Complaints by model year
* Complaints compared with the median Silverado 4500 year at the same age, so new and old years are judged fairly. How this works.
Most common Chevrolet Silverado 4500 problems
Latest Chevrolet Silverado 4500 recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Silverado Medium Duty 4500HD, 5500HD, and 6500HD vehicles. These vehicles were remedied under NHTSA Recall 25V390 with a brake jumper wire harness that was assembled without protective tape.
Remedy: Dealers will remove the installed wire harness, apply protective tape, and reinstall the wire harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters are planned to be mailed December 22, 2025.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Brake fluid low warning › Switch/sensor/float
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2024 Chevrolet Silverado Medium Duty 4500HD, 5500HD, and 6500HD vehicles. The brake pressure sensor assembly may leak brake fluid into the brake pressure switch and cause a short circuit.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the brake pressure switch wire harness, free of charge.
Air bags › Air bag/restraint control module › Software
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2024 Chevrolet Silverado Medium Duty 4500HD, 5500HD, 6500HD vehicles. The air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) may not have been activated during installation.
Remedy: A Navistar technician will activate the air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 1, 2024. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
Engine
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500, 5500 and 6500 vehicles and 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 vehicles and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with Duramax 6.6 liter diesel engines and an optional engine-block heater.
Remedy: GM will contact owners, dealers will replace the engine block heater, free of charge. Additionally, in Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 vehicles, dealers will install a new rerouted heater cord.
Frequently asked questions
What years of the Chevrolet Silverado 4500 should you avoid?
None of the Chevrolet Silverado 4500 years has an unusually high number of complaints compared with the others at the same age.
What are the most common Chevrolet Silverado 4500 problems?
Across all years, owners report the most problems with the brakes (1), engine & cooling (1) and transmission & drivetrain (1). Brake complaints peak in the 2020 model year.
How many recalls has the Chevrolet Silverado 4500 had?
4 recalls across 2019–2024. The model year with the most is 2019. See all Chevrolet Silverado 4500 recalls by year.
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.