Chevrolet 3500 owners have reported 3 equipment related problems since 1996. Table 1 shows the 1 most common equipment problems. The number one most common problem is related to the vehicle's equipment (3 problems). For details of each of the problem category, use the links in the table.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Equipment problems |
While pulling a variety of 3 different trailers, the integrated trailer brake control does not properly send output to the trailer brakes. This causes the truck (tow vehicle) to do almost all of the braking work on its own. On multiple occasions I've had the anti lock brakes activate on the truck while trying to stop at a traffic light because I wasn't getting adequate braking from the trailer due to the integrated trailer brake control failing to send adequate power to the trailer brakes. The gain on the trailer brake control was set properly for the load being pulled on the trailer and the gross combination weight of the truck/trailer/load did not exceed the rated capacities of the truck or trailer. The truck has been to 2 different Chevrolet dealers and both of them have tried blaming the trailer or the operator. I have shown both dealers that the truck does it with a variety of different trailers and proven that it's not the trailer. I have my class a cdl and have been pulling trailers with brake controllers for 20 years. This instance happens at all different speeds of travel while driving, whether it be 5 mph or 65 mph or anywhere in between. Also, while sitting still at a traffic signal, the truck puts no braking power to the trailer which is horrible when you are sitting on any kind of sloped grade. From a commercial driver standpoint, this truck does not in any way shape or form pass a dot safety inspection due to this issue. The truck has roughly 37,000 miles, is well taken care of, and is fleet maintained. The attached photo is while sitting still with a loaded gooseneck trailer hooked to the truck.
Water leaking into cab behind driver seat soaking the carpet, carpet is beginning to smell of mildew (refuse to have my children in the vehicle incase its mold). Dash extension piece faulty and comes up past the dash, been replaced 3 times no change. Paint chip on rock guard under door within first 400 miles.
On December 17th, I brought my vehicle in for a key/ignition recall. They installed a key insert and key rings on both the keys. On Monday, December 22nd, my daughter inserted the key into the ignition and it automatically locked on her and she could not turn the key nor could she take the key out. I called betten Chevrolet thinking that this had to be related to the recall that was done. The person who answered the phone at betten Chevrolet stated there was no way that this was related to the recall and that she must have a dead battery and that we should try jumping it. We attempted to jump start it with no avail. I called betten back and they said they would send a tow truck but wouldnt be able to get to my car until the next day. I called the next afternoon and they told me that my battery was corroded and fried and that had also fried my computer module. Is it coincidental that my battery checked out good on the inspection but that in 5 days the battery is corroded? I am sure that if the battery was corroded on the initial inspection that would have been brought to my attention and suggested to be replaced at that time. I told him it had to be related to something they did during the recall maintenance. I was told that this was a separate incident and that this was coincidence. I called a mechanic and he said that any key that is altered will send an alert to the car that the key is altered and that this could be someone trying to break into the vehicle and that would cause the key to lock up. Therefore, betten altering the key for the recall could have potentially caused this lock up. This lock up could have caused the computer module and the battery to fry.