AC & Heater complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 | 1% | 68,000 miles |
| 2015 | 1 | 1% | 96,000 miles |
| 2014 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2010 | 1 | 2% | 5,000 miles |
| 2008 | 1 | 1% | 50,000 miles |
| 2007 | 2 | 1% | 78,000 miles |
| 2006 | 4 | 2% | 45,000 miles |
| 2005 | 5 | 2% | 40,000 miles |
| 2004 | 7 | 1% | 4,000 miles |
| 2003 | 9 | 1% | 36,000 miles |
| 2002 | 6 | 1% | 46,000 miles |
| 2001 | 4 | 0% | 19,000 miles |
| 2000 | 4 | 0% | 114,000 miles |
| 1999 | 3 | 0% | — |
| 1998 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 1997 | 4 | 1% | 69,000 miles |
| 1996 | 2 | 1% | — |
| 1995 | 3 | 1% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (air conditioning, heater, defroster, HVAC controls).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that the heat would not activate on the high setting. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where they stated that the heater switch was found to be melted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure recurred several years later in which the heater switch overheated and caused the dashboard to catch on fire. The contact did not sustain any injuries. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.
Tl contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that the air conditioning and heating failed, in addition to other electrical components. She noticed that the resistor connector and wiring harness were melted. The vehicle has not been repaired. The manufacturer was unable to assist. The failure mileage was 45,000 and current mileage was 50,017.
Tl contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado. While driving approximately 70 MPH with the air conditioner on, the drivers side vent was releasing hot air while the passenger side vent continued to release cold air. The contact shut the vehicle off and after restarting it the air conditioner began to function properly. The vehicle was not taken to an authorized dealer. The failure continued to occur intermittently. The contact stated that over time the failure became progressively worse. The failure was not diagnosed by an authorized dealer. The contact was informed that there was a technical service bulletin related to the failure. The failure mileage was 55,000 and the current mileage was 71,000. The VIN was unavailable.
I own both a Chevy Silverado and suburban 2005. Both vehicles will randomly start blowing hot air out the driver's side. I know at least 5 other people that have 2005 chevys and their vehicle does the same thing. I tried working with the dealer and Chevy and both act like they never heard of the problem. Chevy refuses to acknowledge that this is a defected issue on their part and want over $1000.00 to fix the issue. Is there anyway you can get government motors to issue a recall?
2004 duramax will not defrost windshield or warm cab after 1 hour plus of idle operation. If windshield is scraped it fogs over when operated down the road to warm the engine. This problem, from freezing temp. And worsens as the temp. Drops. I purchased vehicle 10-30-2003 and GM service says that there is nothing wrong with my truck. Is this true that they are allowed to design and sell a vehicle in this climate that will not warm up enough to defrost the windows in such a period of time. Operation of this vehicle is neither safe for myself or anyone on the road.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado. Whenever the contact activated the air conditioning dual climate control, he noticed that the driver's side vents would suddenly blow out hot air. The vehicle was previously serviced for this failure and the dealer replaced the actuator. The vehicle has not been diagnosed again by the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 75,031.
Blower motor switch resistors, defective from factory. Resistors get so hot they melt and melt the end off the factory wiring harness. The wires and blower motor are suppose to be protected by a fuse but the fuse never blows. Replaced resistors in 2013 but it did not last 1 year and burned up again in 2014! GM has known about this problem for many years but does not care if the wires over heat and cause a fire.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact noticed that the HVAC blower motor would not function on low settings and there were strong fumes emitting from the vents. There was voluntary recall for corrosion on the wiring connector and HVAC blower. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the vehicle was over the mileage indicated in the voluntary recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Silverado years have ac & heater problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2003 (9), 2004 (7), 2002 (6) and 2005 (5) model years. AC & Heater complaints make up 1% of all complaints for the 2003.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Silverado ac & heater problems?
No. NHTSA lists no a/c & heater recall for any Chevrolet Silverado model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Silverado ac & heater problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 41,000 miles; 58% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the appliance › air conditioner (26 mentions), followed by the defroster/defogger/hvac system (21).
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.