NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The roof-rail air bag inflator end cap may separate, or the inflator sidewall may break open.
This page covers 11 recalls, 1079 owner complaints and NHTSA crash-test ratings for the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Brakes dominate the complaint picture for the 2015 Silverado 1500, accounting for the largest share of reports by a wide margin. Owners most commonly describe a brake pedal that becomes hard or goes stiff with little warning, requiring noticeably more force than usual to slow or stop the truck, a pattern that points to brake booster or brake assist failures. Steering draws the second-highest complaint volume, with owners reporting the steering wheel suddenly becoming stiff and difficult to turn while driving, in some cases with no prior warning signs. Powertrain complaints are also present, with owners describing engine shudder, hesitation under acceleration, stalling, and in some cases an abnormally loud ticking from the engine that dealers diagnosed as requiring full engine replacement. The hard-pedal brake complaint is the most consistent and frequently repeated issue across the 2015 model year's complaint set.
1,079
Total Complaints
57
Crash-Related
14
Fire-Related
23
With Injuries
By System
The 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has 11 recalls, the most serious involving the roof-rail curtain airbag inflator, which can rupture or shed its end cap and send metal fragments into the cabin.
On the brake side, the brake pedal pivot nut can loosen until the pedal becomes unresponsive or interferes with the accelerator, and a separate issue affects trucks equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, 3.08 rear axle, and four-wheel drive: a faulty sensor can trigger unintended braking on one wheel, causing the truck to pull sharply to one side. The vacuum pump that assists braking can also lose output over time, requiring more pedal effort and extending stopping distances.
Several recalls involve the front seatbelt system. The driver's pretensioner cable can fatigue and break from repeated bending as the door is opened and closed, and some vehicles that received a replacement tensioner cable during a prior recall repair may have gotten an incorrect part. In either case, the driver's belt may not restrain properly in a crash. Related recalls cover front airbag and pretensioner deployment failures that can leave both front occupants underprotected.
The electric power steering can cut out momentarily and then snap back, making the truck difficult to control, particularly at low speeds.
At a glance
What can fail
The roof-rail air bag inflator end cap may separate, or the inflator sidewall may break open.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 6 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will replace both the left and right roof-rail air bag modules at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The steel cable connecting your driver's seat belt may bend repeatedly as you enter and exit, causing it to wear out and separate.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver seat belt lap pretensioner at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The end cap of the roof-rail air bag inflator may separate from the inflator unit, potentially affecting air bag deployment.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the roof-rail air bag modules on the affected side(s) at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A wheel-speed sensor may fail, causing the brake control computer to incorrectly activate the driveline-protection system while driving 41–60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the brake control computer at no cost to prevent the system from activating incorrectly.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The vacuum pump produces less vacuum over time, which can reduce braking system performance.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module at no cost to restore proper braking function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The electric power steering system may temporarily lose assist, then suddenly regain it while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the steering system's software at no cost to restore normal operation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The brake pedal pivot nut can loosen, making the brake pedal loose or unable to work.
What the fix does
Dealers will apply adhesive to the nut and reinstall it more tightly to secure the brake pedal.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The flexible steel cable connecting the driver's seat belt to the seat may bend repeatedly as you enter and exit the vehicle, causing it to fatigue and separate.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the pretensioner cable and seat side-shield at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The air bag control software may not have received a complete update from a previous recall. Under certain driving conditions, this software may run a diagnostic test that disables frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the air bag control software. If your vehicle previously deployed air bags, the control module will be replaced instead. Repairs are free.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Under certain driving conditions, the air bag control module's software may run a self-test that disables the front air bags and seat belt pretensioners, preventing them from deploying in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the air bag control module software. If your air bags have previously deployed, the module will be replaced. Repairs are free of charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The brake pedal pivot nut may loosen over time, causing the brake pedal to become loose or stop working.
What the fix does
Dealers will apply adhesive to the brake pedal pivot nut and reinstall it with increased torque to secure it properly.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.