Chevy Silverado was introduced in 1998 and since then has had three different models ranging from Chevy Silverado 1500, 2500, to Silverado 3500.
While the Chevy Silverado 1500 is the lighter duty, the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 are the heavy-duty trucks that are too strong that they can tow another.
However, the major downside to these heavy-duty models is that they have terrible gas mileage which is very terrible for commuting.
Irrespective of the models that you have, there are some years that consumers of Chevy Silverado have complained bitterly of having issues. In this article, we will discuss those years and the reason why you should stay clear from that year.
The Chevy Silverado years to avoid are 2005, 2007, 2008, 2014, 2015, and 2016 Chevy Silverado because of the numerous recalls they had and other major problems which range from transmission problems to power steering problems, rusty brakes, engine problems, four-wheel-drive issues, and excessive oil consumption, etc.
Chevy Silverado Years to Avoid
2005 Chevy Silverado
The 2005 Chevy Silverado is a year you should avoid especially if you intend to buy a used one. This is because of the numerous safety issues that have been reported by users which caused the company to recall the car 14 times.
Imagine recalling a car 14 times, it shows how serious the problem is. We all know that when a car is recalled, there are safety issues that need to be fixed by the company. Those safety issues are something that cannot be ignored.
Therefore, buying the 2005 Chevy Silverado without knowing those issues that led to the 14 recalls will come back to affect you later.
- Rusty Brakes: The 2005 Chevy Silverado is known to have rusty brakes. You know how important a break is for a car, imagine driving a car with rusty brakes. No wonder they keep recalling the car. No one wants to risk their lives because they want to use the 2005 Chevy Silverado when you can go for other years that are much better.
- Steering Column Issues: This is another issue with the 2005 Chevy Silverado, it has been recorded that several people have complained about the steering column issues which can make one not enjoy driving. Driving can sometimes be stressful sometimes, imagine driving with a steering wheel problem, it will cause more problems than you think.
- Transmission Problems: The 2005 Chevy Silverado also has transmission problems but not as common as the other problems mentioned above.
2007 Chevy Silverado
Buying a 2007 Chevy Silverado is not the question, the question is, will you be able to enjoy fixing the numerous problems it comes with?
Unlike the 2005 Chevy Silverado, the 2007 Chevy Silverado doesn’t have too many problems and was just recalled 4 times which is way lesser than the 2005 models.
However, irrespective of the fact that it had only been recalled 4 times, it still has its problems which should make you stay away from the year. These problems are:
- Engine Problems: The 2007 Chevy Silverado has engine problems that are not funny at all. You see yourself always frequenting the repair shop to keep fixing the engine. Why put yourself in that position when you can clearly go for another year that is more reliable.
- Transmission Problems: Transmission problems were more common with the 2007 Chevy Silverado. Trust me, you don’t want to drive a car that will be giving you transmission problems.
- Excessive Oil Consumption: The 2007 Chevy Silverado has been attributed to always drinking oil. In fact, it drinks it like water. Excessive oil consumption is not a problem only if you have the money to be changing the oil, or perhaps if you work in an oil-producing company. By the time you’ve changed it two to three times in a row, you will know what you have done to yourself.
2008 Chevy Silverado
The 2008 Chevy Silverado was just recalled 2 times which is impressive. It shows that Chevrolet is improving in terms of safety issues. However, it still didn’t prevent it from having serious issues like the others mentioned above.
- Excessive Oil Consumption: It seems as though Chevrolet did not fix the excessive oil consumption that occurs with the 2007 model which is why the issue continued in 2008. As reiterated earlier, it is not a problem if you have money to always get the oil.
- Four Wheel Drive Issues: The 2008 Chevy Silverado also have terrible four-wheel-drive issues which according to a report affected the utility of the car. How can you enjoy driving your car if it’s having a four-wheel issue
2014 Chevy Silverado
Remember how recalls were reduced after the 2007 models? Well, in 2014, it seemed as though Chevy forgot to be more careful about the safety features of the car to the extent that the car was recalled 19 times.
Imagine recalling a car 19 times. It means that a lot of things were wrong with the year and therefore, a clear indication that you should avoid the year.
- Power Steering Issues: The 2014 Chevy Silverado has power steering issues which makes it harder for you to use your steering wheels. I’ve had a power steering wheel issue before with my Lexus IS 300, which made the steering to be hard to turn.
- Electrical Issues: While electrical issues may not seem to be a problem to you, an electrical fault can cause the car never to start. It can cause other functions of the car that needs electricity to work not to function. Is that what you really want?
2015 Chevy Silverado
While we were worried about the fact that the 2014 Chevy Silverado was recalled 19 times, the 2015 Chevy Silverado was recalled 20 times which include the truck to the Chevy Silverado years to avoid. Chevrolet really needs to step up their game.
The problems the 2015 Chevy Silverado had are:
- Transmission Problems: There are well-known transmission problems with the 2015 Chevy Silverado which people complained about. There is no need to buy a truck that will keep giving you transmission issues as you use it.
- Suspension Issue: According to the report made by the 2015 Chevy Silverado users, many people complained of suspension issues which can cost between $4,000 to $5,000 to fix.
2016 Chevy Silverado
In 2016, Chevrolet came back to the game by focussing on the safety issues that reduced the number of recalls made that year to 10. At least, it’s way better than 14, 19, and 20 recalled made from the previous years.
However, the 2016 Chevy Silverado still had its own problems which are:
- Brake Issues: No one wants to drive a car with brake issues. The 2016 Chevy Silverado had one, so buy at your own risk.
- Engine Issues: There were serious complaints about the engine of the 2016 Chevy Silverado which should deter you from purchasing a car from that year.
Chevy Silverado Years to Purchase
You can purchase other years that were not listed above to have problems. Years such as 2012 which had only 2 recalls as well as 2018 and 2019.
However, it is important to note that the fact that 2012, 2018, and 2019 are suggested for purchase doesn’t mean you will drive it forever without it giving you any issues. It’s just that it is more reliable than the years listed above.
Conclusion
Buying a Chevy Silverado truck is not a problem, the problem is buying one that will be making you frequent the repair shop and causing you to spend too much money. Knowing these Chevy Silverado years to avoid and their problem will help you make the right choice needed before making a purchase. Choose wisely.