The Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck has a long history of being used as both a consumer and commercial grade truck vehicle. However, the model has also had a history of malfunctions, according to various Internet reports.
Trucks after 2005 all come with onboard diagnostic computer sensors that send signals and codes when something goes wrong. The first step in diagnosing a Silverado issue on a newer model truck is to use a code reader/scanner to pull the codes from the car computer and identify what the car says is malfunctioning. You can buy an OBD II scanner from any auto tool supplier.
Older Silverado trucks manufactured from 1999 to 2000 came with structural weaknesses in the tailgate area. The tailgates and support cables were prone to rusting, causing injury if the tailgate dropped or fell off. If a Silverado from this time frame is having problems, check for corrosion.
The braking systems on a number of Silverados manufactured in 2000 had a bad habit of initiating the anti-lock braking feature, causing the car to brake unexpectedly. The cause was corrosion causing the brake sensors to misread signals.
