Electrical System Problems of Chevrolet Silverado 1500 - part 2

Truck went into limp mode. Would not shift. Stayed in one gear and would not back up. The truck basically downshifted from 8th to 2nd gear, causing me to lock up the brakes and almost lose control. Several warning lights on the dash. It's been at a transmission shop for over 3 weeks. They are having issues being able to get parts from gm. They are having problems fixing it. The blind spot lights will turn on for no reason. The lights opposite of the vehicle comes on. I've almost wrecked multiple times.

See all problems of the 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 🔎.

Prior to this incident, I had been having issues with my fuel management system give a “reduced acceleration” warning (codes p0087, p228b) in weather below 28-30f. It was in the shop 3 times prior: first time was “bad fuel”, second had my fuel rail and fuel filter replaced, and third time I had my high pressure fuel pump replaced (also had a rear crank seal leak). While approaching a stop sign, my vehicle gave me a check engine light with a “reduced acceleration” warning followed by several other warning messages and then ultimately lost power and shut off give me no ability to steer or brake my vehicle. Luckily, my vehicle came to stop and no crash or injuries occurred. If this had been at higher speeds the outcome could have been fatal to myself or another driver/passenger on the road. This incident also gave me a p0087, p12a6, p228a, and p228b error codes. I was able to restart the vehicle and make it home. The following day, the “reduced acceleration” message once again appeared. The vehicle is currently at the dealer awaiting diagnosis and repair.

See all problems of the 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 🔎.

The vehicle has an electric tailgate lock switch failure/defect. The tailgate unlocks on its own and pops open while driving, at stop lights, in drive-thru restaurants, and while parked which causes a safety hazard to the driver and passengers in the vehicle, as well as other drivers around the vehicle. Even after closing the tailgate, it will unlock and pop open on its own again. Then, I tested the closed, locked tailgate by shacking and pulling it open from the top edge which caused the tailgate to unlock and open on its own. This causes a thief risk of personal belongings and vehicle parts. There are no warning lamps or messages about the component failure. Since no recalls for the vehicle's VIN number are listed, it has not been confirmed by the dealer.

See all problems of the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 🔎.

Was driving 45 mph when a “ conditions not correct for shift” warning pops up on the screen and puts me into neutral, but came to a stop in a neighborhood entrance and have not been able to start or put the vehicle into gear.

See all problems of the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 🔎.

While driving my 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 rst, the vehicle has lost power on two to three separate occasions. During these incidents, the truck experienced a sudden loss of engine power and electrical functionality while in motion. The vehicle either significantly reduced power or shut down unexpectedly, creating an immediate safety hazard. The failure appears to involve the electrical system and/or powertrain, as dashboard functions and vehicle response were affected at the same time as the loss of propulsion. In at least one incident, this occurred at driving speed, placing me and other motorists at risk of a collision due to the sudden loss of acceleration and reduced ability to maneuver safely. No prior warning lamps or messages consistently appeared before the failure. The incidents occurred without warning. The problem is intermittent and has happened more than once, increasing concern that the defect may worsen or result in a crash. This issue represents a serious safety risk because loss of power while driving can lead to loss of control, rear-end collisions, or inability to safely move out of traffic. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.

A recurring malfunction occurs with the infotainment/radio and rear backup camera display. The rear backup camera view remains stuck on while driving forward in drive at speeds over 20 mph, including highway speeds. The system also cycles between screens (including switching to the camera view), and the infotainment freezes and becomes unresponsive (loss of screen/control). Audio playback and hands-free calls become staticky/distorted. These events create a serious driver distraction and safety risk while driving. This has occurred multiple times, including during long-distance driving, and has been significant enough that I have had to pull over to the side of the road multiple times. In multiple incidents, the system did not recover until I pulled a fuse to reset/shut down the system so I could continue driving safely. The unit remains powered on after the vehicle is turned off and exited. There is also a history of battery drain/no-start events requiring jump starts. No warning lights or warning messages are displayed before or during the failure; the system becomes unresponsive and behaves unpredictably. The problem is intermittent and has occurred multiple times over the life of the vehicle, including after a head unit replacement. Dealers have documented the concern on repair orders; during the most recent visit the dealer noted no diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) stored.

The tailgate on the truck popped open without being triggered to. This continued to happen like every 5-10 seconds. It drained the battery and was a hazard as I drive down the road.

The vehicle’s wireless apple carplay system forces the iphone to connect to the truck’s built-in WI-fi network, which does not provide internet access. When connected, iphone cellular data is blocked, resulting in frequent loss of navigation, traffic updates, and streaming services while driving. There is no option in the vehicle settings to disable the WI-fi or force cellular use. Multiple troubleshooting steps have been attempted, including iphone network resets, WI-fi assist, toggling data settings, and re-pairing carplay, all without success. This design flaw creates a safety concern because navigation and real-time traffic information can fail unexpectedly, requiring driver distraction to troubleshoot or rely on a handheld device. The issue appears to be a firmware or design limitation of the infotainment system, not a defect with the phone. Using wired carplay resolves the issue, but wireless carplay as advertised consistently blocks cellular data. I am filing this complaint to report a persistent connectivity and safety problem that affects all users of wireless carplay on this vehicle model. The inability to access real-time navigation and traffic data while driving is a clear distraction and could contribute to unsafe driving conditions.

An electrical component related to the vehicle's rear sliding glass window and rear defroster malfunctioned and overheated, causing smoke to fill the cabin of the truck as it was being driven down a busy highway. Immediately following the smoke, the rear window violently shattered due to overheating from the malfunction. This dangerous defect was known to exist in our model and year of truck, as documented in customer satisfaction program n192265660. This bulletin shows that gm knew about this exact issue, yet allowed the vehicle to be sold and driven. This incident was incredibly dangerous and easily could have caused my wife (who was driving) to crash the vehicle due to limited sight and distraction. My wife called me following this incident and was terrified and confused. There were no warnings, signs, or symptoms suggesting an issue with the electrical component until the incident occurred. We immediately contacted gm, who advised we were not permitted to get the vehicle fixed until they completed their inspection; however, it has been nearly a week and no inspection has occurred at this time.

See all problems of the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 🔎.

This complaint is submitted as additional information related to a previously filed safety complaint for the same vehicle and incident. Since the original submission, general motors product assistance claims verbally denied responsibility, refused to inspect the vehicle, refused to provide written confirmation of their denial, and ceased responding to emails and calls. Gm previously instructed me not to repair the vehicle and promised a rental vehicle and tow, neither of which were provided. The vehicle remains unsafe to drive due to smoke intrusion and shattered rear glass and has been left exposed to freezing and rainy conditions. This incident appears consistent with a known rear window defroster thermal defect similar to gm customer satisfaction program n192265660. Gm’s refusal to inspect or mitigate increases safety risk.

Check engine turned on and at the same time the vehicle turned into safety mode abruptly, it slowed down to 10 miles an hour while on the high way and receiving a message stating that the "engine power reduced", the issue was presented to the dealership and they believe to be fixed with a sensor issue, the light came back on a few days after the initial repair and once again the engine lost power while driving the vehicle, the vehicle was then taken back to the dealership for repair once again, both times I mentioned the service bulletin, which they did not consider in their repair, stating that the issue was specific for a code (which all codes present are in the service bulletin) the 2nd repair was done on a actuator, which they stated should fix the issue, and did not, a 3rd time the vehicle lost power while hauling a trailer, this time I brought up the concern of them not reviewing the service bulletin, this time they confirmed that the service bulletin was the issue causing the check engine light (gm service bulletin 21-na-149) now they are looking to slowly start repairing the issue and wait for the check engine light to turn on again to then go back and forth and review step by step the instructions in the bulletin.

Rear window defrosted heated up so hi my window exploded.

See all problems of the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 🔎.

Dear sir or madam, I am writing to formally report a safety-related defect involving the power unlatching tailgate switch on my Chevrolet 1500 truck and to request that this make and model be added to the current safety recall affecting chevy hd vehicles. The power tailgate unlatching switch malfunctioned and would repeatedly attempt to open and close the tailgate while the truck was parked. On one occasion, this occurred continuously overnight. The following morning, my key fob was completely unresponsive, and the truck had zero battery life. The battery would not accept a charge, and the vehicle had to be towed to the dealership. Upon inspection, the dealership confirmed that the battery had been fully depleted and permanently damaged due to a short in the power tailgate switch. The faulty switch continuously drew power as it attempted to actuate the tailgate, ultimately destroying the battery. This failure created a serious safety and reliability concern, leaving me stranded with a completely inoperable vehicle. Given that this issue resulted from an electrical short and caused total battery failure, I believe it represents a significant safety defect. Based on the similarity to issues addressed in the current chevy hd safety recall, I strongly believe this make and model should be included in that recall. I respectfully request that this matter be reviewed and addressed to prevent other owners from experiencing the same hazardous situation. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I look forward to your response. Sincerely, charles senn.

See all problems of the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 🔎.

While driving home from work the truck displayed numerous trouble codes including ebc failure, braking failure, traction control failure and trailer brake failure as well as vehicle governed to 42 mph. I took it to the dealership and they checked all of the braking system and could not find any issues. They reset the codes, and changed all 4 pads and rotors as all 4 wheels were 1/32 out of true as a precaution. I drove it home about 5 miles with no issues. The next morning I was on my way to work and the codes reappeared with me being governed to 62 mph. At the stop sign I had no braking at all. Pumping the brakes resulted in no braking or pressure in the pedal. Luckily there was no traffic and I was able to use a hill to stop. I turned around and went the mile back to my house and was unable to stop again ending up with the front end in my neighbors yard. I had the vehicle towed back to the dealership where they still have not found a cause or a solution to the issue.

See all problems of the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 🔎.

Same problem since 2024 on the silverado infotainment center goes black, radio cuts out. The dealer is hiding this problem from the buyer and not telling them. Gm has been working on this for 2 years and they can still sell the truck with an electrical problem. Lemon.

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet silverado. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, turned off, and unoccupied, the rear of the vehicle caught fire. The fire was initially extinguished by a maintenance worker, and the fire department later applied water to the area to prevent the fire from reigniting. The fire department was unable to determine the cause of the fire, and a fire report was not provided. The contact was unaware whether a police report was filed. The vehicle was not destroyed or towed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the rear wiring harness had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer also informed the contact that the rear bumper and tailgate were damaged as a result of the failure and would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

Vehicle has less then 700 miles. Upon driving vehicle, the dashboard started losing information, no speedometer. When I tried to pull the truck over to the side of the road, the power steering was lost. It was nearly impossible to turn the wheel, then the engine stopped. I was unable to turn on blinkers or hazard warning lights. When I put the vehicle in park to try a restart the engine would not turn over. The transmission was locked in park and unable to shift to neutral to try to push vehicle to safe spot. At this point I was blocking the road. Called for roadside assistance, two hours later vehicle was towed to Chevrolet dealership, were it is being assessed.

To whom it may concern, I am writing to formally file a complaint regarding my 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 diesel and to request immediate review and assistance from general motors. I purchased this vehicle from a gm dealership in 2024 with approximately 70,000 miles for roughly $42,000. The vehicle currently has approximately 121,000 miles. Since purchasing the vehicle, it has suffered major breakdowns approximately every three months, requiring repeated costly repairs and making the vehicle unreliable for regular use. Most notably, the vehicle experienced a full transmission failure at approximately 103,000 miles — just after the factory warranty expired, requiring complete transmission replacement at my expense. To date, I have spent nearly $20,000 in repairs, including but not limited •full transmission replacement •two alternator replacements •glow plug system failure •coolant control valve failure •engine control / computer module failure •transmission cooling system failures •ongoing electrical system issues •additional drivetrain and mechanical problems these are critical powertrain, electrical, and engine management components — not routine maintenance items. The repeated failure of such systems strongly suggests underlying manufacturing or design defects. The vehicle has been properly maintained and serviced, yet continues to experience serious and recurring defects well beyond what would be considered normal wear and tear for a modern diesel truck. At this point, my total investment in this vehicle exceeds $62,000, and I am left with a truck that I cannot trust and that has become financially unsustainable to own.

The component that failed was the wiring harness installed in the engine area. The harness was installed right next to a dip stick. The dip stick has a sharp metal piece welded to it and it punctured the harness cutting wires on the inside. This could have been a potential fire hazard. The problem was able to be reproduced, inspected and confirmed by a certified chevy mechanic at philips chevy in frankfort, IL. The mechanic also showed me the failure point on the vehicle upon a visit. The dashboard lights were flashing randomly, headlights were very dim which it very difficult to see, android auto stopped working and not able to use hands free, so that became a safety issue, cruise control stopped working, and was receiving errors for a failed fuel pump.

At 150 miles on the odemeter the tpm light came on I pulled off the highway, got out and checked all 4 tires. Not noticing any issues I got back on the highway and turned on the stereo. The speakers sounded like they were blown apart. Static and the sound of muffled vibrations. I drove to my intended destination and turned off the truck. After finishing my business at this location I started the truck and the tpm light was not iluminated. This is a hige safty issue. As a firefighter paramedic I have personally seen dead and mulated people that stoped on the highway and got out to check there vehicle and were struck by another vehicle. This issue is going to cause people to immeadiatly stop and get out of there vehicle thinking there is a flat tire. There is obviously a computer glitch in the 2026 cheverolet Silverado 1500 series.

While driving the vehicle the tailgate came open by itself. I had left my house and when I arrived at my friend’s house to pick him up the tailgate was down. I closed the tailgate and while driving a driver honked their horn to alert me that something was wrong. When I pulled off the road the tailgate had come open for a second time.

During an extreme cold event in interior alaska (–44°f), the vehicle experienced a sudden emissions?system failure that triggered an epa?mandated limp mode, limiting the vehicle to 5 mph on high?speed highways. This created an immediate life?safety hazard because it was impossible to maintain a safe speed or exit the roadway due to snow berms. Prior to the failure, the vehicle displayed “service emission system” warnings and multiple dtcs related to the reductant heaters and sensors. A dealership technician later confirmed a “burnt pin” at the reductant pump connector, consistent with thermal?electrical overload. This failure mode matches gm’s TSB 21?na?006, describing connector overheating in cold climates. After the repair, the vehicle continued to exhibit safety?critical symptoms, including harsh downshifts, delayed engagement, and jerking during deceleration, consistent with recall 26v083000 (rear?wheel lock?up risk). The vehicle also continues to emit an electrical burning odor in cold temperatures, consistent with recall n192206310 (block?heater fire risk). The only gm dealership in the region issued a “termination of business relationship,” preventing access to all recall and warranty repairs. This has created a 321?mile “service desert,” making it impossible to obtain federally mandated recall remedies. The vehicle remains unsafe to operate due to unresolved transmission, electrical, and propulsion issues.

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. While operating in negative (-41°f) degree winter conditions, the "service emission system" entered an epa-mandated speed limitation in limp mode messages were displayed. Dealer diagnostics confirmed dtc: p20b9 (heater control circuit open) and p20c1. The failure was identified as the melting of the diesel exhaust fluid (def) tank electrical connector due to undersized terminal pins overheating (joule heating). The contact stated that it was a latent design defect that posed a fire risk and a safety hazard due to sudden loss of motive power in arctic climates (-45°f). General motors acknowledged the defect in 2500hd models, special coverage: n212342980; but excluded the 1500 models. The failure mileage was 29,354.

Engine failure.

A week or two before I took my truck into decorah chevy isr because tailgate was going up and down all by itself while I was driving or parked without me by it. They said it was just the latch button . So they fixed it they said and still my blinker lights would just come on and then I hit a deer and my seatbelt did not latch and my airbags didn't deploy even though my app says they did. I'm wondering if all three are connected with electrical . Either way my air bags did not deploy and my truck has extensive damage and my seatbelt didn't lock ,.

I was driving down the road like normal then for a second smelled a burning smell then my back window (power sliding) drivers side just exploded and completely shattered.

See all problems of the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 🔎.

Tail gate has water intrusion and opens on it own. I was charge over $200 to have this issue looked at that I was told was a recall. Turns out my vehicle is not listed on the recall yet and was not advised before being charged.

Transmission/ignition. Can not lock vehicle and battery will die. When turning the ignition to off, dash message 'shift to park' appears. Must turn ignition on and off repeatedly to get it to go out. Dealership tried tightening a plug but it did not work.

The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The stated that while the vehicle was parked, the tailgate opened independently, and the tailgate was manually closed. The contact stated that the next time after stepping out the vehicle, the tailgate opened independently. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started the tailgate was down, and the hazard light flashed. Most recently, the vehicle failed to start. The contact realized that the battery had failed to function as intended. The contact associated that the failure was a possible short circuit from the tailgate. The contact disconnected the battery. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the tailgate switch had failed and caused the battery to drain. The vehicle remained at the dealer pending the repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.

What happened: in mid-December 2025, my 2020 Silverado 1500 (VIN: [xxx] ) suffered a catastrophic failure of the def tank assembly (p/n 84914535) at 29,354 miles—less than 30% of its warranted life. This is a latent design defect involving undersized terminal pins that suffer thermal degradation and melt the connector during high-amperage heater operation in arctic conditions (ref: gm TSB 21-na-006). Component availability: the failed assembly is held at the dealership. I have submitted a "part preservation request" to ensure it is available for forensic inspection by federal regulators. Safety risk: the failure triggers an epa-mandated "limp mode," initiating a software-forced reduction in speed. Unexpectedly losing speed on high-speed, icy alaskan highways—where roadside snowbanks prevent safe egress—creates an extreme risk of rear-end collisions. Furthermore, a vehicle restricted to 5 mph or rendered inoperable in temperatures of -30°f to -50°f poses a direct, life-threatening risk of cold-weather exposure in remote areas. Confirmation: failure was confirmed by lithia Chevrolet GMC of fairbanks on Jan 7, 2026. Gds2 diagnostic verified dtcs p20b9, p20c1, p205d, and p204c. Data was reviewed by the gm district manager of aftersales (dma) and gm customer assistance (case #[xxx]). Warning symptoms: check engine lamp and "service emission system" message appeared in mid-Dec 2025, followed by a "speed limited" countdown. The electrical disconnect was abrupt due to terminal pin melting, as documented in my forensic engineering report. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that the tailgate was constantly opening unintendedly. The failure also occurred while the vehicle was parked overnight, causing the battery to drain. Additionally, the contact stated that the rearview camera was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the tailgate switch and rearview camera had failed due to water intrusion. The dealer replaced the tailgate switch; however, the rearview camera was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.

Was taking an exit car felt like lose control and got hit with the sign pole on the exit. I have been complaining for the safety reasons and the location and other issues in car to onstar and chevy for months. Went to freeport chevy dealer and changed oil, when I bought the car pre-approved but the when I went for the service they said no oil was changed since the car was new. And I have been paying for all the warranty and extended service but they said all oil change and others will cost approx $3200. They changed the oil but I have been seeing on the chevy app filter was never changed and the car didn’t feel same after the service.

Fuel pump control module failed and vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Cell [xxx] truck engine shut down twice on interstate 10 eastbound in TX at interstate speeds, in heavy traffic causing dangerous threat to my family and I while powerlessly navigating between high speed traffic and 18 wheelers to exit road independent service center?yes and independent. Code read on truck's computer confirmed a failed fuel pump control module the vehicle or component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? there were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

While driving at highway speeds, multiple warning lights illuminated on the dashboard at the same time, including engine and powertrain warnings. The vehicle suddenly began operating abnormally, with loss of power and unstable driving behavior, making it unsafe to continue driving. This same issue has occurred multiple times previously and the vehicle has been taken to an authorized Chevrolet dealership for repairs on three separate occasions. Each time, repairs were performed, but the problem returned. The most recent incident occurred while driving on the highway and created a serious safety risk to the driver and other vehicles. The vehicle is not safe to drive.

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the instrument cluster started flickering, and the vehicle stalled. During several failures, the check engine warning light illuminated, and during other failures, there was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated on several occasions that the vehicle restarted independently. The failure was an intermittent failure, but was a recurring failure. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.