My 2022 Chevrolet Silverado Died in the Middle of the Road at 41,000 Miles, And It Turns Out You Can’t Even Put It in Neutral Without a $400 Special Tool

This Silverado became a roadside obstacle you couldn’t even push to safety, and what it took to move it left the owner stunned. Here’s why a $400 tool could turn a simple breakdown into a more dangerous situation.

Not all vehicle failures are created equal. Some are inconvenient, and some are frustrating. But then there are the ones that leave you stranded in the middle of the road, without even a way to move the vehicle to safety. That’s what happened to Kelly Small, and it’s a story that raises bigger questions about what modern vehicles are prioritizing. I came across Kelly’s post through the “2019 - 2025 Chevy Silverado & GMC Sierra Owners” group on Facebook, where she shared that her 2022 Silverado suddenly died in the middle of the road at just 41,000 miles most likely to a fuel pump failure. To make matters worse, the truck couldn’t be pushed out of traffic because it wouldn’t shift into neutral, apparently requiring a $400 manual park release tool just to move it.

Here’s how Kelly put it: “The view from my Uber after my 22 died in the middle of the road, possible fuel pump issue at 41k miles. On top of dealing with a dead truck, it could not be put into neutral to push it out of the road. It sounds like you have to have a special tool (DR-52910 manual park release tool) that’s $400! So ridiculous!”

A Tool That Adds Insult to Injury

This is a somewhat revealing moment about the direction vehicle design is headed. Imagine being stranded in live traffic, unable to simply put your vehicle in neutral without an expensive, specialized tool. Not only is it dangerous, but it adds a layer of helplessness to an already stressful situation.

And the kicker is, that tool, being the DT-52910 manual park release, is something mechanics use for this very issue. It’s sold through dealer networks and specialty suppliers, often retailing for around $300, and sometimes even higher. So while the $400 figure may be slightly inflated, it’s not far from the reality. This only adds fuel to the fire, as it’s a tool that most owners neither have access to nor can substitute without electrical power. This turns a basic roadside fix into a costly and tool-dependent process.

2022 Chevy Silverado

Other Silverado Owners Are Seeing the Same Problems

What’s worse is that this isn't just a one-off ordeal. Jorge Cruz commented, “I had the same issue... I was stranded. Turns out it was the fuel pump control module and not the pump itself. Truck just randomly died on me in an overpass. The dealer told me it was a common issue. My truck is a ‘24 LT with 12k miles. I was stranded and waited for a tow truck and had the same thing: I couldn't put it in neutral for the guy.”

It’s that last line that gets you. Jorge’s story confirms two growing concerns: not only is the component failure happening on newer Silverados, but the inability to shift into neutral is replicable. It’s a design choice that’s exposing cracks through real-world breakdowns.

And others are taking notice. Josh Ish responded to Kelly’s post, writing, “You would think that should be included for safety purposes seeing as that's a traffic safety issue. Perhaps a complaint to the NHTSA and Chevrolet is in order.”

A totally solid point. When a feature, or lack thereof, directly impacts how a vehicle can be removed from harm’s way, it could step outside the bounds of convenience and becomes a public safety issue.

A Pattern of Declining Trust

Outside of just being able to put it in neutral though, this isn’t the first time owners have expressed concern over modern GM truck reliability. Many long-time owners have started to voice hesitation about sticking with the brand. A lifelong owner who’s had 30 Chevrolet and GMC trucks over the last 40 years said the reliability on newer models feels like it’s slipping. That sentiment is echoed again and again, especially when issues like these start appearing before the odometer even hits 50,000 miles.

So that brings us to Richard Wilcox, who had an even more blunt reaction under this post: “I will never buy another Chevy truck! Torque converters are junk leading to transmission failures. Glad I got rid of it.”

His frustration, while specific to a different failure point, still fits the theme. Reliability is a promise that feels increasingly difficult to count on with GM, and it’s not just anecdotal. I recently reported on another case where a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD was already facing transmission issues at just 21,000 miles, and the dealership was refusing to provide a loaner.

To make matters worse, owners who’ve driven Chevy trucks for decades are starting to question their loyalty just like the owner I mentioned before. They shared how they’ve been driving Chevys half their life, but now are feeling unsure about what to expect from new models. That erosion of trust is arguably more damaging than any single mechanical failure.

A Design That Fails in Emergencies

From a mechanical perspective, let’s unpack why this specific problem is so aggravating. Most vehicles, especially older ones, include a manual shift override that lets you disengage park and move the vehicle in an emergency. In newer models, this is either buried behind trim, disabled without power, or locked behind proprietary tools.

GM may argue that this kind of design protects the transmission, but critics see it differently as unnecessary overengineering that hurts the end user. Especially when that user is stranded in traffic with no safe way to relocate a heavy-duty truck.

And while fuel system issues have long existed, they feel more pressing when they appear in trucks barely three years old. In one of our past reports, we discussed how some drivers were told that GM may need to replace every L87 6.2L engine due to early failure concerns. Whether it’s a pump, module, converter, or full engine, the sheer frequency of these early issues is unsettling.

Even more frustrating is how these problems often snowball. One failure leads to another hurdle. Things like not being able to move your vehicle, getting stuck waiting for a tow, missing work, or paying out-of-pocket for tools or services that arguably should be standard. One Silverado owner's truck blew through three transmissions in just 100,000 miles, and it’s experiences like that which make stories like Kelly’s hit even harder.

I also think what makes her story stand out is how many pains it highlights at once. You have a vehicle dying unexpectedly, an expensive and unnecessary barrier to simply moving it, and a growing community of owners echoing similar stories. It all raises a bigger question: are these trucks still being engineered with real drivers and real-world situations in mind?

What’s even more unusual is that we are now seeing both combustion and electric trucks face unexpected reliability concerns, though in very different ways. I recently came across a GMC Sierra EV owner who shared how his truck, despite being a road trip powerhouse, has also been plagued by fit and finish issues right from the start. While that story unfolds in the world of EVs, it eerily echoes the same frustration Silverado owners feel when their trucks suddenly let them down in everyday situations.

Key Takeaways

Costly emergency tool: A $400 manual park release tool being necessary to push a disabled Silverado raises questions about accessibility and safety in vehicle design.
Early reliability issues: Reports of premature fuel system and transmission failures under 50,000 miles are shaking consumer confidence in GM trucks.
Dealer support concerns: Silverado owners are increasingly reporting frustrating patterns of failure, often met with dealership resistance or inadequate support.
Brand loyalty erosion: Long-time loyalists are beginning to reconsider their brand trust, which could have long-term implications for Chevrolet’s image.

Let's Hear Your Story

Have you ever had a vehicle break down in traffic? Were you able to move it easily or run into issues?

And if you own a Silverado or Sierra from the past few years, how has your experience been so far, has it built your trust or chipped away at it?

Your experiences are what shape the real story behind these trucks, so don't hesitate to share your thoughts in the comments below.

Aram Krajekian is a young automotive journalist bringing a fresh perspective to his coverage of the evolving automotive landscape. Follow Aram on X and LinkedIn for daily news coverage about cars.

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We have a 2024 Chevrolet…

Jacqueline Ledford (not verified) June 13, 2025 - 6:47AM

My 2022 Chevrolet Silverado Died in the Middle of the Road at 41,000 Miles, And It Turns Out You Can’t Even Put It in Neutral Without a $400 Special Tool

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