Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while in a drive-through, he noticed a smoky odor. The contact stated that he looked through the rearview mirror and noticed that smoke was coming from the rear window of the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle and inspected the rear window. The contact noticed an inch-long fire at the bottom of the rear window. The contact was able to blow the fire away. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle, the rear window shattered. No warning lights were illuminated. A fire report was not filed. A police report was not filed. There was no injury sustained. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer referred the contact to the dealer for the vehicle inspection. …
Was driving for 25 minutes in the truck. Temperature outside was around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. I did not know the rear defroster was on. My son who was in the back seat smelled smoke and said that the truck was on fire. I pulled to the side of the road and looked in the back and could see the rear defroster on drivers side was glowing and emitting smoke. I looked at rear defrost light and it was on. I turned the rear defroster off to prevent any more current from going through the wire. Once we were sure there was no more smoke or fire we got back in the vehicle. About 300 seconds later the window shattered. If my son was not in the back seat and smelled smoke the back seat could have caught on fire. I called the dealer and they stated no recalls for my vehicle. There is an article from Canada describing what happened to my truck. …
While driving the vehicle I turned the rear window defrosted on. The rear window started smoking after 5 minutes of turning on rear defroster and filled the vehicle cabin with smoke. I immediately turned the rear defroster off and pulled off the side of the road and opened all the doors to air it out. I then went back in and turned the defroster back on to verify the rear window defroster was the issue. It instantly started smoking again and was scalding to the touch of the bottom right of the sliding window. I turned defroster off and waited about 20 minutes where I felt that it had cooled. After some research I found the TSB provided by GM. TSB # N192265660. I contacted GM customer service and they said there is nothing they can do and it will need to be fixed out of pocket. …
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle was remotely started. The contact's husband entered the vehicle and turned on the rear defrost. The contact stated that her seven-month-old infant was seated on the passenger side rear seat. The contact's husband noticed a burning odor on the interior of the vehicle and smoke was coming from the rear passenger's side rear window. The vehicle was turned off and the infant was removed from the vehicle immediately. The contact stated that she had noticed the odor of burning odor in the interior of the vehicle shortly after the vehicle was purchased. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that the vehicle was scheduled for a service appointment in several weeks. …
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving or while the vehicle was parked and occupied, while depress the horn, the horn failed to operate. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, but the failure persisted. The contact stated that the failure started in 2023. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed and determined that the horn had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. The contact stated that the vehicle had been repaired once. The horn was replaced the first time; however, with the current failure the horn was not yet replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 155,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving from a complete stop, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission was overheating. The dealer also informed the contact that the wiring harness and the transmission fluid temperature sensor needed to be replaced under a Technical Service Bulletin. The vehicle was not repaired; however, the check engine warning light was reset. The contact referenced GM Recall Number: N192291660. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 on January 16, 2026. The contact stated that while an independent mechanic was attempting to repair the engine, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy with the vehicle. The vehicle was a private sale. The contact called the private dealer and requested the money back that was paid to purchase the vehicle, and the dealer declined the request. The contact called the State Attorney General's Office and was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. At the time of the purchase, the mileage was approximately 182,000; it was later discovered that the correct mileage was 192,393.
I went outside and started my truck as I normally do. After a few seconds of the rear defroster being on I heard a sizzling noise behind me. I turned around and could see white smoke coming out and filling the truck w smoke. I quickly turned the rear defroster off and then the truck. The whole component has melted for the rear deforster and rear power window. The truck has less that 60,000 mi. After a quick Google search I learned this is apparently a known issue. This is an absolute safety hazard and needs to be addressed immediately. I shouldn't have to pay for a repair on the electrical wiring or faulty parts that were installed by the manufacturer.
I am filing a complaint regarding an electrical fire in the junction box of my 2017 Chevy Silverado 1500. The issue began when the front passenger side marker light would not turn off. I disconnected the battery overnight to troubleshoot the problem. However, when I reconnected the battery the next morning, an electrical fire occurred in the fuse junction box under the hood. At the same time, the engine unexpectedly attempted to turn over and start on its own. I immediately disconnected the battery again to stop the fire. Upon inspection, I found that several wires, plugs, and the top half of the junction box had sustained significant damage.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and slowing down, the vehicle would suddenly lose motive power and stall. The contact indicated that the failure only occurred while making either a right or left turn. The contact stated that during the failure, a message to raise or lower the window was displayed. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle would operate as designed. The failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 15,000.
Electrical complaints in other Silverado 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
NHTSA has 123 complaints about the electrical system of the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 17% of the model year's 714 complaints. The component named most often is integrated trailer brake control (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, though it has 7 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 36,000 miles, and 38% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 12 fires and 2 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.