Brake complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 33 | 26% | 41,000 miles |
| 2015 | 8 | 11% | 14,000 miles |
| 2014 | 9 | 7% | 23,000 miles |
| 2013 | 2 | 3% | 18,000 miles |
| 2012 | 9 | 13% | 10,000 miles |
| 2011 | 9 | 12% | 16,000 miles |
| 2010 | 2 | 3% | 10,000 miles |
| 2009 | 7 | 9% | 36,000 miles |
| 2008 | 10 | 6% | 13,000 miles |
| 2007 | 34 | 19% | 57,000 miles |
| 2006 | 101 | 55% | 61,000 miles |
| 2005 | 87 | 28% | 79,000 miles |
| 2004 | 211 | 34% | 68,000 miles |
| 2003 | 257 | 37% | 69,000 miles |
| 2002 | 350 | 49% | 50,000 miles |
| 2001 | 418 | 48% | 51,000 miles |
| 2000 | 607 | 47% | 57,000 miles |
| 1999 | 1,003 | 60% | 63,000 miles |
| 1998 | 89 | 32% | 65,000 miles |
| 1997 | 62 | 23% | 71,000 miles |
| 1996 | 31 | 17% | 78,000 miles |
| 1995 | 29 | 11% | 250,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 mph, the braking system suddenly failed causing the brake pedal to become extremely hard to press and the vehicle would not immediately stop. As a result, the contact crashed into a utility pole. During the incident, no injuries were reported and no police report was filed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The contact indicated that the vehicle was previously serviced under the NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V761000(Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced that same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 118,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V761000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulics, Service Brakes, Electronic Stability Control). The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to reduce speed and stop immediately, which caused the contact to rear-end another vehicle. The contact sustained injuries and received medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow shop. The vehicle has not been deemed totaled. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated while driving at 45 mph, he would have to increase the braking distance when depressing the brake pedal. The contact also stated that he would have to depress the brake pedal harder when driving at 45 mph as the vehicle failed to stop or slow down in a timely manner. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a power brake assist vacuum needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 19V645000 (Service brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while the contact's son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine and traction control warning lights illuminated. In addition, the vehicle momentarily lost control, however, the contact's son depressed the brakes and was able to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with a failed lifter valve and the lifter valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
While driving my 2014 Chevy Silverado, I have had 3 instances where the stability control light came on and I suddenly lost lost all steering and brakes. Within a 2-3 seconds the cluster and radio went dead and then the engine stopped. I had no ability to control the vehicle. I took the vehicle to the dealer and they stated the logs showed 1 1/2 pages of vehicle communications errors including loss of communications to steering, loss of communications to brakes, etc. After 8 days of analysis, the dealer notified me that this was a known issue with GM and that there is an active pi number for the issue. However, there is no known resolution for the issue. Because there is no known solution, they asked me to come pick up the vehicle and continue driving it and they will contact me when a solution is found. …
I was going north when a vehicle suddenly stopped in front of me. I braked as quickly as possible, the 2014 Chevy Silverado that I was driving only slowly came to a stop. Unfortunately, I rearended another vehicle. Thankfully I had not gotten up to the speed limit (30mph) and was only going 20mph. My truck would not brake quickly. No screeching tires, no black marks on the road. The stop was so slow that I had time to turn the steering wheel and only damage part of my front end. The grill, bumper, and hood were smashed in. No airbags came out of the truck, and my OnStar service sensor did not go off. After colliding with the vehicle my 2014 Chevy shut off by itself. I had the brake still depressed & put the truck into park.
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated he purchased the vehicle at a used dealer on March 13, 2023, and the anti-lock braking systems (ABS), the traction control sensor, and the brake warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle back to the used dealer on 3 different occasions and had the anti-lock braking systems (ABS) sensor replaced and inspected the brakes. The dealer stated no failure was found when inspecting the vehicle. The contact stated while approaching an intersection another vehicle made a left turn and intercepted in his lane on the right side, he depressed the brake pedal but failed to stop or slow down the vehicle, causing it to crash into the other vehicle. The contact stated the vehicle continued moving forward while depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle jumped a curb and crashed into a building and stopped the vehicle. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and failed to respond which caused the vehicle to crash into two, two-ton rocks. The air bags deployed. A police report was filed. The contact stated that a passenger suffered injuries to the lower back which required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was destroyed. The approximate failure mileage was 42,000.
Related recalls (6)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles May experience unwanted antilock brake system (ABS) activation. This condition is more likely to occur in environmentally corrosive areas.
Remedy: Dealers are to remove the wheel speed sensor and thoroughly clean the wheel speed sensor mounting surface on the bearing, apply rust inhibitor to the cleaned surface, grease the mounting surface, reinstall the wheel…
Parking brake
On certain pickup trucks equipped with manual transmissions and built with either pbr parking brake systems or trw parking brake systems, the parking brake friction linings May wear to an extent where the parking brake can become ineffective in immobilizing a parked vehicle.
Remedy: Dealers will install a low-force spring clip retainer for vehicles equipped with a pbr parking brake system. On vehicles equipped with the trw parking brake system, dealers will install a redesigned parking brake cable…
Service brakes, hydraulic
Certain trucks, sport utility vehicles, and vans equipped with Bosch hydro-boost brake assemblies, the hydraulic brake booster pressure accumulator May crack and separate from the hydro-boost assembly during normal operating conditions.
Remedy: Dealers will test the hydro-boost assembly for functional operation of the two-function valve. If the hydro-boost assembly fails the test, dealers will replace the assembly free of charge.
Service brakes, hydraulic
Certain sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and passenger vans fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 135, ?passenger car brake systems.? Some of these vehicles were produced with an out-of-specification brake hydro-boost housing relief valve bore.
Remedy: Dealers are to replace the hydro-boost relief valve. The recall began on June 18, 2004. Owners should contact Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339; Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; GMC at 1-866-996-9463; or Hummer at 1-866-486-6376.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. Some of these vehicles have a clearance condition between the front right-hand brake pipe and the body cross sill that could decrease to the point of allowing contact during the life of the vehicle.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the front right-hand brake pipe for wear. If there are signs of wear, this section of the brake pipe will be replaced with a new designed brake pipe section.
Show 1 more recall
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks equipped with 4-wheel disc brakes. Some of these vehicles have an antilock brake system (ABS) motor containing an out-of-specification spring clip. This clip could allow the motor bearing to become misaligned. If misalignment occurs, eventually the ABS would be non-functional.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake pressure module valve assembly.
NHTSA investigations
Brake line corrosion failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received Defect Petition DP10-003 on March 2, 2010, requesting the investigation of model year (MY) 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD 4WD pickup trucks for corrosion failures of the vehicle brake lines.DP10-003 was granted and on March 30, 2010, Preliminary Evaluation PE10-010 was opened on more than six million model year 1999 through 2003 light trucks and sport utility…
Unwanted low-speed ABS activation
In a letter dated August 29, 2005, GM notified odi that it was recalling certain model year 1999 through 2002 c/k pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles to correct a problem with anti-lock brake system (ABS) wheel speed sensor corrosion that May result in unwanted ABS activation and extended stopping distances during low-speed braking (recall 05v-379).GM's recall covers approximately 804,000 vehicles currently…
Parking brake failure
Odi opened pe03-057 to assess parking brake ineffectiveness in the subject vehicles.these vehicles are equipped with four wheel disc brakes that incorporate a single-shoe drum-in-hat parking brake independent of the service brakes.complaint and warranty data indicate that the parking brake linings tend to wear out early in the life of the vehicle (at an average of 24 months in service), reducing the parking brake…
Brake line corrosion failure
On January 11, 2011, ODI opened EA11-001 to investigate allegations of premature brake line corrosion failure in model year (MY) 1999 through 2003 General Motors (GM) full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles sold or registered in the following region of the United States that NHTSA has viewed as salt states for investigations of corrosion related issues:Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia,…
Parking brake failure
In a letter dated April 20, 2005, GM notified NHTSA that it had decided that defects that relate to motor vehicle safety exist in certain model year (my) 1999-2002 c/k 1500 series (pbr parking brake system) and my 2001-2005 c/k 2500 and 3500 series (trw parking brake system) pickups with manual transmissions.according to GM, some of these vehicles May have conditions that cause the friction linings to wear to an…
Parking brake failure
Odi's review of complaint data received since the close of ea04-011 revealed no indication that the investigation should be re-opened.more details can be found in the federal register notice enclosed in the dp05-009 public file.odi reserves the right to reopen the investigation in the future should conditions warrant.
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Silverado years have brake problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1999 (1,003), 2000 (607), 2001 (418), 2002 (350) and 2003 (257) model years. Brake complaints make up 60% of all complaints for the 1999.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Silverado brake problems?
Yes — 6 recalls, including 05V-379 (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Aug 29, 2005); 05V-161 (parking brake, Apr 22, 2005); 05V-043 (service brakes, hydraulic, Feb 8, 2005). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Silverado brake problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 59,000 miles; 40% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (1,337 mentions), followed by the foundation components › disc › rotor (191).
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.