Chevy Silverado HD recalled for rear fuel tank failure

INDIANA – GM has issued a product recall for certain examples of 2017, 2018, and 2019 Chevy Silverado HD pickup trucks, including both 2500 HD and 3500 HD models, due to an issue related to the dual fuel tanks (RPO code N2N) on diesel engine (RPO code L5P) models.

It’s worth noting that while the recall refers to both Silverado 2500 HD and Silverado 3500 HD trucks, only the 3500 HD Chassis Cab variant offers a dual fuel tank setup. Affected Chevy Silverado HD vehicles are equipped with a 23.5-gallon tank at the front and a 40-gallon tank at the rear.

The problem affected Chevy Silverado HD vehicles fitted with a dual fuel tank and diesel engine may experience a collapse of the rear 40-gallon fuel tank. The collapse occurs when a vent on the fuel tank is clogged or blocked with debris, creating a vacuum inside the tank as fuel is pumped out. This occurrence prevents the fuel pump from transferring fuel to the front 23.5-gallon tank, potentially resulting in an engine stall.

The problem is the vent blockage and/or rear fuel tank collapse can cause multiple potential problems, including changing or inaccurate fuel gauge readings, the check engine light switching on, a slow engine start, or loss of propulsion.

The lack of fuel being delivered by the fuel pump can also cause a stall of the Chevy Silverado HD’s engine, increasing the risk of a crash.

Dealerships will carry out the necessary repairs on affected Chevy Silverado HD models. The repair consists of the following steps:

  • Inspection of the rear fuel tank and fuel pump module.
  • Replacement of the rear fuel tank and/or fuel pump module if damaged.
  • Installation of a vent hose on the rear fuel tank assembly relocating the vent opening to an area usually free of debris capable of causing a blockage. This vent hose was factory-installed as standard on the rear fuel tank assembly of all 2020 Chevy Silverado HD and later trucks with dual fuel tanks.

Repairs are either free of charge or GM will reimburse owners of the affected vehicles for the repairs (different documents provide different information on this matter).

Affected vehicles:

According to officials, 17,436 Chevy Silverado HD vehicles are affected by this recall. GM says it has received approximately 1,600 damage claims related to the fuel tank or fuel pump module, but that no injuries have been reported.

Owners will be contacted by GM with instructions on how to proceed. Owner notification letters are currently scheduled to be mailed on March 24, 2023. If owners are unsure whether or not their vehicle is affected by this recall action, they can visit my.gm.com/recalls and type in their VIN to see any open recalls that may be active on it. Affected owners can also reach out to Chevy directly using the contact information included below.

Contacts:

  • GM recall number: N222368030
  • Chevy Customer Service: 1-800-222-1020