Chevy Silverado

Chevy trucks have been subject to multiple major recalls in just the past few years. If your vehicle has been recalled and it’s still not working correctly, then you may be protected under California lemon law. That means you could have the right to receive full compensation for your vehicle or even have it replaced entirely.

Chevrolet’s Silverado line of pickups are some of the most iconic trucks in the country. Chevy has been producing trucks under the Silverado imprint since the 1990s, and it has seen strong enough sales that Chevy now makes multiple trucks under the name, including:

• Silverado 1500 and 1500 LD
• Silverado 2500 HD
• Silverado 3500 HD
• Silverado Hybrid

These trucks are functionally identical to the equivalent GMC Sierra models since Chevrolet is under the GMC umbrella. Sierras are built on the same frame; they are just manufactured with more luxury options. That means that when Chevy Silverados have problems, it’s likely that GMC Sierras will, too.

Unfortunately, GMC and Chevrolet have struggled with recalls on recent year models. Since 2019, Silverados have been subject to dozens of recalls for issues from brake failures to fires. The manufacturing quality of these trucks should make owners wary that they’ve bought a lemon.

If you think your Chevy Silverado is a lemon, you need expert help. The team at Johnson & Buxton – The Lemon Law Guys is prepared to help you understand your options and decide what to do next. You’ll receive customized advice and expert service from lawyers with decades of experience.

We can help you determine whether you have a case, what defenses to expect from Chevrolet and your best options for a speedy resolution. You can contact our Ventura attorneys today to learn more.

History of Chevrolet Silverado Recalls

In just the past three years, Silverado trucks have been recalled for some terrifying flaws. Let’s break down the reasons for these recalls by the year they occurred.

2019 Chevy Silverado Recalls

• Alternator connection fire risks (350,371 trucks affected): A critical electrical connection between the battery and the alternator in 2019 Silverado and Sierra 1500s may fail, causing stalled engines or electrical fires.
• EBCM software errors (463,995 trucks affected): A software error in 2019 Sierra and Silverado 1500s could disable the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Antilock Brake System (ABS) in the trucks without illuminating the warning lights on the dashboard, potentially causing drivers to get into accidents. The error also violated NHTSA rules regarding light truck braking and safety systems.
• Seatbelt fires (556,399 trucks affected): The seatbelt pretensioners in 2019-2020 Sierra and Silverado 1500s and 2020 year model 2500 and 3500s could release hot gas when deployed. This gas could be hot enough to cause carpet fires within the trucks.

2020 Chevy Silverado Recalls

• Seat belt failures (624,216 trucks affected): The brackets attaching the front-row center seatbelt may not be connected properly, putting occupants in these seats at risk during accidents. Affected trucks include 2019-2021 Silverado 1500s, 2020-2021 year model 2500 and 3500s, and corresponding GMC Sierra models.
• Electronic brake assist failures (148,055 trucks affected): The software controlling electronic brake assist systems in 2019 year model 1500s has an error that may disable the feature, making accidents more likely. The error also violated NHTSA rules regarding light truck braking and safety systems.

2021 Chevy Silverado Recalls

• Tire failures (33,838 trucks affected): Tires used for various GMC vehicles, including 2019-2020 year model 1500s, might be overcured. This can lead to breaks in the sidewall and potentially cause sudden flat tires or even tread loss, making drivers lose control of the vehicle and potentially crash.
• Airbag malfunctions (12 affected, investigation ongoing): GMC has recalled certain Silverados for potentially missing critical metal tabs intended to secure the plastic airbag cover to the housing, causing the airbag to be more dangerous in crashes. GMC is also under investigation for other airbag issues in 2020-2021 Sierra and Silverado 1500s where driver frontal airbags failed to deploy in accidents, potentially due to rust particles in the driver airbag inflator terminal interface.

Is Your Chevy Silverado a Lemon?

A recall alone doesn’t mean that a car is a lemon. California law defines lemons as vehicles that:

• Have a manufacturer error that impacts their function, safety, or value
• Went to the mechanic for that error within 18 months or 18,000 miles of lease or purchase
• Are still under warranty

Furthermore, before you can file a lemon claim, you need to give the manufacturer a “reasonable” opportunity to fix the problem. If they fail, then your truck may be eligible for a lemon claim. A reasonable opportunity to repair can mean one of three things:

• Chevy made four attempts to fix a non-lethal issue with your truck, and it came back
• Chevy made two attempts to resolve a potentially deadly problem, and it’s still present
• Your vehicle has been in the shop for at least 30 days (non-consecutively) with manufacturing flaws, and they still haven’t been resolved

If any of these issues sound familiar, you may have a lemon on your hands. That means you have limited time to get things fixed before your truck is no longer eligible under California lemon laws.

You need to take action as soon as possible to ensure your claim has the best chance of success. If you want to know more about what qualifies as a lemon, you can read our Consumer’s Guide to Lemon Law. You can also take our quiz to see if you meet the basic qualifications.

Get Help from Experienced California Lemon Law Lawyers

If you think your Chevy Silverado is a lemon, then the experts at Johnson & Buxton at here to help. We have years of experience helping people like you fight automakers to make sure they honor their warranties. You can reach out to learn whether your car is a lemon and what to do next by calling 805-870-8732 or reaching out through this online form. Schedule your free consultation today to resolve your problems with your truck for good.