YearToAvoid

2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 147 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 12% of all 1,181 complaints for the year, with a median failure mileage of 38,000. Two related recalls cover a defective rear axle and a transfer case control module software issue.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
147
12% of 1,181
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
38,000 mi
Related recalls
2

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Transmission fails to shift or hesitates for several seconds at low speeds before finding the correct gear, sometimes while coasting or accelerating.
  • Owners describe a clunk or bump from the rear of the truck when coming to a stop or during hard acceleration.
  • Vehicle shifts out of park on its own and rolls a short distance after being parked.
  • Drivers report a shaking, shimmying, or sputtering transmission that can cause the truck to bog down while pulling out onto a road.
  • A vibration starting around 60 mph and intensifying at higher speeds is felt through the seats, steering wheel, and pedals.
  • Four-wheel-drive system engages unexpectedly at low speed and locks up the front end, requiring a dealer reprogram.

When 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 9, 2014, latest Sep 15, 2026.

2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per quarter72014 Q32016 Q32018 Q12019 Q32021 Q12022 Q32024 Q22025 Q4
147 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2020 Q4 (7).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

  1. NHTSA 14V819000Dec 24, 2014Transmission & Powertrain152 vehicles

    Power train:axle assembly:axle shaft

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles manufactured November 24, 2014, to November 25, 2014. Due to an improper heat-treatment, the rear axle shaft may fracture while the vehicle is being driven.

    Risk: If the rear axle shaft fractures, the rear wheel may separate from the axle shaft, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear axles, and replace any that were improperly heat-treated, free of charge. The recall began on December 17,2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet) or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14892.

  2. NHTSA 14V374000Jun 27, 2014Transmission & Powertrain392,459 vehicles

    Power train:transfer case (4-wheel drive)

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles, and model year 2015 GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. In the affected vehicles, an electrical signal short may cause the transfer case to shift to neutral without the driver's input.

    Risk: If the transfer case switches to neutral while the vehicle is parked and the parking brake is not in use, the vehicle may roll away increasing the risk of injury to bystanders. If the transfer case switches to neutral while the vehicle is being driven, the vehicle would lose drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will re-program the software in the transfer case control module, free of charge. The recall began in early August 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14192.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Silverado 1500 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200569 (8%)
  2. 200636 (7%)
  3. 200756 (5%)
  4. 200837 (3%)
  5. 200915 (3%)
  6. 201031 (7%)
  7. 201121 (3%)
  8. 201221 (7%)
  9. 201324 (7%)
  10. 2014191 (12%)
  11. 2015147 (12%)
  12. 2016193 (24%)
  13. 2017224 (27%)
  14. 2018171 (33%)
  15. 2019326 (30%)
  16. 2020225 (31%)
  17. 2021236 (29%)
  18. 2022182 (29%)
  19. 2023106 (28%)
  20. 202494 (30%)
  21. 202520 (20%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2015 Silverado 1500 have?
NHTSA lists 147 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2015 Silverado 1500, which is 12% of the 1,181 total complaints filed for that model year.
At what mileage do these transmission problems usually show up?
The median mileage at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2015 Silverado 1500 is 38,000 miles.
Is there a transmission-related recall for the 2015 Silverado 1500?
Yes. Recall 14V819000 covers an improperly heat-treated rear axle shaft, and recall 14V374000 covers a transfer case control module software issue on 2014-2015 Silverado and related GM trucks and SUVs.
Did the transmission problems cause any crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data tied to this problem area for the 2015 Silverado 1500 shows 3 crashes and 2 injuries, with no fires reported.
How does 2015 compare to other Silverado 1500 model years for this issue?
The 2015 model year's 147 complaints and 12% share are lower than later years like 2017 (224 complaints, 27%) and 2019 (326 complaints, 30%), based on NHTSA complaint counts by model year.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.