Chevrolet Silverado 3500 problems by model year

Updated Oct 11, 2026 from NHTSA data · How we count

NHTSA has 315 owner complaints and 42 recalls on file for the Chevrolet Silverado 3500 (2006–2026). The 2024 Silverado 3500 has the most serious complaints, most often about electrical system.

Complaints: 315
Recalls: 42
Model years: 21
Worst year: 2024

Complaints by model year

NHTSA complaints per Chevrolet Silverado 3500 model year. Click a bar for details.

Newer model years have had less time on the road, so they naturally have fewer complaints. Compare a year against its neighbors rather than against brand-new models.

Worst Chevrolet Silverado 3500 years to buy

Ranked by our severity-weighted complaint score (crashes, fires and injuries count extra — how it works).

2024 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 — 50 complaints, 2 crashes; top problem: Electrical System
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 — 42 complaints, 1 crash, 1 fire; top problem: Transmission & Drivetrain
2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 — 41 complaints, 1 crash, 1 fire; top problem: Electrical System
2022 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 — 27 complaints, 2 crashes, 1 fire; top problem: Body & Structure
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 — 19 complaints, 3 crashes; top problem: Brakes

Fewest serious complaints among years at least 3 years old: 2009 (1 complaints).

Every Chevrolet Silverado 3500 model year

Year	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Recalls	Top problem
2026 Silverado 3500	2	0	0	0	3	Body & Structure
2025 Silverado 3500	12	0	2	0	1	Electrical System
2024 Silverado 3500	50	2	0	1	3	Electrical System
2023 Silverado 3500	16	0	0	0	1	Transmission & Drivetrain
2022 Silverado 3500	27	2	1	0	3	Body & Structure
2021 Silverado 3500	41	1	1	0	5	Electrical System
2020 Silverado 3500	42	1	1	0	8	Transmission & Drivetrain
2019 Silverado 3500	20	1	0	1	7	Engine
2018 Silverado 3500	11	0	0	0	6	Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
2017 Silverado 3500	7	0	0	0	6	Body & Structure
2016 Silverado 3500	19	3	0	1	7	Brakes
2015 Silverado 3500	27	0	1	0	7	Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
2014 Silverado 3500	2	0	0	0	3	Airbags
2013 Silverado 3500	11	0	0	0	4	Transmission & Drivetrain
2012 Silverado 3500	9	0	0	0	4	Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
2011 Silverado 3500	7	0	0	0	5	Transmission & Drivetrain
2010 Silverado 3500	1	1	0	1	5	Airbags
2009 Silverado 3500	1	0	0	0	6	Airbags
2008 Silverado 3500	2	0	0	2	4	Electrical System
2007 Silverado 3500	4	0	1	0	4	Steering
2006 Silverado 3500	4	1	0	2	0	Wheels & Tires

Most common Chevrolet Silverado 3500 problem areas (all years)

Transmission & Drivetrain
71 complaints
Electrical System
70 complaints
Brakes
47 complaints
Engine
47 complaints
Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
44 complaints
Body & Structure
31 complaints
Airbags
17 complaints
Wheels & Tires
15 complaints
Steering
15 complaints
Driver Assistance & Safety Tech
10 complaints

Complaint trend

Complaints about the Chevrolet Silverado 3500 received by NHTSA each month.

Chevrolet Silverado 3500 recalls

Recall 26V611000Sep 24, 20261,559 vehiclesModel years 2016
Risk: A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
Recall 26V325000May 21, 20264,315 vehiclesModel years 2019
Risk: A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
Recall 26V166000Mar 19, 20262,819 vehiclesModel years 2019
Risk: A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
Recall 26V129000Mar 5, 202611,807 vehiclesModel years 2025–2026
Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Recall 26V114000Feb 26, 20265,861 vehiclesModel years 2026
Risk: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Recall 26V083000Feb 12, 20261,055 vehiclesModel years 2020
Risk: Rear wheel lock up increases the risk of a crash.
Recall 25V815000Nov 25, 20253,408 vehiclesModel years 2026
Risk: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Recall 25V432000Jun 26, 20251,658 vehiclesModel years 2019
Risk: A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increases the risk of injury or crash.
Recall 24V894000Nov 26, 2024131,231 vehiclesModel years 2024
Risk: An unlatched tailgate may open and result in a loss of unsecured cargo, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Recall 24V797000Oct 24, 2024463,295 vehiclesModel years 2020–2022
Risk: Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
Recall 24V756000Oct 10, 20242,061 vehiclesModel years 2018–2019
Risk: A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Recall 24V060000Feb 1, 2024570,434 vehiclesModel years 2020–2024
Risk: An unlatched tailgate may open while driving and result in a loss of unsecured cargo, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Recall 23V549000Aug 3, 20233,893 vehiclesModel years 2024
Risk: A steering arm that disconnects may result in a total loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Recall 23V047000Feb 2, 202322,132 vehiclesModel years 2017–2019
Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Recall 21V758000Sep 29, 20213,241 vehiclesModel years 2021–2022
Risk: Water in the BPMV may cause an electrical short circuit and increase the risk of fire.
Recall 21V504000Jul 1, 2021410,019 vehiclesModel years 2015–2016
Risk: A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Recall 21V496000Jul 1, 2021338,020 vehiclesModel years 2017–2019
Risk: An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Recall 21V051000Feb 5, 2021284,645 vehiclesModel years 2012
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Recall 21V050000Feb 5, 20212,641,272 vehiclesModel years 2009–2011
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Recall 21V052000Feb 5, 2021557,023 vehiclesModel years 2009
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Recall 21V053000Feb 5, 2021692,526 vehiclesModel years 2009–2013
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Recall 21V054000Feb 5, 20211,778,128 vehiclesModel years 2010–2014
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Recall 20V811000Dec 23, 2020470 vehiclesModel years 2021
Risk: If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Recall 20V792000Dec 17, 2020624,216 vehiclesModel years 2020–2021
Risk: If a seat-belt bracket is not secured, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the front-row center seat position, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Recall 20V736000Nov 25, 20209,279 vehiclesModel years 2015
Risk: If the end cap separates from the inflator, the compressed gas will escape and the end cap can be propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.

Other Chevrolet models

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. Methodology