My 2025 Chevy Silverado Trail Boss 231 Miles In, Lost Power Steering and Brakes, the Dealer Replaced the PS Unit Twice, and it Still Has Metal In the Fluid

It's the second time in a week that I've encountered a 2025 Chevrolet Silverado Trail Boss owner experiencing issues with their brand-new truck. This raises a red flag. Is there a recurring issue with the Trail Boss that potential buyers should be aware of?

Imagine being a 2025 Chevy Silverado Trail Boss owner, facing serious issues with your truck after a mere 231 miles. The power steering and brakes fail, leaving you in a precarious situation. Despite the dealer's efforts, including two replacements of the power steering unit, the truck remains at the dealer's for 38 days, with no resolution in sight.

Jim Post says on the Chevrolet Silverado Owner's Facebook page, 

"I have a 2025 2500HD Chevy Silverado Trail Boss, and it lost its power steering and brakes at 231 miles. The brand-new truck has been at the Chevrolet dealer's service department for 38 days. They replaced the entire power steering system twice, and there are still metal shavings in the p.s. fluid. Has anyone else had this issue? It is a 6.6-liter gas engine."

This is how it likely went down. Imagine Jim staring at the calendar, a red circle around today's date. 

"Thirty-eight days," he mutters to himself. It's been thirty-eight days since his brand-new, shiny black 2025 Chevrolet Silverado Trail Boss had been a permanent fixture in the dealer's service bay, not his driveway. 

He's retired, and he bought the truck with dreams of hauling his fishing boat to remote lakes, of feeling the power of a fresh engine under his foot. Instead, he felt only a simmering rage.

The odometer read a pathetic 231 miles when it all went wrong. He was leaving his subdivision, heading to pick up lumber for a weekend project, when the steering wheel suddenly went dead in his hands. 

A terrifying, muscle-straining fight ensued as the power steering vanished. Then, the brake pedal turned to concrete. He'd wrestled the two-ton beast to a shuddering halt just shy of a neighbor's mailbox, heart hammering against his ribs.

He called the Chevrolet dealer, and they said, "Tow it in, and we'll take a look at it." The tow truck arrived, a grim reaper for his new truck excitement. 

At the Chevrolet dealership, the service advisor, a young man named Gary, assured him it was "probably a faulty power steering unit." Jim sighed, annoyed and wondering, "But it has less than 200 miles on it." 

Now, two weeks later, Jim gets a call from the Chevrolet service department." Good news, Mr. Post! Your truck's ready." 

Jim practically sprinted to the dealer. He drove it off the lot, the engine purring, the steering smooth. He nearly made the 5-mile ride home when he felt the steering wheel tighten in his hands again. The power steering is gone again.

"You've got to be kidding me," he mumbles to himself.

Another phone call to Gary. "Bring it back," he says. "This is crazy," he mumbled, loud enough for the service advisor to hear.

Fast Forward Three Weeks

"We've replaced the unit again, and we've done a full system diagnostic," Gary assures Jim as he picks up his Silverado Trail Boss HD pickup.

Jim was still seething because he had to cancel his fishing trip. 

He was borrowing his wife's Chevy Equinox, a vehicle ill-suited for his lifestyle, and every time he saw it, he saw the phantom image of his Trail Boss, abandoned and broken.

Finally, Jim's Trail Boss was fixed, or so he thought.

When Jim gets home, he pulls the cap of the power steering unit and checks the power steering fluid. He can't believe what he sees. 

Metal shavings are floating in the amber fluid. 

He calls the dealer and demands that his truck be fixed, or there will be hell to pay. 

Now, after 38 days, Gary called again. "We think we've identified a deeper electrical issue, Mr. Post. It's… complex." Jim gripped the phone, knuckles white. Complex? 

He'd paid a premium for a truck that couldn't even make it across town without failing. He wanted his truck back, fixed, and reliable. He wanted his truck to go fishing, not the cold dread of another breakdown. The dream of the open road was quickly being replaced by the nightmare of the service bay.

Is there a problem with the 2025 Chevrolet Silverado Trail Boss power steering?

While some 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 models, including the Trail Boss, have experienced power steering issues, it's not a widespread problem affecting all trucks. 

James Jones, on the Trial Boss Nation Facebook page, says, 

"My 2025 Trail Boss just left me stranded. I had taken it in due to all the alerts coming on while driving down the highway, causing it to go into limp mode. I was told the truck was fine from the GMC dealership after they had it for two weeks and said they could find nothing wrong."  

"Tonight, I got stranded because the same thing happened, but this time, I lost power steering. I parked, and the truck wouldn't start back up.  The start button was green, but the vehicle wasn't starting up or running."

Should Trial Boss Owners and Potential Buyers Be Concerned? 

If you are considering purchasing a 2025 Chevrolet Silverado Trail Boss, it's always a good idea to research the reported issues thoroughly before buying the truck.

GM Authority says, "General Motors has released a Service Update for certain units of the 2024-2025 Chevy Express van and 2025 Chevy Silverado HD pickup produced with power steering pumps that could fail prematurely. The bulletin expires at the end of the involved vehicle's New Vehicle Limited Warranty period."

"Service Update N242485780 warns that an unspecified number of some Silverado HD and Express units may contain a power steering pump that may prematurely fail. It's unclear what causes the premature failure."

Here's Another 2025 Chevrolet Silverado Trail Boss Story

Nicholas has just purchased a 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT Trail Boss, thinking it's a great truck. However, he is having second thoughts about the purchase. He's had more problems with it in just a few months than any truck he's ever had. 

Nicholas Gross shares this on the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra Owners Facebook page. 

He says, 

"Holy freaking gremlins. This truck is a piece of work. In March, I bought a new 2025 Chevy Silverado LT Trail Boss, and I've never had this many problems with a truck in such a short amount of time," Nicholas vents his frustration. 

I've already had to replace both rear cameras due to moisture damage and the camera harness due to a broken clip. Additionally, I've had to replace the door latch because the door wouldn't open, and I've lost all sound in my truck, including turn signals. Now, my CarPlay isn't working. 

For the amount of money we pay for these trucks, I definitely shouldn't be having these issues.

And another thing, has anyone ever had an issue with water getting inside your backup and hitch cameras? 

My Silverado's tailgate cameras are both blurry and full of condensation. I'm going to take it back to the dealer, but I'd like to know if this is a common issue.

Conclusion:

Some owners have reported loss of power steering, steering wheel lock-up, and warning lights related to the power steering system. However, many other owners report no issues with their 2025 Trail Boss trucks, including the power steering. 

It's Your Turn

Do you own a Chevrolet Silverado, and what are your thoughts on the truck's quality and reliability? Click the red Add New Comment link below and share your experiences! Your feedback could be invaluable to other owners and potential buyers.

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news, providing expert analysis, and covering owner stories, ensuring that you are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on X @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Jim Post