This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about fluid leaking from the brake caliper piston area found during a service of the vehicle. The substance is actually excess assembly grease from the caliper boot and piston installation. This grease can be cleaned off and the rest of the service completed.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Chevrolet Silverado brakes problems
severe 172 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
172
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
22crashes
5injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 172 brakes complaints filed for the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 172 brakes complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Brakes accounts for 21% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 12 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized, tested and designed for the vehicle in question and its applications. Technician should not use the information that is provided by the antilock braking system tire size selection.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication advises the technician that the Hydro-Boost is not serviceable and will need to be replaced if the brake pedal moves or applies on its own at a full turn.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of pulsing, grinding, scraping noise from brakes, uneven front brake pad wear.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of pulsing, grinding, scraping noise from brakes, uneven front brake pad wear.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2017 Silverados describe a systemic brake issue tied to the vacuum pump and brake-assist system. The most common complaint: brake pedal becomes rock-hard at low speeds—parking lots, reversing, drive-thrus—requiring excessive foot pressure or both feet to stop the truck. Vehicle rolls farther than expected, creating near-misses or collisions.
In severe cases, the pedal goes to the floorboard with no response, and the truck doesn't stop. Multiple owners report crashing into other vehicles, utility poles, guardrails, or coming close to pedestrians. Some failures include brake caliper seizure, causing the vehicle to pull hard to one side and overheat the brakes; one contact's radiator fractured, water pump failed, and eight valves were damaged.
Vacuum pump failure is the root cause in most cases—the pump leaks fluid, locks up, or breaks the belt, eliminating power assist. Some owners also report connector pin damage, broken wire harnesses, or ECBM (Electronic Brake Control Module) issues that weren't detected initially.
Owners cite multiple GM recalls (19V645000, 19V761000) and special coverage programs (N182202780 through 2027), but not all VINs are included. Dealers inconsistently honored repairs—some charged $500+ diagnostic fees, denied coverage if an independent shop had serviced the vehicle first, or claimed parts weren't in recall scope. One owner spent $1,100 out-of-pocket on vacuum pump, connector pin, and ECBM repairs, all tied to the same failure. Reprogramming the ECBM often failed to resolve the problem; vacuum pump replacement ultimately necessary.
Same Chevrolet Silverado brakes reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2018 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Brake Assist Light On / Vacuum Pump Failure
Brake assist warning illuminates intermittently; owners report vacuum pump has failed or is failing, causing loss of power-assist pressure. Pump either leaks fluid, locks up, or breaks the serpentine belt entirely. Some owners report error codes not being stored, complicating diagnosis.
When: Typically 40,000–175,000 miles; some intermittent at lower mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Brake assist warning light comes on dashboard; Brake pedal becomes very hard to push or rock hard; Vacuum pump makes squealing noise before failing; Loss of power assist, requiring excessive foot pressure; Intermittent issue that recurs after repair attempts
Codes mentioned: Brake Assist Fault, Service Stabilitrak warning, Service ABS warning
Repairs/costs cited: Vacuum pump replacement ($0–$500+ depending on dealer; covered under special coverage N182202780, N182198000, N192202780 for qualified VINs; some owners charged diagnostic fees or were denied warranty coverage). Some dealers also replaced connector pins, wire harness, or ECBM.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM issued multiple recalls and special coverage adjustments: NHTSA Campaign 19V645000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), 19V761000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic / ESC), 20V603, and service bulletins N182202780 and N192268490 (ECBM reprogramming). Not all VINs included in initial campaigns; owners urged to expand recalls. Some dealers refused repair if independent shop had serviced vehicle previously.
Hard Brake Pedal at Low Speeds / Reduced Braking Power
Brake pedal becomes stiff and difficult to depress during low-speed driving, parking, or backing. Requires excessive foot pressure or both feet to stop. Vehicle rolls farther than expected before stopping. Often mistaken for ABS engagement; no warning lights initially, then brake-assist or ABS warning appears.
When: Intermittent; occurs at speeds under 10 mph, especially when braking multiple times in succession (parking lot, reverse, drive-thru)
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal hard or stiff to push, especially at low speeds; Vehicle continues rolling after brake application; Requires double or triple pressure application to stop; Hard pedal recedes to floorboard on repeated braking; Brake assist warning message appears later; Near-misses while parking, backing into trailers, or at drive-thrus
Codes mentioned: Brake Assist Fault, Service Stabilitrak, Service ABS
Repairs/costs cited: Vacuum pump replacement most common fix. Some dealers recommended replacing 5+ parts (rotors, pads, calipers, wheel hubs, brake lines) before identifying vacuum pump as root cause. ECBM reprogramming (via recall) did not always resolve the issue. Owners report $0–$960+ in costs; some denied coverage outside of recall VINs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Issued ECBM recalibration recall (N192268490 / 19V645) in 2019; however, many owners report issue persists after reprogramming. Vacuum pump replacement added as special coverage (N182202780 through 2027 for eligible VINs). Dealers inconsistently honored special coverage if repairs done by independent shops. GM referred some owners to NHTSA hotline; provided no further assistance.
Complete Brake Failure / No Braking Response
In severe cases, brake pedal goes to floorboard with no resistance and vehicle does not stop or stops only after rolling significant distance. Often occurs during highway driving, emergency maneuvers, or backing. Most dangerous failure mode; multiple collisions reported.
When: 26,000–175,000 miles; can occur suddenly without prior warning
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal depressed to floorboard with no effect; Vehicle does not slow or stop immediately; No warning lights before failure; Requires emergency braking or multiple pump cycles to regain stopping power; Vehicle rolls into other cars, pedestrians, utility poles, guardrails, or water
Codes mentioned: Brake Assist Fault (if stored), Service Stabilitrak, Service ABS
Repairs/costs cited: Vacuum pump replacement most common diagnosis. One owner reported water pump and radiator failure, 8 valves damaged due to overheating from brakes. Some dealers could not perform recall repairs due to parts shortage (6-week wait reported); one contact crashed into motorcycle and sustained injuries; another suffered stroke during incident.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recalls 19V645000, 19V761000, and special coverage N182202780 issued. Dealers sometimes denied repairs if VIN not included in recall or if independent shop had prior service history. One contact received recall letter 2 weeks after crash. Manufacturer offered no assistance in several cases; referred owners to NHTSA hotline or insurance. GM initially refused to cover related damage (tow, hotel, suspension inspection requested).
Brake Caliper Seizure / Unintended Braking
Brake caliper on one side locks up or seizes, causing vehicle to pull hard to that side during braking or coasting. May occur during normal braking, towing, or low-speed maneuvers. Rotors overheat, smoke, and can cause radiator damage.
When: 41,000–175,000 miles; can recur even after caliper replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle pulls hard to one side when braking; Brake pedal firm and difficult to depress; Brakes smoke, especially during towing or heavy braking; ABS and stability control warning lights illuminated; Brake pads or rotors wear prematurely or lock up; Overheating leads to radiator fracture, water pump failure
Codes mentioned: ABS warning light, Stability Control failure warning, Service Stabilitrak
Repairs/costs cited: Initial repair: brake pad and rotor replacement ($1,000+). Failure recurred; dealer replaced both calipers, rotors, and pads again. One contact's radiator fractured and 8 valves damaged due to brake overheating. Another owner reported rear brakes both seized at low mileage (15,571 miles), requiring calipers and pads replacement ($1,000) at new car stage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Linked some failures to recall campaign 19V761000 but VINs often not included. Dealer referred owner to NHTSA hotline. No warranty coverage or reimbursement offered for overheat-related damage (water pump, radiator, valves).
Brake System Issues After Dealer Service or Recall Repair
Brake problems manifest or worsen immediately after recall service, reprogramming, or vacuum pump replacement. Some owners report dealer refusing to warranty work or denying that work was performed correctly. One contact reports service manager and technician were fired after customer complained.
When: Immediately post-service or within days/weeks of recall work
Symptoms owners cite: Brake assist light returns on after reprogramming; Hard pedal or loss of braking power right after leaving dealership lot; Same symptoms persist despite multiple repair attempts; Dealers claim parts are not in scope of recall, charge diagnostic or repair fees; Independent shops denied ability to perform warranty work on recalled vehicles
Codes mentioned: Brake Assist Fault, Ground fault in connector (per one contact), ECBM errors not storing (per one contact)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner spent $1,100+ out-of-pocket on vacuum pump, connector pin repair ($500+), and ECBM replacement, all related to single brake assist issue. Another dealer was caught lying about testing brakes and had service personnel replaced. Owners charged diagnostic fees ($500+ per visit) for problems within recall scope.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM covered some parts under 'special coverage' (vacuum pump) but refused to expand recall to include connectors, pins, or ECBM. Dealers inconsistently honored warranty; some required VIN inclusion in official recall. One contact filed case #9-5696419690 with GM; company stated not required to disclose actual cost in SEC filings.
ABS / Stability Control System Issues
ABS and stability control warning lights illuminate frequently, particularly during emergency braking or on icy roads. Some owners report vehicle sliding or loss of traction control when brakes are applied in snow/ice conditions.
When: Intermittent; triggered by emergency braking, low speeds, or winter conditions
Symptoms owners cite: ABS and Stabilitrak warning lights on; Vehicle slides on icy or snow-covered roads despite brake application; ABS engages unexpectedly or with unusual force; Vibration in brake pedal; Right rear speed sensor code appears after replacement (issue persists)
Codes mentioned: ABS warning, Service Stabilitrak, Right rear speed sensor code
Repairs/costs cited: One owner replaced right rear speed sensor; warning persisted. Some dealers blamed vacuum pump or ECBM and offered replacement, but root cause not always confirmed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 19V761000 addresses hydraulic brakes and ESC. Not all owners' issues resolved post-recall.
Brake Rotor and Pad Wear / Grinding Noise
Premature brake pad wear, rotor deterioration, or grinding noises reported at low mileage (15,571 miles). One owner experienced severe rust corrosion on rotors due to regional climate (rust belt). Another owner reports grinding noises without clear root cause, leading to replacement of five hubs and two rotors without resolution until vacuum pump replaced.
When: Low mileage (15,000+) and progressively higher mileage vehicles
Symptoms owners cite: Squealing or grinding noise from brakes; Brake towing warning light illuminates; Rapid pad wear; Rotor corrosion or rust damage (especially in salt-spray environments); Inner brake pad surface area loss
Codes mentioned: Brake Towing warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Brake caliper replacement ($1,000+ out-of-pocket); one owner had calipers replaced twice. Another owner paid for 4-wheel pads, rotors, and hardware replacement out-of-pocket (no warranty offered as 'maintenance item'). Underlying vacuum pump failure was later identified as root cause.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM informed one owner that brake wear is not covered as a 'maintenance' item under warranty. No proactive service bulletins issued for caliper seizure or premature wear.
Synthesized from 172 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Recalled at dealership for brake software adjustment. After recall brake peddal periodiaclly in hot weather compresses co.pletly to floor and makes loud squeeking sound. Truck is hard to stop when this happens. Vehicle ws in slow moving approach to parking lot.
Vehicle only has 86,000 miles. Brake vacuum pump issue has failed and almost caused an accident or even death. I took my tuck at an easy trail in Big Sur CA. Brakes wasn’t working properly. I feared it would completely fail and cause us to fall off the cliff. Fortunately we got off that trail, but as we continued to drive on highway 1 the brakes would not stop the vehicle as it should. The truck…
2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3 litre V8 1. Low speed brake failure. Problem seems more prevalent while vehichle is in reverse. 2. Had to use emergency brake to stop the vehicle. 3. Not yet but research show safety recall for 2014-2018 vehicles. When I searched on my VIN it did not show up and I never received any recall notice. 4. No 5. No - Problem has occurred intermittently several times.
Backing up from my driveway, my brakes fail. The brake pedal was very hard, I had to pressed multiple times until vehicle came to a stop. It was a very scary moment almost rear ended car park on the street. I purchased this vehicle on 12/24/2021 From Antelope Valley Chevy in Lancaster Ca. Same day of the incident. 2017 Silverado. I try contacting the dealer but they’ve close already due to the…
Brake assist issues occured while in the mountains. It was difficult to brake almost causing an accident. It appears to be a bad brake vacuum pump.
This complaint deals with the brake recall coming from gm. I did take the truck to have the brake system reprogrammed. I had no issues until after the reprogramming of the system. While in parking lot going less than 5 MPH. I pulled into a parking spot placed the truck into reverse to straighten out and during the process of pulling back into the parking space straight. When I went to depress the…
Had brakes trouble with your 2017 Chevrolet Silverado?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado?
It's a meaningful issue. 172 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 92 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 35,000 and 63,000 miles, with the median around 45,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 35,000; a quarter make it past 63,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/Chevrolet/Silverado.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.