This Preliminary information communicates if the sunroof, rear sliding window, and/or wireless charging are found to be inoperative due to the F2DL and/or the F8DL fuse(s) being open. Inspect the center console harness area at the hinge pivot point for chaffed circuits.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Chevrolet Silverado visibility problems
severe Owners of the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado have filed 19 NHTSA complaints about the visibility, typically surfacing around 68,000 miles at roughly $350 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See visibility across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
| Model year | visibility complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Silverado | 9 |
| 2014 Silverado | 39 |
| 2015 Silverado | 29 |
| 2016 Silverado | 17 |
| 2017 Silverado (this page) | 19 |
| 2018 Silverado | 7 |
| 2019 Silverado | 6 |
| 2020 Silverado | 5 |
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 19 visibility complaints filed for the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
Among the 16 model years of Chevrolet Silverado in our records for visibility problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering visibility 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 technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of hearing excessive wind noise from front side door glass area.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This preliminary informational bulletin contains recommendations of what needs to be done to swap/install camper outside rearview mirrors on a vehicle not originally equipped with them.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication advises the technician the steps on diagnosing the concern. Customer's sunroof operation intermittent, bind, noise, auto-reverse, and/or water leaks.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication advises the technician the steps on diagnosing the concern. Customer's sunroof operation intermittent, bind, noise, auto-reverse, and/or water leaks.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2017 Silverado describe a serious pattern involving the rear power sliding window. In the most frequent complaint, the rear window shatters with a loud pop during or shortly after defroster activation, often in cold weather or after remote start. Burning wire or rubber odor and smoke from the rear window area precede the failure. The glass breaks into pieces but remains largely held together, sometimes with visible burn marks on the inner or outer surface. Failures occur across the mileage range (as low as 9,782 miles, as high as 138,000), and some happen simply when shutting the truck door. One owner notes that Canada issued a full recall for this exact issue on 2014–2018 Silverado 1500 models with power sliding rear windows, while an expired US campaign (N192265660) acknowledged the faulty defroster circuit. GM has consistently denied assistance on US claims.
Beyond rear window failure, owners report a windshield scratch pattern where new replacement glass develops severe milky scratches at wiper blade reversal points within 13,000 miles, reducing visibility. GM blamed one owner for using wipers without washer solution despite the owner's documented contrary practice.
A separate cohort reports spontaneous rear window shatter without defroster involvement or identified cause. One owner also describes windshield washer motor burnout tied to a wiring defect, and another notes excessive backup camera display brightness at night with no adjustment option.
Same Chevrolet Silverado visibility reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Rear power sliding window thermal failure and explosion
Rear power sliding window or rear window defroster assembly overheats, creating electrical arcing or thermal damage, causing the tempered glass to shatter suddenly with a loud pop or bang. Occupants report burning wire or rubber odor and smoke preceding failure. Occurs during defroster operation, remote start, or vehicle startup in cold conditions, or when door is shut.
When: Mileage range 9,782 to 138,000; failures occur during cold weather use or after remote start; some failures occur while parked or at low speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Loud pop or bang sound from rear window area; Burning wire or rubber odor in cabin before failure; Smoke or visible smoke from rear window area; Visible burning or melting on plastic defroster components; Shattered tempered glass remaining largely intact but with hole or extensive breakage; Amber or burned marks on inner or outer glass surface
Repairs/costs cited: Window replacement cost cited as $948 to over $1,000 for part alone; rear window defroster assembly replacement needed per dealer diagnosis
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Expired campaign N192265660 acknowledged faulty circuit/glass in prior model years; full recall exists for 2014–2018 Silverado 1500 with power sliding rear window in Canada but not US; GM denied assistance on most US complaints; customer satisfaction bulletin mentioned by some owners
Windshield wiper blade scratch damage
New windshield develops prominent scratches at wiper blade reversal points, creating milky or severely compromised visibility in critical sight lines. Occurs on replacement windshield within 13,000 miles of installation. Owner reports always using washer solution with wipers; GM customer service and dealer attributed damage to wiper use without washer fluid despite owner's denial.
When: Approximately 13,000 miles on replacement windshield; original windshield had factory defects replaced at purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Vertical or linear scratches in windshield at wiper blade reversal zones; Milky or hazed appearance compromising visibility; Temporary loss of sight line when sunlight hits scratches at certain angles
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to authorize replacement without GM approval; GM denied warranty coverage
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM customer service blamed owner for using wipers without washer solution despite documented contrary use; declined warranty coverage and support
Rear window spontaneous shatter without identified cause
Rear window glass shatters suddenly with loud pop while vehicle is being driven at various speeds, parked, or door is shut. No defroster use, burning smell, or smoke reported in these cases. Cause cannot be determined by dealers.
When: Mileage range 40,000 to 122,000; occurs during normal driving or vehicle movement
Symptoms owners cite: Loud pop or bang sound; Sudden shatter of rear window glass; No warning indicators before failure
Repairs/costs cited: Window replacement required; cause not determined by dealers
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in some cases; no assistance offered
Windshield washer pump motor failure
Washer pump motor burns out or overheats due to wiring defect, preventing windshield washer operation. Owner notes this is not directly a visibility problem in operation but affects the ability to clean windshield for visibility.
When: Approximately 3–4 months after purchase; vehicle stored in Arizona and not in use
Symptoms owners cite: Washer system does not operate; Burned out washer motor; Motor overheating due to wiring issue
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced washer bottle and washer pump motor
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner reports multiple 2016–2017 model complaints online regarding the same wiring-related failure
Backup camera display excessive brightness
Backup camera display screen is too bright at night, creating a distracting light source inside the cabin that reduces overall interior and forward visibility. No brightness adjustment control available on this model year.
When: Occurs during nighttime operation
Symptoms owners cite: Excessive brightness of backup camera screen at night; Inability to adjust brightness; Reduced ability to see vehicle interior and road ahead at night due to glare
Sunroof spontaneous explosion
Sunroof glass suddenly explodes while vehicle is driven at highway speed. Cause cannot be determined by dealer inspection.
When: Approximately 40,000 miles; occurs while driving at 55 MPH
Symptoms owners cite: Loud pop sound; Sunroof glass suddenly shatters
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired; cause not determined
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
The rear window with power slider blew out when I shut my truck door. I read online that there is a recall for many other models similar to my vehicle but for some reason mine wasn't included. The window itself is over a thousand dollars just for the part; I'd appreciate some help in getting this to include my vehicle as well because it is directly inline with recalls for very similar models.…
The electrical wires in my back window got so hot it shattered my back window. Could smell electrical smoke post incident. Rear defrost was in use. There is currently a recall on exact same truck model and year in canada but currently not in the us. This needs to be addressed before someone gets injured.
After using remote start on 2015 Silverado to start on a cold day 27 degrees F as soon as I put my key in the back window shattered and the window was smoking. Cab was filled with smoke and needed to put the key in to stop the truck.
Had visibility 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 visibility problem on the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado?
It's a meaningful issue. 19 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $350.
At what mileage does the visibility typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most visibility failures cluster between 40,000 and 104,000 miles, with the median around 68,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 40,000; a quarter make it past 104,000. 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 $350 for visibility 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 visibility?
No active recalls currently cover visibility 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.