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2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
49%
34 of 69 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

49% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 64% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 5 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 46%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 34 of 69 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (49%), and the largest group is filed under engine (19). For comparison, the 2018 scores 55% and the 2020 scores 48%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
34
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
74
this model year
Fires reported
6
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
7
2 crashes · 4 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM19 · 26%
ENGINE19 · 26%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM10 · 14%
POWER TRAIN9 · 12%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER7 · 9%
SERVICE BRAKES6 · 8%

The years either side

2010
35%
24 of 83
2011
35%
43 of 179
2012
34%
32 of 121
2013
35%
34 of 115
2014
49%
71 of 164
2015
32%
68 of 258
2016
26%
30 of 128
2017
44%
71 of 178
2018
55%
24 of 53
2019
49%
34 of 74
2020
48%
50 of 108
2021
44%
37 of 87
2022
30%
28 of 95
2023
56%
24 of 47

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Same car, a better year

Other heavy-duty pickups with no elevated signal

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE10/23/2023FIRE1 INJURED
While trying to Jumpstart the battery the factory gm battery exploded send battery acid flying everywhere. Causing chemical burns. Ring Video available of incident.
ENGINE03/14/2026
The Variable Geometry Turbocharger Actuator failed on my 2019 2500HD Silverado. There was a significant decrease in power. This was most noticeable on uphill grades where speed would drop to between 35 and 40 mph on a 75mph speed limit highway. On several occasions, vehicles came close to hitting me because of my slow …
ENGINE03/04/2026
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and it was determined that the injection pump needed to be replaced, and that the vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was not…

Three of 34 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 (7)

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500 and 2017-2019 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with a Duramax diesel 6.6 …
ENGINE
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500, 5500 and 6500 vehicles and 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 vehicles and GMC Sierra…
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 vehicles equipped with a dual fuel tank option. The rea…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500

Questions people ask about the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500

Does the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 34 of 69 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (49%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns on the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Chevrolet Silverado 2500 years are better?

Among the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 years we track, the 2016 (26%), the 2022 (30%) and the 2015 (32%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2019 (49%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.