Chevrolet Silverado brake problems, 2016–2027
1,047 of the 6,397 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Chevrolet Silverado 2016–2027 name the brakes (NHTSA’s “Service Brakes” heading — the hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist). The loudest years: 2016 (267), 2017 (222), 2019 (195). Filed under the same heading across these years: 10 recall campaigns, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Chevrolet Silverado brake problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the brakes | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2026 | 10 | 9% | — | 6 TSBs | the year → |
| 2025 | 7 | 6% | — | — | the year → |
| 2024 | 0 | — | — | 1 recall | the year → |
| 2023 | 27 | 7% | — | 2 recalls | the year → |
| 2022 in depth | 57 | 9% | — | 1 recall | the record → |
| 2021 | 48 | 6% | — | 1 recall | the year → |
| 2020 in depth | 114 | 16% | 5k | 3 recalls | the record → |
| 2019 in depth | 195 | 18% | 8k | 4 recalls | the record → |
| 2018 in depth | 100 | 19% | 52k | 2 recalls | the record → |
| 2017 in depth | 222 | 27% | 44k | 1 recall | the record → |
| 2016 in depth | 267 | 33% | 50k | 3 recalls · 1 investigation | the record → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the brakes. Nothing here is a rate.
When the brake complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 2 · 2017: 6 · 2018: 53 · 2019: 176 · 2020: 174 · 2021: 112 · 2022: 114 · 2023: 119 · 2024: 98 · 2025: 116 · 2026: 77
Across the model years, half of the 518 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the brake problem between 12,000 and 60,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the brakes, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Was going down a steep hill in kentucky in stop and go traffic and without warning the brake pedal got really hard to push and the truck didn't want to stop. Also happened at a low RPM going down the approach of a driveway. I AM able to duplicate it. Also at red lights if I pump the brakes they become really hard to push
The brakes fail(periodically) at low RPM due to vacuum booster pump failure. Typically happens when moving slowly at idle - rolling down a driveway etc
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado. While the contact was driving at an unknown speed, a motorcycle pulled out in front of his vehicle. The contact applied the brakes and the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard, failing to stop the vehicle in time. The contact crashed into the motorcycle.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado. While driving on the highway at 50 MPH, the contact had to make a sudden stop in traffic and the brakes did not work. As a result, the contact crashed into the preceding vehicle. There were no injuries. A police report was filed.
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. While driving at low speeds, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond and rolled to a stop. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired because the parts were on backorder.
What is on file about the brakes, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year
- 25V768000 HighNov 6, 2025 · 891 vehicles
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Silverado Medium Duty 4500HD, 5500HD, and 6500HD vehicles. These vehicles were remedied under NHTSA Recall 25V390 with a brake jumper wire harness that was assembled without protective tape. A wiring harness that is missing protective tape can allow the wires to become damaged.
- Jun 12, 2025 · 62,468 vehicles
- General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2024 Chevrolet Silverado Medium Duty 4500HD, 5500HD, and 6500HD vehicles. The brake pressure sensor assembly may leak brake fluid into the brake pressure switch and cause a short circuit.
- 24V674000 ModerateSep 12, 2024 · 449,671 vehicles
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2023-2024 Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, and Escalade ESV vehicles. The electronic brake control module software may fail to display a warning light when a loss of brake fluid occurs. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
- 20V603000 HighOct 1, 2020 · 14,620 vehicles
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500 and Yukon vehicles equipped with either a 5.3L or 6.2L V8 engine. The output of the mechanical vacuum pump can decrease over time, decreasing the amount of vacuum/power brake assist.
- 20V116000 HighFeb 27, 2020 · 20,352 vehicles
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles. The bolts used to attach the front and/or rear brake calipers may have not been heat treated and may break under load.
- 20V055000 HighJan 30, 2020 · 148,055 vehicles
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles. These vehicles received updated software for the Electronic Brake Control Module (EBCM). This software has an error, and as a result, the vehicle's electronic brake assist may be disabled. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
- 19V889000 ModerateDec 12, 2019 · 463,995 vehicles
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Cadillac CT6, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles. Due to an Electronic Brake Control Module (EBCM) software error, the vehicle's Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Antilock Brake System (ABS) may become disabled. Furthermore, if this specific error occurs, the vehicle's diagnostics will not illuminate the instrument cluster ESC and ABS malfunction warning lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
- 19V645000 HighSep 6, 2019 · 3,456,719 vehicles
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
The 8 newest of 10; each model year’s page lists its own.
NHTSA investigation
- PE18012 Brake Vacuum Pump Failureopened Nov 20, 2018 · closed Apr 10, 2022
- On November 20, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE18-012 to investigate instances of sudden onset of a hard brake pedal that could result in extended stopping distance due to an issue with the brake assist vacuum pump in model year (MY) 2014 through 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 series pickup trucks and MY 2015 through 2016 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet S…
Other systems with a record on the Chevrolet Silverado
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: Chevrolet Silverado problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Chevrolet Silverado years have the most brake complaints?
2016, 267; 2017, 222; 2019, 195. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2016 (33%).
Is there a recall for the brakes on the Chevrolet Silverado?
Yes — 10 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 25V768000 (2020), 25V390000 (2024), 24V674000 (2023), 20V603000 (2018). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do brake problems show up on the Chevrolet Silverado?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 41,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 12,000 and 60,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Service Brakes" heading cover?
The hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.