Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Problems & Worst Years

Across ten model years of complaint data, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 tells two stories: a brake era and a powertrain era. The brake era covers 2015–2017. The 2015 truck (489 total occurrences) is dominated by brake vacuum pump failure (207 reports) and a brake pedal that becomes hard at low speeds (185, at safety severity). The 2016 file spreads 401 occurrences across 62 problems but keeps the same theme — multiple separately titled complaints of a stiff, hard-to-press pedal at low speed — while adding transmission failure (37) at the top. For 2017 (354 occurrences), low-speed brake failure leads outright at 150 safety-severity reports, with transmission jerking and hard shifting (52) rising behind it. Recall coverage in this era includes 16V069, 18V578, 19V645, and 19V761.

The worst single year in the file is 2019: 543 occurrences and five safety-severity problems, led by braking system warning lights (208) and transmission shuddering and jerking (168), both at safety severity, plus electrical failures affecting vehicle controls (41). Campaigns 19V888, 19V889, and 20V055 apply. From 2020 forward, the engine takes over: engine knocking and seizure tops 2020 (90 safety-severity reports, alongside transmission failure at 57), 2021 pairs transmission jerking (104) with a tailgate that opens unexpectedly (95, safety severity) and engine lifter failure (14), and 2022 logs check-engine limp mode (76) and engine coolant control valve malfunctions (62), both safety severity. The 2023 and 2024 files are smaller (160 and 153) but engine-heavy — failures during operation, loss of propulsion, stalls, and transmission valve body failures. Late-era recalls include 24V674, 24V797, 25V274, and 26V083; 2018 is the comparative quiet spot at 163 occurrences.

The buying translation: on 2015–2017, test the brake pedal hard at parking-lot speeds; on 2019, take the warning-light and shudder question seriously; on 2020–2024, listen for knock, feel for harsh shifting, and confirm every applicable recall is closed. These are owner-filed NHTSA complaints, not measured failure rates — newer trucks have had less time to accumulate them — and a pre-purchase inspection with service records beats model-year reputation every time.