Brake complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 25% | — |
| 2024 | 12 | 24% | — |
| 2022 | 4 | 15% | — |
| 2021 | 5 | 12% | 35,000 miles |
| 2020 | 7 | 17% | 23,000 miles |
| 2019 | 3 | 14% | — |
| 2018 | 1 | 5% | — |
| 2016 | 10 | 20% | 16,000 miles |
| 2015 | 10 | 19% | 8,000 miles |
| 2013 | 1 | 4% | 70,000 miles |
| 2012 | 1 | 4% | 120,000 miles |
| 2011 | 2 | 7% | 116,000 miles |
| 2009 | 1 | 10% | 6,000 miles |
| 2008 | 1 | 3% | 0 miles |
| 2007 | 4 | 10% | 82,000 miles |
| 2006 | 17 | 33% | 80,000 miles |
| 2005 | 17 | 37% | 55,000 miles |
| 2004 | 21 | 51% | 68,000 miles |
| 2003 | 24 | 57% | 85,000 miles |
| 2002 | 23 | 46% | 42,000 miles |
| 2001 | 37 | 51% | 72,000 miles |
| 2000 | 38 | 48% | 58,000 miles |
| 1999 | 22 | 47% | 28,000 miles |
| 1998 | 24 | 36% | 59,000 miles |
| 1997 | 26 | 43% | 50,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
This truck was parked on a job site, on a flat parking lot over blacktop, doing a regen for the 5th time in just a few days. The truck had 4,000 miles on it. When it completed the regen, we shut the truck off. Within 15 minutes the truck was fully engulfed in flames. A fire investigator looked at it and determined the fire started in the engine bay, below the master cylinder. He said this was a GM problem. As this truck was a replacement truck, for another broken down truck, we were outside the auto coverage on our insurance. The business property is covering the tool loss, and said it isnt worth going after GM as they make it impossible. I know this isnt the only vehicle this has happened to, and they simply refuse to even answer. I want to file a formal complaint against GM, and want them to cover the loss, the loss of use. …
We were towing our 2025 Brinkley Z3100 Fifth Wheel and had a complete loss of trailer brakes with no warning or notification during a trip to and from the tennessee mountains from Florida. Had we not noticed the poor stopping ability it would have been an issue on any downhill grades as the trailer is in excess of 14,000 lbs. We stopped disconnected and reconnected the 7 pin connector and brakes were restored. This happened 4 times. We have made an appointment with the service department at Davis Chevrolet in Gainesville Florida however the service writer (Paul) has already indicated that he feels it is a trailer problem with the interaction of the trailer. Internet searches show this is a common problem with the GM Products and a Service Bullitin has been issued for years 2023-2024. Ours is a 2025 with the identical issues. …
When driving my truck and towing a trailer which has elec. over hyd. brakes and trying to stop. My truck will disable my brakes on my trailer, which may weigh 3+ times the weight of my truck. GM had a recall on the truck brake module which fixed my problem. Then l took my truck back for an oil change a few months later and they said that there is a open recall on the brake module (NEWER UPDATE) which once again caused my brake issues again with the newer recall. l have opened up a complaint with GM and they say take it to a GM dealer. The dealer checks the truck out and says there is no problem with the truck. They tell me that l need to install a module on my trailer ,which l did early on with the problem. l did own a 2017 chevy and pulled that trailer with NO issues. The trailer dealer hooked the trailer to a 2018 GMC and a 2016 Dodge pick-up. …
I was towing my 36 ft 5th wheel home from my storage place when the engine stopped. I had no brakes or power steering. I was coming up to a stop sign when this occurred so fortunately I was only moving about 15 mph. I was able to stop the truck and trailer by using the 5th wheel braking system without any damage to vehicle or other property. Once I regained my composure I tried to start the truck. All the dash lights were on but it would not start. The digital display kept showing Service ECM & Service StabiliTrak. I had the truck towed to the dealer where it is right now. They have been unable to replicate the issue and have no suggested fix at this time. I had no prior warning messages or symptoms of the problem. All of this happened Sunday April 5, 2024. The truck is a 2024 and I bought it new, picked it up November 30, 2023. Current mileage is 3,523. …
I was following a vehicle at 3-4 car lengths at 35 MPH. The vehicle in front made an aggressive stop and although I immediately saw the incident, I could not stop in time with a full panic stop by pressing the brakes hard to the floor. My brakes felt greasy and even though I had enough separation, the truck did not decelerate much. I felt the anti-lock mechanism but it did not seem to slow the vehicle.
The braking system is very weak given the towing and load rating on the truck. Emergency stopping is at times questionable. It seems there is almost no braking from the front axle of the truck. In 80000 miles the front brakes are still over 75% pad left with the rear brakes now being on the second set. I have had the dealership Chevrolet of Canton look into this and they tell me that is how this trick is designed to work. This is the first truck I have ever owned that used the rear brakes more 4 times faster than the front brakes. This is an issue that GM needs to look into.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and attempting to depress the brake pedal, there was an abnormal sound coming from the brakes. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the brakes were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The local dealer advised the contact that it was a common manufacturer defect and that she needed to wait until parts became available to replace the brakes. The contact stated that the local dealer had not returned her call. The contact reached out to the local dealer recently and was informed that the vehicle was no longer under warranty and that the brakes could not be replaced free of charge. The contact also stated that while turning to the left or right, there was an abnormal sound coming from the tires. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and extended to the floorboard, and the vehicle almost crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The contact later discovered that the rear driver's side brake pad had been ejected from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. Additionally, the contact stated that the transmission erroneously shifted out of 4-WD while driving. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 49,000. The VIN was not available.
Related recalls (3)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Electric › Control module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, and Sierra 3500 vehicles with electronic brake control modules (EBCM) replaced during vehicle assembly.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from other structures until the recall repair is completed. Dealers will replace the BPMV assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 20, 2021.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Pedals and linkages
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, 1500 Crew Cab Special Service, Tahoe Police Pursuit/Special Service, GMC Sierra 2500, and 3500 vehicles. The brake pedal pivot nut may loosen, causing the brake pedal to be loose or inoperative.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will add adhesive to the nut and reinstall the nut with increased tightness, free of charge. The recall began October 3, 2018.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Pedals and linkages
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500 heavy duty trucks manufactured October 1, 2013, to February 1, 2016, 2015-2016 Chevrolet Tahoe Police Pursuit Vehicles (PPV) manufactured March 1, 2014, to February 1, 2016, and 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 heavy…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will add adhesive to the brake pedal pivot nut and reinstall with an increased torque, free of charge. The recall began on March 14, 2016.
NHTSA investigations
Rear axle separation from vehicle
The single consumer complaint received by NHTSA reported an incident in which application of the service brakes of the subject vehicle precipitated an unforewarned loss of vehicle control as the left rear axle separated from the vehicle.inspection of the vehicle following the incident disclosed that the left rear dual wheels had jammed into the fender well as the axle separated from the left leaf spring assembly.the…
Hydraulic pump shaft failures
The preliminary evaulation is being upgraded.during the ea odi will limitits investigation to only those vehicles equipped with a hydro-boost system, which provides power assist to the braking and steering sytems.vaccuum brake booster vehicles are excluded.odi hasexpanded the scope of the ea to include model years2003 and 2004, asduring the pe, odi learned that the hydroboast pumps were modified in febraury…
Hydraulic pump failres
GM is conducting a recall on all subject vehicles build between May 1999 and October 14, 1999.significant changes were incorporated into production in early October 1999, and vehicles built after that date have lower warranty failure rates.the complaint and warranty data appear to support the effectiveness of these changes.
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Silverado 3500 years have brake problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2000 (38), 2001 (37), 1997 (26), 1998 (24) and 2003 (24) model years. Brake complaints make up 48% of all complaints for the 2000.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Silverado 3500 brake problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 21V-758 (control module, Sep 29, 2021); 18V-578 (pedals and linkages, Aug 30, 2018); 16V-069 (pedals and linkages, Feb 5, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Silverado 3500 brake problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 61,000 miles; 43% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (72 mentions), followed by the foundation components (17).
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.