Here are 4 Chevy Silverado 1500 Years to Avoid! (The Worst Years Explained!)
While the Chevy Silverado 1500 is a popular truck, it has had its fair share of problems. If you’re going to purchase a Chevrolet Silverado 1500, be sure to avoid the following model years.
What Are The Worst Years For The Chevy Silverado 1500?
The worst years for the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 are models produced between 2014 and 2017 because they share many safety recalls from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Some shared safety recalls include loose brake pedals, seatbelt failures, and airbag malfunctions.
The recalls described above are only a snippet of all the problems plaguing these model years.
Keep reading to learn more about the worst years for the Chevrolet Silverado 1500.
The 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: The Worst Model Year
To help you understand why the 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500 is considered the worst model year, we’ll look at factors such as the quantity and severity of recalls.
Let’s get started!
Safety Recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued 23 safety recalls for the 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500. That’s right. 23!
That is an extremely high number for a supposedly reliable and safe vehicle.
Furthermore, the NHTSA issued some of the recalls for the same problems. In other words, repairing the problem the first time wasn’t enough.
Take a look at the long list of recalls and when the NHTSA issued them below:
- (Jan 2014) Overheating Exhaust
- (April 2014) Fuel Pipe Connection Leak
- (May 2014) Loose Fuse Block
- (June 2014) Absence of Warning Chimes (ie. open door, unbuckled seatbelt)
- (June 2014) Power Steering Fluid Leak
- (June 2014) Transfer Case Shifts to Neutral Unexpectedly
- (July 2014) Front Seats not Anchored in Vehicle Properly
- (Nov 2014) Loss of Power Steering Assist
- (Dec 2014) Loose Fuel Tank Vent Line Hose Clamp
- (Dec 2014) Improperly Heat Treated Rear-Axle Shaft
That’s quite the list of safety problems, and all of them happened in the vehicle’s first few months of production.
But this isn’t even the full list! Keep reading the list of NHTSA recalls below.
- (Oct 2015) Ignition Lock Actuator may Bind
- (Feb 2016 and Aug 2018) Brake Pedal may Come Loose
- (April 2016, May 2018, and April 2021) Driver’s Seatbelt Tensioner Separates
- (Sept 2016 and July 2017) Frontal Airbags may Not Deploy
- (Sept 2019) Vacuum Pump Failure Decreases Power Brake Assist
- (Oct 2019) Software Error Causes Unintended Braking
- (Nov 2020) Roof Rail Airbag Inflator Endcap may Detach
- (July 2021) Roof Rail Airbag Inflator may Rupture
As you can see, the list of recalls is longer than acceptable.
Even more shocking, some of these recalls were issued the same day as another recall! The 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500 is a rolling pile of problems.
Not only is it annoying to take your car to the dealership for a warranty so frequently, but many of these recalls are life-threatening.
Furthermore, the fact that the NHTSA repeated several recalls shows that this model year is the worst.
Considering the 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500 as your next vehicle? Think again. Not only is the list long, but it keeps growing. Six years after production, the model is still racking up recalls.
If the pattern continues, drivers will likely discover more potentially dangerous recalls.
Reliability
It may surprise you to hear that the 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500 received above-average safety and reliability ratings.
For example, the NHTSA gave this model year an overall safety rating of 5 stars. This rating means that if the vehicle crashed, it could protect you.
Since the 2015 Silverado 1500 is prone to mechanical failures that increase the risk of crashing, this 5-star safety rating is crucial.
Common Problems
As if the 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500 couldn’t get any worse, it is known to experience an abundance of problems beyond those listed in the recalls section.
These problems include fuel level sensor failure, steering wheel position sensor failure, stuck fuel injectors, and more.
According to Repair Pal, if you own a 2015 Chevy Silverado, you can expect to spend more than $700 a year on maintenance and repairs alone.
You’ll also spend more on fuel since the vehicle only gets 15 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway.
You should also avoid purchasing any Chevy Silverado 1500s produced between 2014 and 2017.
Many of these models share the recalls listed above.
The 2014 model has 20 recalls!
The Worst Years for the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Hybrid
Many think purchasing a hybrid vehicle will be the best vehicle choice possible.
While it is true that a hybrid vehicle can save you money on fuel, it can be riddled with problems as well. The same can be said for Chevrolet’s hybrid of the popular Silverado 1500.
Before you purchase a hybrid Silverado 1500, take a look at the worst model year below.
2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Hybrid
Even though the 2013 Chevy Silverado 1500 hybrid is the newest of Chevy’s hybrid fleet, it turns out to be the least reliable and most problem-ridden model.
This was determined using J.D. Power reliability ratings and assessing the seriousness of NHTSA recalls.
The NHTSA has issued five recalls for the 2013 Chevy Silverado 1500 Hybrid.
These recalls include frontal airbag ruptures (2 recalls), improper labeling of compressed natural gas components, transfer pump failure, and a fractured park lock cable.
The most dangerous recalls are those that pertain to the airbags rupturing. Any issue with the airbags is serious.
These are the mechanisms that protect the driver and the passengers from injury or death in the event of a car crash.
In addition to issuing recalls, the NHTSA has received more than 200 complaints regarding the 2013 Chevy Silverado 1500 Hybrid.
The area that received the most complaints was the vehicle’s airbags.
Although customers received notice that their airbags needed replacing, when they approached the dealership for repairs, they were told parts were not available yet.
In other words, this severe problem took months to correct.
Meanwhile, drivers were forced to use their vehicles with a potentially faulty airbag system. More so, some customers complained that they were not notified about the airbag problem.
Another common complaint with the 2013 Chevy Silverado 1500 is cracks in the dash. One customer even reported that after replacing the dash in their truck, it cracked again!