The Silverado 1500 has solid bones but a few years carry real risk. The 5.3L L83 AFM lifter failures (2014-2019) and the 8L90 8-speed shudder (2015-2019) are both subjects of active or settled class actions. Here are the worst Silverado years and the years actually worth buying.
Avoid: 2014-2015 (AFM lifter), 2019-2020 (8L90 shudder)
Buy: 2016-2018 with 5.3L L83 (AFM disabled) or 6.2L
Scores 1-10 based on NHTSA complaint volume, severity of reported issues, recall history, and class-action exposure. Higher is better.
| Year | Score | Summary | Top 3 Problems | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 5/10 | New K2 platform. AFM lifter failures begin. | · AFM lifter collapse · 8L90 shudder (later) · A/C compressor |
AVOID |
| 2015 | 5.5/10 | AFM problems continue. 8L90 debuts on 6.2L. | · AFM lifter · 8L90 shudder · Power steering recall |
AVOID |
| 2016 | 7/10 | Mid-cycle improvements but AFM still a risk. | · AFM lifter (reduced) · 8L90 shudder · Brake vacuum pump |
CAUTION |
| 2017 | 7/10 | Similar to 2016. Mature truck overall. | · AFM lifter · 8L90 shudder · Brake pump |
CAUTION |
| 2018 | 7.5/10 | Last year of K2 gen. Best of pre-T1 generation. | · AFM (continued) · 8L90 (TSB) · Electronics |
CAUTION |
| 2019 | 5.5/10 | New T1 platform first year. Multiple recalls. | · AFM lifter (still) · 8L90 shudder (peak) · DFM transition bugs |
AVOID |
| 2020 | 6.5/10 | 10L80/10L90 fixed some issues but new ones emerged. | · DFM lifter (replacing AFM) · 10-speed harsh shift · Powertrain control module |
AVOID |
| 2022 | 7.5/10 | Most issues addressed. 3.0 Duramax is strong. | · 6.2L lifter (rare) · Infotainment · Sensor recalls |
CAUTION |
Active Fuel Management collapses lifters on cylinders 1/4/6/7 leading to misfire, ticking, and potentially camshaft damage. Settled class action (Smith v. GM) covered some 2014-2019 trucks.
AFM lifter problems →Torque converter shudder, harsh 1-2 shift, neutral drops. GM TSB 18-NA-355 specifies fluid flush with Mobil 1 LV ATF HP. Class action Speerly v. GM filed 2019.
GM transmission issues →Same AFM/DFM lifter failure pattern hits the 6.2L. Camshaft damage common when ignored. Class action included.
6.2L L86 problems →NHTSA recall 14V-153 covered EPS modules that could intermittently lose assist. Verify completion before purchase.
Run AI diagnosis →K2 platform AC compressors fail in the 60-90k mile range. Class action filed in 2020 over compressor sealing.
Run AI diagnosis →Vacuum pump leak causes hard brake pedal warning. NHTSA opened investigation in 2019.
Run AI diagnosis →Driveshaft vibration around 50-65 mph on 4WD models. GM TSB 17-NA-203 addresses.
Run AI diagnosis →Run a $5.99 AI diagnosis tailored to your exact vehicle. Get the most likely cause, repair estimate, and OBD2 code interpretation in under 30 seconds.
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If your Silverado is throwing a check engine light, these codes are most often associated with the problems above. Click any code for diagnosis steps.
2014 and 2019 are widely cited as worst. 2014 had the first wave of AFM lifter failures; 2019 had multiple recalls and 8L90 shudder.
GM replaced AFM with DFM (Dynamic Fuel Management) on 2019+ trucks but similar lifter failures continued. 2022+ revised lifters have largely fixed it.
It is powerful but shares the AFM/DFM lifter risk. Disabling AFM via tune or range device is a common preventive step on enthusiast trucks.
2015-2019 trucks with the 8L90 8-speed had the most complaints. TSB 18-NA-355 transmission fluid flush is the official remedy.
Yes, comparatively. Last year of the K2 gen with mature electronics. Still has some AFM lifter risk - check oil pressure history and listen for cold-start tick.
If buying used in the AFM era (2014-2018), the 5.3 is more affordable to fix; the 6.2 lifter repair runs $1500-2500 more. A 2020+ DFM-revised truck is the safer choice.