2015 Chevrolet Silverado 3500: common problems

Owners of the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 filed 52 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and fuel/propulsion system. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 52
involving a crash: 2

What fails most often

1 Electrical system 31% of all complaints
2 Fuel/propulsion system 21% of all complaints
3 Service brakes 19% of all complaints
4 Engine 15% of all complaints
5 Powertrain 10% of all complaints
6 Visibility 10% of all complaints
7 Fuel system 8% of all complaints
8 Steering 8% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Electrical system: 16 complaints (31% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Fuel/propulsion system: 11 complaints (21% of all).
Service brakes: 10 complaints (19% of all).
Engine: 8 complaints (15% of all).
Powertrain: 5 complaints (10% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 52 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

fuel system, fuel smell9 · 17%
loss of power / limp mode5 · 10%
warning lights, check engine5 · 10%
smoke, burning smell, fire4 · 8%
stalls while driving4 · 8%
steering or power steering problems3 · 6%
vibration3 · 6%
brake failure2 · 4%
A/C or heater2 · 4%
airbag warning light1 · 2%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Electrical system	16	1
Fuel/propulsion system	11	0
Service brakes	10	0
Engine	8	0
Powertrain	5	1
Visibility	5	0
Fuel system	4	0
Steering	4	0
Structure	2	0
Air bags	1	0
Equipment	1	0
Seat belts	1	1
Tires	1	0
Vehicle speed control	1	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

At approximately 130,000 miles, the high-pressure CP4 fuel pump failed internally, sending metal shavings throughout the fuel system and contaminating major components. The truck suddenly lost power on the freeway and became inoperable without warning.
Fuel/propulsion system · 2026-07-19 · NHTSA complaint #11751378
The contact then stated that fuel started leaking from the vehicle and the vehicle stalled. The contact was left stranded in the middle of the road; a tow truck was called, and the vehicle was towed to an independent diesel mechanic.
Engine · 2025-06-11 · NHTSA complaint #11666246
A rear defrost system malfunctioned and was smoking in the interior of the vehicle followed by the rear glass shattering. The electrical malfunction could have easily started a fire and glass flying around the cab a highway speeds could definitely be hazard.
Visibility · 2025-04-01 · NHTSA complaint #11652076
The brake pedal pivot bolt nut loosened itself and came off of the bolt, allowing the bolt to back out of the pedal mount and the brake pedal fell out of position and became lodged behind the accelerator pedal. Thankfully no accident occurred.
Service brakes · 2025-02-17 · NHTSA complaint #11643118
Cooper Discoverer STT Pro (LT295/55R20/10). Driving south bout on Meadowbrook State Parkway about 1/2 mile north of the Southern State Parkway in New York State (Long Island) when a catstrophic failure of the front right tire occurred without warning or provocation.
Tires · 2024-12-07 · NHTSA complaint #11629460
Bosch CP4 fuel pump failed 400 miles from home leaving us stranded. We were towed in and spent thousands of dollars and 5 weeks to have the truck repaired. Only warning was that the truck was losing power and barely got off the road.
Fuel/propulsion system · 2024-05-24 · NHTSA complaint #11590505
CP4 fuel pump failed while driving 250 miles from home. It was towed in and diagnosed, resulting in over $12,000.00 Dollars to replace fuel system due to metal pumped into fuel system. The mechanic sent the pump back as a core charge. We were stranded and freezing with our dog and towed in after several hours.
Fuel/propulsion system · 2024-05-11 · NHTSA complaint #11588240
The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the High-Pressure Fuel Pump (HPFP) needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired.
Fuel system · 2023-04-25 · NHTSA complaint #11518893

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

20153
201610
20177
20183
20192
20207
20213
20221
20232
20245
20256
20263

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 5,243 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 14% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Silverado 3500 has 34 complaints (32 years in the data). This year has 52, above average.

What to check before buying

Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 3500?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, fuel/propulsion system, service brakes. Total complaints: 52. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (17%), loss of power / limp mode (10%), warning lights, check engine (10%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 3500?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 2015 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.