The 2015 Silverado 1500 with GM's new-generation EcoTec3 V8s suffers from catastrophic Active Fuel Management (AFM) failures and transmission cooler line failures that can grenade expensive components if ignored. Otherwise a solid truck, but these two issues dominate the failure landscape.
AFM Lifter Failure / Camshaft Wear (5.3L V8)
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Ticking or tapping noise from valve train, especially cold start, Check engine light with P0300-P0308 misfire codes or P0521 oil pressure, Reduced power, rough idle, possible valve train collapse, Metal shavings in oil, valve lifter fragments on magnetic drain plug
Fix: AFM lifters collapse due to oil starvation and poor design. Requires cam replacement, all 16 lifters, pushrods inspection, and often AFM delete kit installation to prevent recurrence. 18-24 labor hours for full cam/lifter job. Many shops now recommend proactive AFM disable tune on high-mileage examples.
Estimated cost: $3,500-6,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Failure at Radiator
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid leaking at radiator-mounted cooler connections, Pink or milky transmission fluid (coolant cross-contamination), Transmission slipping, delayed engagement, or complete failure, Low transmission fluid level, overheating warnings
Fix: Factory crimp-style cooler lines crack at the radiator quick-connect fittings. If coolant mixes into trans, the 6L80 is often toast. Flush immediately if caught early. Full fix requires cooler lines, external cooler recommended, transmission flush. If contaminated: transmission rebuild. 3-4 hours for lines/flush, 12-16 for transmission R&R.
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (1 quart per 500-1,000 miles), Blue smoke from exhaust on startup or acceleration, Loss of compression, misfire codes, Spark plugs fouled with carbon and oil
Fix: Direct injection carbon buildup and thermal stress crack piston ring lands, especially on cylinders 1 and 7. Requires complete engine disassembly, new pistons, rings, honing, often head work. 28-35 labor hours for full rebuild. Some owners opt for reman short block instead.
Estimated cost: $5,500-8,500
Vacuum Pump Failure (Brake Booster Assist)
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Hard brake pedal, increased pedal effort required, Hissing noise from engine bay, Check engine light with P0231 or vacuum-related codes, Brake warning light illuminated
Fix: Electric vacuum pump for brake booster fails due to internal diaphragm wear or motor burnout. Part is on driver side of engine. Replacement is straightforward: 1.5-2.5 labor hours. NHTSA recall covered some, check VIN eligibility before paying.
Estimated cost: $350-650
EVAP Vent Valve Solenoid Failure
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 50,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Check engine light with P0449 or P0455 EVAP codes, Fuel tank difficult to fill, pump clicks off repeatedly, Hissing sound near fuel tank when refueling, Fuel smell around rear of truck
Fix: Vent valve solenoid above spare tire fails from corrosion and heat cycling. Simple replacement, 0.8-1.2 labor hours. Common enough that many techs check it first on any EVAP code.
Estimated cost: $180-320
Electric Power Steering (EPS) Assist Loss
Occasional · medium severity
Symptoms: Sudden loss of power steering assist while driving, Service power steering message on instrument cluster, Heavy steering effort, especially at low speeds, Intermittent assist that comes and goes
Fix: EPS motor or control module failure. GM issued TSB and recall on some VINs for software update, but hardware failures still occur. Requires column-mounted motor replacement or module reflash. 2.5-4 hours labor depending on diagnosis.
Disable AFM via tuner or install AFM delete kit if buying high-mileage 5.3L — $500-900 preventive measure beats $5k engine rebuild
Inspect transmission cooler lines at every oil change; replace proactively around 80k miles with upgraded aftermarket lines and add external cooler
Use quality full-synthetic 0W-20 or 5W-30 oil and change every 5k miles maximum — these DI engines are hard on oil
Check for open recalls on brake vacuum pump and EPS before purchase; free fixes if applicable
Budget for catch-can installation ($200-400) to reduce carbon buildup on intake valves from DI design
Buy the 6.2L if you can afford it (stronger internals, no AFM), otherwise plan $1,500-2,000 in preventive mods on a 5.3L or walk away from high-mileage examples without service records.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks. The roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator, or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Consequence: A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on August 18, 2021. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy is available. Phase I owner notification letters were mailed on May 5, 2022. Phase II owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on May 31, 2022. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. This recall supersedes NHTSA recall number 20V-736. GM's number for this recall is N202324251.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT · 21V245000
2021-04-08 · EA20002
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2015-2016 Chevrolet Tahoe, and 2014-2015 GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles that may have received an incorrect replacement tensioner cable assembly as part of a previous recall remedy or a subsequent repair. The flexible steel cable connecting the driver's seat belt to the outboard side of the seat may be repeatedly bent over the seat side shield as the driver enters and exits the vehicle causing the cable to fatigue and separate.
Consequence: A broken pretensioner cable reduces the effectiveness of the driver's seat belt, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver seat belt lap pretensioner, free of charge. The recall began on May 5, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212330040.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR · 20V736000
2020-11-25
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2015 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 trucks. The roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator.
Consequence: If the end cap separates from the inflator, the compressed gas will escape and the end cap can be propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RRAB modules on the left and/or right side, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on December 22, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. Note: GM filed a new recall, number 21V-504 that supersedes this recall. All vehicles previously recalled under 20V-736 will now be repaired under the new recall number 21V-504. GM's numbers for this recall are N202309680, N202309681, and N202309682.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RING · 19V761000
2019-10-24
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon, and 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive. If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.
Consequence: Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192261050.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM · 19V645000
2019-09-06 · PE18012
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.
Consequence: As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192268490.
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM · 18V586000
2018-09-07
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Sierra 1500 and Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade vehicles. Electric power steering (EPS) assist may be lost momentarily, followed by a sudden return of EPS assist.
Consequence: If EPS assist is lost and then suddenly returns, the driver may have difficulty steering the vehicle, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the EPS module software, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18289.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES · 18V578000
2018-08-30
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, 1500 Crew Cab Special Service, Tahoe Police Pursuit/Special Service, GMC Sierra 2500, and 3500 vehicles. The brake pedal pivot nut may loosen, causing the brake pedal to be loose or inoperative.
Consequence: If the brake pedal becomes loose or inoperative, the driver may be unable to stop the vehicle by using the brake pedal. Additionally, a loose pedal may also interfere with the accelerator pedal. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will add adhesive to the nut and reinstall the nut with increased tightness, free of charge. The recall began October 3, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18278. Note: The vehicles in this recall need this additional remedy despite being covered by recall 16V069 for brake pedal loosening.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT · 18V291000
2018-05-03
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Tahoe Police Pursuit and Special-Service vehicles. The flexible steel cable connecting the driver's seat belt to the outboard side of the seat may be repeatedly bent over the seat side shield as the driver enters and exits the vehicle causing the cable to fatigue and separate.
Consequence: If the pretensioner cable becomes fatigued or breaks, the driver may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pretensioner cable and seat side-shield, free of charge. The recall began June 19, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18156.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · 17V437000
2017-07-10
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
Consequence: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17287.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · 16V651000
2016-09-08
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
Consequence: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES · 16V069000
2016-02-05
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500 heavy duty trucks manufactured October 1, 2013, to February 1, 2016, 2015-2016 Chevrolet Tahoe Police Pursuit Vehicles (PPV) manufactured March 1, 2014, to February 1, 2016, and 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 heavy duty trucks manufactured October 29, 2013, to February 1, 2016. On the affected vehicles, the brake pedal pivot nut may loosen, causing the brake pedal to be loose or inoperative.
Consequence: If the brake pedal becomes loose or inoperative, the driver may be unable to stop the vehicle by using the brake pedal. Additionally, a loose pedal may also interfere with the accelerator pedal. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will add adhesive to the brake pedal pivot nut and reinstall with an increased torque, free of charge. The recall began on March 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 20760.
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