What's Wrong with the 3rd Generation (2014–2018) Silverado 1500?

Silverado 1500 owners have made 586 complaints about the 2014–2018 model years. Using our PainRank™ system we've ranked it 77th out of 80 Chevrolet generations in overall reliability, with real transmission and hvac concerns.

Compare With Other Silverado 1500 Generations

Common 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Problems

Some of the worst issues 3rd generation Silverado 1500 owners have to deal with.

  1. A/C Condenser Leaking

    GM used leaky air conditioners that buckle under pressure in many 2014-2017 trucks and SUVs. Whether it's busted hoses or leaky condensors, thousands of GM owners are showing up to work with sweat stains down their back. It's such a widespr…

    Continue reading article "A/C Condenser Leaking" Red arrow pointing to a green dot of fluid leaking out of a condensor

  2. Chevy Shake

    When traveling above 35mph, GM's full size trucks and SUVs are experiencing cabin vibrations along with terribly loud noises from buffeting wind that is making owners sick. GM says these vibrations are within their acceptable vibration rang…

    Continue reading article "Chevy Shake" A blurry image of a Silverado that looks like it's bouncing up and down.

What Owners Complain About

Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills.

Worst Issues

What Breaks the Most

Years to Avoid

3rd Generation (2014–2018) Silverado 1500 Key Numbers

  1. 5 model years

    Grouping all models by their year can reveal some baddies.

  2. 586 complaints

    Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.

  3. 77th in reliability

    Overall reliability rank out of 80 eligible generations.

Recent 3rd Generation (2014–2018) Silverado 1500 News

There's a lot of news out there, but not all of it matters. We try to boil down it to the most important bits about things that actually help you with your car problem. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts over at CarComplaints.com.

  1. GM did the right thing by recalling ineffective seat belts a few years back. It just would have been so much better if they used the right replacement parts.

    Now to be fair, only 2,800 of the over 1 million recalled vehicles ended up with the wrong pretensioner cable assemblies but considering the last recalls were in 2016 and 2018 this probably won't sit well with the owners driving around with the wrong seat belts for the last few years.…

    keep reading article "GM Accidentally Gave 2,800 Vehicles The Wrong Seat Belts in Previous Recalls"

  2. A lawsuit says a failed vacuum pump in GM’s brake boosters can make the brake pedal extremely hard to push, leading to longer stopping distances and accidents.

    While investigating a rear-end collision involving the lead plaintiff ”GM told her she should read the manual to understand how the brakes worked.” Nothing says “we value our customers” like accusing them of not knowing how brakes work. GM promised to fix the plaintiff’s bumper in exchange for confidentiality. Obviously this didn’t go over well.

    keep reading article "Lawsuit Says GM Owners Should be Worried About Vacuum Pump Problems Creating Stiff Break Pedals"

  5. GM is recalling 23,000 vehicles because the a seat belt pretensioner cable may no longer be attached.

    The automaker had been monitoring the field for signs of pretensioner cables wearing down in 2014-2016 trucks and SUVs and monitoring warranty data, leading the automaker to open an internal investigation.

    GM says the cables fatigue because the driver [can sit on the] pretensioner and cable guide in a sliding motion while entering the vehicle.

    Let that be a lesson to us owners to … stop sitting in our cars?

    keep reading article "23,000 Trucks Recalled Because the Dang Seatbelts Might ‘Fatigue’ and Seperate"

  6. KSBH is Kansas City has a story about a frustrated Chevrolet owner who is tired of his truck's excessive vibrations, especially on the highway.

    [Mike] Hollingsworth said the shaking began within weeks of purchasing the truck. Because he bought it new, Hollingsworth said he didn't take it for a test drive ... That was the biggest mistake I made," he said.

    Like many owners, Mr. Hollingsworth is being told by Chevy technicians that the shaking is within what's considered an acceptable range. GM needs to adjust its scale.

    keep reading article "Kansas City Chevy Owner Concerned About Shaking"

  7. GM is recalling nearly 4,800 new trucks and SUVs, and telling their owners to stop driving until their front upper control arms can be repaired.

    GM blames the problem on a bad weld near the control arm bushing, a problem the automaker discovered on a GMC Yukon XL Denali. The faulty weld can cause the control arm to change shape and eventually separate.…

    keep reading article "Stop Driving Order Issued for Silverado 1500, Tahoe, and Subrban Owners"

  8. Turns out the flexible steel cables GM used to connect its seat belts to the body of their trucks might be a little too flexible.

    (The) cable can break over time due to a driver repeatedly getting into the seat, causing the cable to bend and eventually separate. GM says it discovered the seat belt problem by looking at warranty data, but no accidents or injuries have been reported.

    More than 1 million Chevy and GMC trucks will need to be repaired.

    keep reading article "Silverado Seat Belts Recalled for Being a Little Too Flexible"