time the condition only presents its self during highway speeds and long gradual right hand turns. This happend 6 or 8 times on my 800 miles trip. The dealer can not replicate this issue and as a result will not agree to repalce any steering components at this time. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10750001, filed 2015-08, 10,950 miles

   “The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH the loss of power steering warning illuminated. The contact felt the steering wheel was hard to turn to the left or right. The contact was able to stop the vehicle and turn the vehicle off, when he turned the vehicle on the power steering was engaged, however, the failure was reoccurring. The contact stated that failure was also occurring at any speed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11635233, filed 2025-01, 10,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Rough or delayed transmission shifting

   • 7 complaints (9%)
   • median 3,600 mi at 1.0 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2014–2016

   Complaints describe the transmission hesitating before it finds a gear when accelerating after coasting or slowing, staying in too high a gear and rattling, or bogging down and not moving from a stop. A clunk or bump felt from the rear on stopping or hard acceleration is also described. Some owners report multiple dealer visits, flushes and relearns with the concern returning. Mostly reported under about 6,000 miles, often in the first months of ownership and during low-speed acceleration.

   Recall 14V3740003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test low-speed acceleration from a coast and listen for a clunk when stopping. Ask whether any transmission control module reprogramming was done and whether the transfer case recall applies to the VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall I was traveling down the highway at approximately 75 MPH when I was accelerating over an overpass the vehicle began to vibrate with an associated humming noise and after about two seconds after theach vibration started a very loud and violent banging sound came from under the vehicle that was felt from the inside. I immediately steered to the highway shoulder, because I could see metal chunks tumbling from behind the vehicle from my rear view mirror. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10808676, filed 2015-12, 3,200 miles

   “When I put the vehicle in reverse I heard a loud clunk and the stabilitrak warning came on and the indicator (cursor) that tells you what gear you are in disappeared. I turned the ignition off and opened the door to reset everything. I started the car again and everything was normal. Driving down the road at 40 MPH the stabilitrak warning came on again and the gear indicator disappeared. I pulled over and turned off the ignition and opened the door. Started the engine again and everything was normal. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10621070, filed 2014-08, 3,600 miles
5. 5
   Exterior lighting

   Weak low-beam headlight output

   • 12 complaints (16%)
   • median 7,500 mi at 0.9 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2014–2024

   Owners describe the low beams as projecting too short a distance and giving little light to the sides of the road, making night driving difficult. Complaints say the dealer could not find a fault, and one owner reports being told the lamps meet the applicable standard. Reported between roughly 3,000 and 12,000 miles, with no clear pattern beyond night driving.

   What to check: Drive the truck after dark on an unlit road and judge the low-beam reach and side visibility; ask whether the lamps or aiming were ever adjusted.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Purchased the 2015 Silverado 1500 new on 08/04/2015. Once I was able to use the headlights I noticed the lack of light output on them. I traded in a 2011 kia sedona and the headlights were far superior to them. My 2006 hyundai has better lights. Im not sure what can be done, dealer is aware of it and hopefully will fix soon.”

   NHTSA complaint #10748205, filed 2015-08, 3,059 miles

   “Affects all current Chevrolet vehicles currently sold into the USA. Chevrolet has begun using the backup lamps (reverse lights) to illuminate the area around the vehicle even when the vehicle is off and not in reverse gear; typically when the driver is accessing & egressing the vehicle, or has actuated the door lock remote. The result is a vehicle appears to be reversing, or about to reverse, even though it's not capable of movement. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10681478, filed 2015-02, 1 miles

Buying note. Check that the open recalls for this model year (power steering assist, ignition lock actuator, rear axle shaft, transfer case, seat belt tensioner) were completed for the VIN, and road-test at highway speed for vibration and steering binding. Service records showing repeat electrical or transmission visits are worth reviewing before purchase.

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.