2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 · symptom sheet
Brake pedal goes hard or the booster or vacuum pump fails
- 185owner reports
- 59,000median miles
- $700median quote
- 7involved a crash
Newest report Jun 6, 2026 · checked Sep 29, 2026
185 of the 381 reports of brake wear on the 2015 Silverado 1500 describe brake booster failure.
Part of Brakes grind, pulse or wear early (381 reports) · also: brake failure, soft brake pedal, ABS light on
Tick what matches of 185 reports
Brake booster failure on other Silverado 1500 years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This is the narrower sheet inside brakes for reports about a hard pedal or a failed power assist. The pedal stops feeling normal: it turns stiff, takes far more force, and the car needs a longer distance to stop.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the vacuum pump (98 reports), the brake booster (31 reports) and the master cylinder (6 reports).
Recalls and investigations
4 recalls on the brakes cover the 2015 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.
The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
The brake pedal pivot nut may loosen, causing the brake pedal to be loose or inoperative.
On the affected vehicles, the brake pedal pivot nut may loosen, causing the brake pedal to be loose or inoperative.
NHTSA investigations into the brakes on the Silverado 1500
Brake vacuum pump failure. Closed apr 10, 2022, led to recall 19V-645.
Brake line corrosion failure. Closed apr 8, 2015.
Brake line corrosion failure. Closed jan 5, 2011.
Unwanted low-speed abs activation. Closed sep 13, 2005, led to recall 05V-379.
Hydraulic pump failres. Closed feb 28, 2005, led to recall 05V-005.
What owners paid
23 of the 185 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $500 to $1,139.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 43,362 and 75,000 miles, from the 143 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
N182202780 Special Coverage Adjustment. In some circumstances, some 2014-2017 model year Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Sierra, and GMC Yukon vehicles may have a condition where customers may experience increased brake ...
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on the steps to diagnose and repair vehicles that may have issues were the customer will need increased effort to depress the brake pedal.
What owners wrote
“I have a 2015 Chevy Silverado, when I am breaking, especially in stop-and-go traffic when I need to my use brakes a lot. My brake pedal will be get stiff and is accompanied by extended stopping distance to a point where I almost hit the vehicle in front of me.”
Filed Jun 6, 2026
“At low speed I get a hard brake pedal like low vacuum ( booster pump failure) maybe.”
Filed Apr 30, 2022
“Appears to be a brake booster with my truck like trucks similar with this year, however my truck isn't included in the recall”
Filed Mar 12, 2022
“Brake pedal got hard while trying to stop. Had no power brakes. Turn truck off and back on brake pedal works again”
Filed Dec 12, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 7 of 185 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 100 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 84 reports
- A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 73 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 72 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 47 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 46 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 40 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 35 reports
- Rear window shatters or explodes 32 reports
- Paint peels or body rusts 31 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 28 reports
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 27 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 26 reports