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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
25,297 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2015 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2015 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #24

Jun 182021

Silverado 3500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2015 Chevy 3500 hd has 65, xxx miles on it currently. Truck periodically and usually randomly displays a "service trailer brake" message which constantly goes off when nothing is being towed. Now about 1 in 15 times driven will it not display this message. Ive had the towing brake module replaced and that did not fix this problem. I'm at my wits end with this truck. Chevrolet / GMC need to step up and make this widely known problem a recall. Thanks

- Vinton, IA, USA

problem #23

Jan 022024

Silverado 3500

  • miles
As I am driving I am routinely warned about the trailer brake system with or without a trailer hooked up. It is distracting and could cause potential danger while driving. It has been going on for some time and progressively getting worse.

- Ridgecrest, CA, USA

problem #22

Jan 042023

Silverado 3500

  • miles
There are several problems I-??ve noticed some I fix myself! First of all, I was driving my truck at night on the country road and all of a sudden it starts losing power shut down on me on a little road with no pull over spots in Kentucky and just dies completely. My service charging system light came on. I worked on this forever. I noticed it. All of my grounds were completely nasty and pretty much not making contact. I fix the ones that I can find only two I know there-??s more, I-??ve changed the generator three times and the battery once, the problem happened again and again and again the only way I can stop my truck from dying is when that light come on if I got out and I took the negative wire off of my battery and then put it back on it would run again for about another three days and then if I didn-??t see it, I-??m stranded very dangerous. Finally I took it to my mechanic up the road and he basically did the same things. I did something about a door switch also though not another battery another generator and he added new battery cables so far it hasn-??t done it again. Now my truck when starting to slow down, it will vibrate and shake you to death. You hit a little vibration in the road say a rumble strip. This thing will shake you through the roof in about make you run into another Vehicle, also, it-??s hard to fill up the gas if you have to turn the gas nozzle almost straight up and down if you-??re low on gas to make it except it or you-??ll be sitting there for 30 minutes putting gas in your truck. I noticed also all of my wheels are having rough spots on them everywhere and they are rusting into. Another thing that happens this truck eats breaks for breakfast. I have put in the past two years at least have the change the brakes, calipers rotors and all twice a year sometimes three times a year. Also, the trailer brake system light comes on nonstop along with a service stability track on when happen. No Wasey no cruise control. I am a masterelect. Maintain truck it

- Lancaster, KY, USA

problem #21

Jan 312022

Silverado 3500

  • 50,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that he was able to restart the vehicle after 12-15 minutes. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring intermittently. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the instrument panel turned black temporarily. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start later that day. The contact was able to restart the vehicle the next day. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that he would need to pay a repair fee as his VIN was not included in any recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V265000 (Electrical System). The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

- Ocean Township, NJ, USA

problem #20

Sep 052020

Silverado 3500

  • 43,000 miles
Engine loss power while pulling a loaded horse trailer around 10,000 pounds. Error message saying power has been reduced. The top speed while on a hill was abiut 15 miles an hour.tractor traillers had to manuver around me due to the low speed on an expressway with 70 mile an hour speed limit. The dealer said cause was fraying of the wiring harness probably around the turbo. After research on the internet, I found this was a frequent problem. Truck only has 43,000 miles on it. I have requested the old wiring harness for inspection.

- Lexington, TN, USA

problem #19

Jan 012015

Silverado 3500

  • miles
I never received a recall on my Chevrolet truck which is the same year make and model as this one. Took it to a dealership and had it fixed. They said it wasn't recalled so we had to pay the bill. Isn't their a way to find the recall and get reimbursed for the repair bill and all the associated costs? we have called and made a complaint to NHTSA. Nothing came of it. It still is a safety defect that should be repaired with no cost to the customers.

- Aurora, CO, USA

problem #18

Dec 092019

Silverado 3500

  • 90,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I would notice white smoke coming out under the hood of my vehicle. I would mainly notice it when I would turn on the ac. This would happen either parked or in motion. I would open the hood and the smoke would only last a few minutes, which caused the alternator to catch on fire.

- Victorville, CA, USA

problem #17

Mar 132019

Silverado 3500

  • 125,200 miles
I remote started my 2015 Silverado 3500hd duramax. After about 5 minutes of idle time I began driving the truck. About 3/4 miles down the road I detected the smell of something burning or very hot. My first though was it was coming from the outside. Before I could figure out what was burning heavy white/gray smoke starting exiting from lower weather stripping on the rear center sliding window. Before I could take action I heard a loud popping sound. I looked back again and the rear passenger side window was entirely shattered. At this time I killed the rear window defrost and the smoke quite. I was traveling at roughly 20-30mph on a paved city street. It was 35 degrees with a light mist and fog.

- Turtle Lake, WI, USA

problem #16

Sep 272017

Silverado 3500

  • 21,500 miles
Randomly with no needed instance the instrument cluster reads service trailer break. With or without a trailer connected. With the trailer connected the trailer breaks fails to operate causing a very serious safety concern. After pulling to the side of the road as safely as possible with an approximate of 20K pounds with no brakes on the trailer and turning the truck on and then back off the brakes resume as normal. Other service prompts randomly appear on the info cluster on this particular vehicle, but none as serious as this particular one. Such as service front camera, service stabilitrac, and service def system. While these may all be related to the same cause I feel my life and the lives of the general public are being gambled with while the cause is guessed at. I have taken my truck in for these related issues for a total of three times now. Each time I am sent back out to be the test [xxx] in this potential [xxx] trap. The videos were to big to upload to this form. But I have videos of this issue with and without a trailer connected available upon request. Please excuse my profanity! parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Weeki Wachee, FL, USA

problem #15

Jul 182017

Silverado 3500

  • 35,000 miles
Check trailer wiring warning comes on and chime sounds every few seconds. Check trailer tail lights, brake, both turns signals, and use manual brake lever. Every thing works fine. Then it quit after two hours. Took it in to dealer in terrace, bc, ca. Was told that vehicle was working fine but the trailer plug was not a blade type and that was the problem. Was also told that I did't have trailer brakes when the warning to check trailer wiring comes on. My 6800 mile trip in May 2017 with the same trailer the check trailer warning never came on. On or 3800 mile trip to british columbia it was a continual problem off and on. I have since put a blade plug on the trailer but have not used it. In November 2016 while pulling a cargo trailer I had the same problem. Took it in to Chevy dealer in medford, or and was told I had a bad ground on the trailer. I had just rewired the trailer with all new led lights, but I checked all wiring and never found anything. This trailer does"T have a blade plug on it. I haven"T used trailer since. I also have a 12,000# boat that I tow and it has the same plug as the others. I haven't had any problem with it. It does have surge brakes. These three trailers that I have gave me no problems when I towed them with my 2003 chev 2500hd Silverado. This seems to be a common problem with the new Chevy trucks by the number of posts on the internet.

- Central Point, OR, USA

problem #14

Feb 112016

Silverado 3500

  • 125,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving on us highway 12 going approx. 35 mph when the rear end differential lockup and caused me to slid off the road in a turn that also had ice while towing a fifth wheel the accident caused damage to the right front fender and the right rear and right side of the 8 foot bed along with the windshield and a front drive line for 4 wheel drive I have had multiple issues with the front drive line breaking under normal conditions as well I also have video of the rear end differential moving from side to side to show the movement and show what caused the rear end to lock up it had moved an 1/4 of and inch to 1/2 inch in either direction.

- Rigby, ID, USA

problem #13

Dec 312015

Silverado 3500

  • 11,214 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado. While driving approximately 10 mph, the four wheel drive was activated and the front end of the vehicle locked up. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where the cause of the failure was undetermined. The technician stated that the computer system had to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 11,214.

- Marion, OH, USA

problem #12

Nov 022015

Silverado 3500

  • 3,512 miles
Ignition switch and key came out of steering column while driving. When I pulled off road and parked, the ignition switch internals and key came off in my hand. Not able to shut engine off. Called onstar, they could not shut off engine. Truck was flatbedded to dealer while still running. Risk of steering wheel locking causing loss of control. Steering wheel makes clattering noise not connected to wheels at times. Instruments dimming and flashing when turning wheel at times

- Hudson, NH, USA

problem #11

Nov 162015

Silverado 3500

  • 15,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado. While driving approximately 55 mph, the radio and all the warning indicators on the instrument panel failed to work. The next day, the radio was not working and the vehicle would not start. After a while, the vehicle was driven to a dealer, but they could not duplicate the failure. The dealer kept the vehicle for evaluation. The approximate failure mileage was 15,000.

- Bloomington, IN, USA

problem #10

Oct 052015

Silverado 3500

  • 16,400 miles
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.

- Moberly, MO, USA

problem #9

Aug 062015

Silverado 3500

  • 37,000 miles
Use this truck for commercial purposes to haul trailers. Truck has turned off while driving 4 times. Three while driving with trailer when it hits rough road or under construction road and takes hard jolt to front end. First you are driving, then you hit bump or dip in road and you notice you have no steering, when you look down you notice whole display is shut down ( like it was never on) with no warning lights displayed. You have to put truck into neutral while driving and restart. Last time it happened had 30 foot trailer on truck and were in a downhill position with a turn and no steering capability ( no antilock or trailer brakes because they need electricity to operate)and 300 ft from going off embankment and then dropping 100ft into a gully. The trucks whole electrical system turns off shutting down everything in the truck. Own 7 trucks and have owned 20 plus trucks over the years. I have had design flaw issues and just fluke issues that just happen to that one truck. This really seems more like a design flaw, either in ignition with their new keys ( have a 2012, this ignition is defiantly different) or the electrical system, or maybe they added some sensor that shuts truck off if in a front end impact. If I am right this will kill someone, the truck gives you no warning before turning off and most people are unaware they can shift a car into neutral and restart while driving and since it has happened while pulling trailers this is very dangerous not just for the driver and passages of the vehicle but every other car or truck on the roadway with it. Example of this, the last time when we could not steer and could not go with the turn of the road, there was a car in the second lane and the trailer went into that lane, the car had to make evasive manuviers to avoid impact with trailer.

- Firebaugh, CA, USA

problem #8

Dec 312014

Silverado 3500 8-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 8,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado hd. While driving approximately 55 mph over a bump in the road, the engine stalled. The failure recurred four times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000. Updated 11/12/15

- Firebaugh, CA, USA

problem #7

Jun 162015

Silverado 3500

  • 7,891 miles
A warning message comes on the dash telling the driver there is a issue with the trailer brakes, or wiring system. The trailer brakes become inoperable when this comes on. We have contacted GM with the issue, both at the dealer level and at the corporate level; and they insist it is a problem with our trailers. The same trailers are used with older Chevrolet trucks without incident. We have also been informed by GM that the 2015 Silverado 2500's are equipped with a more sensitive trailering system. When the connection becomes wet during inclement weather, or the truck hits a bump; and the connector loses contact momentarily the message will illuminate. Resulting in the loss of trailer brakes. This is a serious safety issue.

- Irwin, PA, USA

problem #6

Feb 252015

Silverado 3500

  • 1,422 miles
A warning message comes on the dash telling the driver there is a issue with the trailer brakes, or wiring system. The trailer brakes become inoperable when this comes on. We have contacted GM with the issue, both at the dealer level and at the corporate level; and they insist it is a problem with our trailers. The same trailers are used with older Chevrolet trucks without incident. We have also been informed by GM that the 2015 Silverado 2500's are equipped with a more sensitive trailering system. When the connection becomes wet during inclement weather, or the truck hits a bump; and the connector loses contact momentarily the message will illuminate. Resulting in the loss of trailer brakes. This is a serious safety issue.

- Irwin, PA, USA

problem #5

Feb 272015

Silverado 3500

  • 105 miles
A warning message comes on the dash telling the driver there is a issue with the trailer brakes, or wiring system. The trailer brakes become inoperable when this comes on. We have contacted GM with the issue, both at the dealer level and at the corporate level; and they insist it is a problem with our trailers. The same trailers are used with older Chevrolet trucks without incident. We have also been informed by GM that the 2015 Silverado 2500's are equipped with a more sensitive trailering system. When the connection becomes wet during inclement weather, or the truck hits a bump; and the connector loses contact momentarily the message will illuminate. Resulting in the loss of trailer brakes. This is a serious safety issue.

- Irwin, PA, USA

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