The rear 3 piece power slide window that is leaking water into the cab in my truck. I’ve called about a dozen different auto glass shops and this is apparently a common issue. It’s ruining my upholstery in my vehicle. GM wants to charge me 1,000+ to fix. This is unacceptable if it’s a common issue and something nobody can control. Please recall this issue.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 water leak problems
53 of the 18,180 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 describe water leaks into the cabin, most of them for the 2019 model year.
- owner complaints
- 53
- worst model year
- 2019
- typical repair cost reported
- $3,000
- typical mileage
- 45,000
Is there a fix? No recall or service bulletin covers this area of the car yet.
By model year
Often reported together
Engine failure 2Airbag light 2Pulling 1Shudder 1Overheating 1Loss of power 1Jerking 1Screen failure 1
Trouble codes mentioned
P2138 3
What owners say
Rear windows water leak. May caue electrical issues and mold in the cab
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that the infotainment center intermittently went black, and there was water leaking into the vehicle through the top and lower center of the front windshield and the rear windshield. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where the rear windshield was replaced without a diagnostic being performed; however, the failures persisted. Additionally, the side view mirrors intermittently failed to unfold when starting the vehicle. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, white smoke emitted from the exhaust, the vehicle hesitated, and it lost power. The Check Engine warning light illuminated, along with "Service Electronic Stability Control", "Trailer Brake System", "Steering Assist Reduced", "Service Brake Assist", and "Brake System Failure" messages, and the vehicle failed to exceed 40 MPH. The vehicle was towed to a second dealer, Arcadia Chevrolet Buick (210 S Brevard Ave, Arcadia, FL 34266), where it was diagnosed that the lifter and torque converter had failed. The lifter and torque converter were replaced, and the system was flushed. Approximately 800 miles later, the engine failed again. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the torque converter and transmission had fractured. The torque converter and transmission were replaced; however, the warning lights and messages illuminated again, and the vehicle continued to hesitate when driven over 42 MPH. After being parked for a few days, the warning lights were no longer illuminated and the mirrors opened, but the engine hesitation persisted. The vehicle was not further diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.
Rear power sliding window. Leaking when it rains or going through the car wash. On 6/4/25 I had a leak from my rear window checked out by the dealership were I bought the truck. Morrie's Onalaska Chevrolet. They found a water leak from cracks in the rear glass molding. I have water lines on the roof lining from the leak.
Component/System That Failed: The rear sliding window assembly leaked water into the cabin due to a manufacturing defect in the urethane seal and third brake light area. The window has been replaced and no longer leaks, but the water caused lasting damage to the headliner with trapped moisture. Components are available for inspection. Safety/Health Risk: The leak saturated the headliner, creating a serious risk of mold growth. My pregnant wife and unborn baby could be exposed to mold spores. Water intrusion also risks slippery floors, fogging, and potential electrical issues. Dealer Confirmation: Folsom Chevrolet confirmed the leak, replaced the window, and recommended full headliner replacement due to staining and mold risk. This is covered in GM TSB 18-NA-383. Manufacturer Awareness: GM has known about this defect for years but denied full repair (Claim #9582-9999). Symptoms: No warning lights. Leak first noticed in September 2025 after rains began. Due to dry California summer, it went unnoticed earlier, even though the defect likely started while the vehicle was still within the 3-year warranty period (mileage was over 36k when noticed). Additional Info: This is a known workmanship defect unrelated to mileage. A coworker has had the same issue twice on his 2025 Silverado. I paid $492.79 for the window + $144.50 diagnostic. GM offered only $1,250 in points and refused better resolution for the $3,100 headliner repair.
The rear window slider is made of plastic. Water gets in here then freezes creating a crack which water can then leak inside the vehicle. The water could very easily drip behind the back seat and get on electrical components and potentially start a fire. There are many cases of this happening to other people which can be seen on a google search or a question in a social media group of others with the same vehicle. The vehicle was brought to a dealership for repairs, the bulletin from GM just says to put some silicon in the crack. It can and typically does just crack in a different location. Called Chevy and was basically told we will not do anything unless there is a recall.
The rear 3rd brake light above the back glass started leaking because the seal/gasket went bad. Water leaked into the cab and now the headliner has to be replace as well as that seal. I works for a glass company and this is a known problem for this year. There should be a recall or service campaign put out for this. I'm not the only one with this issue.
The track on the back glass is cracked and leaking water into the interior back cab light.
Rear power window has been replaced multiple times, each time it develops cracks and leaks water causing possible mold in the truck cabin.
The back windshield on my Silverado leaks water every time it rains causing the back window to smell of smoke like electrical burning. It also creates a visibility issue out the back window when I've called three different dealerships in the area and each one of them say it is a known issue with this vehicle and it's going to cost almost $3,000 to fix. I have contacted GMC only for them to say that I needed to contact this department I feel like this is a safety issue that GMC should have to help their customers with not just be like oh well your truck may or may not be on fire while it rains
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 water leak
Which Chevrolet Silverado 1500 years have water leaks into the cabin problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2019 (11 complaints), 2020 (11 complaints) and 2021 (5 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix water leaks into the cabin on the Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $3,000 (median of 6 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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