VehicleVerdict

2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Worth extra scrutiny

The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 is a recall-heavy year with an otherwise ordinary complaint record: 7 NHTSA recall campaigns apply, yet its 34 owner complaints run below the Silverado 3500 median. The recalls matter more than the complaint count here — verify every campaign was completed before buying.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across electrical system (6), transmission (5), and engine (5), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.

34

NHTSA complaints

7

Recalls

0

Investigations

1

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

1

Injuries

0

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 2019 compare to other Silverado 3500 years?

Silverado 3500 NHTSA complaints by model year, 2019 highlighted114 complaints1994: 1 complaints1996: 2 complaints1997: 78 complaints1998: 100 complaints1999: 73 complaints2000: 114 complaints2001: 97 complaints2002: 64 complaints2003: 60 complaints2004: 46 complaints2005: 60 complaints2006: 60 complaints2007: 42 complaints2008: 35 complaints2009: 10 complaints2010: 4 complaints2011: 42 complaints2012: 31 complaints2013: 36 complaints2014: 10 complaints2015: 76 complaints2016: 72 complaints2017: 14 complaints2018: 27 complaints2019: 34 complaints2020: 49 complaints2021: 54 complaints2022: 34 complaints2023: 20 complaints2024: 67 complaints2025: 19 complaints2026: 5 complaints
Silverado 3500 NHTSA complaints by model year, 2019 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Silverado 3500 years to avoid →

What are the most common 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Electrical System618%
Transmission515%
Engine515%
Other515%
Fuel System412%
Driver Assistance412%
Brakes39%
Speed Control13%
Airbags13%

Does the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 have recalls?

7 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

26V325000AirbagsMay 21, 2026 · 2,785 units

Defect

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, and Sierra 3500 vehicles. The left-side or right-side roof rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.

Consequence

A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Dealers will replace both RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 6, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N262557310. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 21, 2026. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 26V166.

26V166000AirbagsMarch 19, 2026 · 2,819 units

Defect

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, and Sierra 3500 Crew Cab vehicles. The left or right-side roof rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.

Consequence

A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the left and right-side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N262549710. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 19, 2026.

25V432000AirbagsJune 26, 2025 · 1,658 units

Defect

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2018 GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Sierra 2500, 3500, Chevrolet Silverado 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab vehicles. The left or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.

Consequence

A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increases the risk of injury or crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2025. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252513060.

24V756000AirbagsOctober 10, 2024 · 2,061 units

Defect

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2018-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 Crew Cab trucks. The left or right-side 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. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2024. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC Customer Service at 888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N242474500.

23V047000Fuel SystemFebruary 2, 2023 · 22,132 units

Defect

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 vehicles equipped with a dual fuel tank option. The rear fuel tank may collapse and prevent the fuel pump from transferring fuel to the front tank, resulting in an engine stall.

Consequence

An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect the fuel tank and fuel pump module, replacing them as necessary. Dealers will also add a vent hose to the rear tank assembly. Repairs will be performed free of charge. An interim owner notification letter informing owners of the safety risk was mailed on March 15, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed June 21, 2023. 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 N222368030.

21V496000Electrical SystemJuly 1, 2021 · 338,020 units

Defect

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500 and 2017-2019 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with a Duramax diesel 6.6 liter engine and an optional engine-block heater cord. An electrical short-circuit may occur in the engine-block heater cable or in the terminals that connect the heater cable to the block heater.

Consequence

An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Dealers will replace engine block heaters and heater cords. Vehicles that have this feature disabled as a remedy to the safety condition will be contacted and offered replacement block heaters and heater cords under a separate customer satisfaction program, free of charge. GM will provide free replacement block heaters and cords under a separate customer satisfaction campaign. For vehicles previously included in recall 19V-328, the heater cord will be replaced and rerouted, free of charge. Interim owner notifications were mailed on August 13, 2021. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on April 4, 2022. Customers may call GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 212329840.

19V328000EngineApril 25, 2019 · 318,374 units

Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500, 5500 and 6500 vehicles and 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 vehicles and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with Duramax 6.6 liter diesel engines and an optional engine-block heater. The engine block heater cord or the terminals that connect the heater cord to the block heater may short circuit and fail.

Consequence

A short-circuit may damage the engine components and increase the risk of fire.

Remedy

GM will contact owners, dealers will replace the engine block heater, free of charge. Additionally, in Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 vehicles, dealers will install a new rerouted heater cord. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-586-596-1733. GM's number for this recall is N182206310.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“Def pump and heater module had burned terminals. This caused failure to the def pump and heater module. This was the second instance of this happening on this truck in roughly 40,000 miles. Burned terminals can start electrical fires that are a danger to occupants and others in the vicinity.…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · January 23, 2026

“The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that on several occasions at various speeds, the contact observed an exhaust odor coming into the cabin of the vehicle from the vents. The vehicle was taken to two dealers where the failure was not able to be replicated. The…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · November 8, 2023

“Transmission exploded from the inside causing catastrophic failure that could have resulted in death. Milage on vehicle was 20k. No indication of transmission issues on warning sensors in the car or through feeling the transmission slipping or hearing any noises before it occurred”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · July 9, 2023

“Known recall. Heating elements on the rear windows cause the window to explode. They said they remedied the recall in 2020 but it just happened when my husband started driving out of the driveway after remote start and warming the car. If a child or pet would have been in the back seat or he was in…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · December 10, 2024

“Driving at hiway speed and towing a 40' travel trailer the transmission failed and put my family in grave danger. GM is aware of this issue as they have issued a service bulletin due to an engineering flaw.... ( transfer case input and out put shaft failure) This needs to be a recall before someone…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Driver Assistance · September 30, 2025

2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 — common questions

Is the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 reliable?

It is close to typical for the Silverado 3500: 34 NHTSA complaints, 7 recalls, and no investigations on file.

What are the most common 2019 Silverado 3500 problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are electrical system (6 complaints), transmission (5 complaints), engine (5 complaints).

Does the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns affecting the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Chevrolet Silverado 3500 years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Silverado 3500 years to avoid are 2000, 1998, 2001, 1997, 2015, 1999, 2016, 2024, 2002, 2011, 2007, 2013, 2008, 2012, 2009, 2014, 2010. The cleanest record among Silverado 3500 years belongs to 1994.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.