6.4

fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
$170
Average Mileage:
87,700 miles
Total Complaints:
9 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (5 reports)
  2. replaced fan relay switch located in heater air box near fan (3 reports)
  3. the heater ballast speed controller and harness burned out (1 reports)
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problem #9

Sep 242011

Silverado LT 5.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 76,000 miles

Damn near got killed! As I was driving, my cabin filled up with so much smoke, I couldn't see. Chevy customer service said there was no problem! (maybe because no-one died) Had the problem repaired at a local shop for $364.00.

The early signs of failure are the loss of fan speeds or none at all. Failure usually occurs under high heat and/or AC usage. I had to replace the heater fan ballast controller unit and the burned out connector harness. The cheap OEM one fails from corrosion and overheating. The aftermarket ones are more reliable, cheaper and comes with the replacement harness. (Advance/Autozone/NAPA/etc)

Good luck chasing GM (government motors) for re-reimbursement. I filed twice within the past year and reported to the NHTSA.

- bananastan24, Bridgewater, MA, US

problem #8

Sep 062009

Silverado LT 4.8L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 78,000 miles

Annoyed the hell out of me.I was up in the mountains hunting for 4 days without the heater fan.

- blehman, Johnstown, PA, US

problem #7

Jul 282010

Silverado 4.8L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 152,000 miles

my a/c wont blow but on 5. i first noticed it only working when i turned it to three. then the hottest day of july it quit. it will still blow in its highest setting but only on it and it is perfectly cold. just annoying

- joshuaw, Vian, OK, US

problem #6

Jul 172009

Silverado V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

This is such a pain. My heater only works on 3 and 4.

- Hollie R., Williamsburg, VA, US

problem #5

Feb 202009

Silverado 1500 V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 92,725 miles

ok, this really pisses me off. My truck, my daughters trazil blazer and a friends trailblazer all 3 of ours have had this fan problem. It only works on 4&5. This is a definite problem. Chevrolet does not seem to care that we buy their junk and pay damn good money for it. To have to replace the fan switch. Plus other things that have to be replaced. As much as I have loved Chevy I am def looking at fords. This is terrible business for chevy not to replace these heater fans.

- Rebecca R., Midland, MI, US

problem #4

Dec 012008

Silverado 4.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 94,000 miles

Follow up to my previous complaint about the fan controls not working. Temps dropped to 20 below zero and the fan finally had enough. Of the five speeds for the fan the only speed that worked was #5. I bought a new resistor for the fan. Initially bought the part from Oreilly Auto parts in Forest Lake, MN. The salesman was eager to sell me the part, but of course failed to mention that it did not fit on my truck. I returned the part and he claimed I needed to "reconfigure" some things to make it work, or go and by the GM part. In an attempt to be funny the other salesman standing by the counter said "If it wasn't for the newer Chevy, Ford, Dodge and Toyota trucks, we would be out of business"....what a funny guy. I gave him his part back and went across the street to Napa where the salesman actually told me upfront that the part wasn't going to fit properly. Long story short, two washers did the trick to help secure the resister where it should be. The resistor is located under the glove box.

- J Y., Hugo, MN, US

problem #3

Dec 012008

Silverado 4.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,000 miles

Lower speeds on AC/Heat control stopped working. Only speeds 4 and 5 work. Not the end of the world, but it is really annoying.

- J Y., Hugo, MN, US

problem #2

Feb 152008

Silverado 1500 4.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 56,241 miles

I started by loosing my lower speeds on my fan, then got 'till i only had the high speed on the heater. It took a while to figure it out but i finally got it.

- ssharp, Worthington, WV, US

problem #1

Jan 272006

(reported on)

Silverado

  • 75,000 miles

my battery went dead because I left ignition on, after getting truck started the heat was as hot as on high, moving then temp control did nothing, unable to divert heat to the floor or windsheild, also AC will not turn on, or back window defrost. ANY SUGGESTIONS OUT THERE??

- Sally A., Wayland, MI, US