NHTSA Complaint #11712365 — 2023 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to formally report a safety-related defect involving the power unlatching tailgate switch on my Chevrolet 1500 truck and to request that this make and model be added to the current safety recall affecting Chevy HD vehicles. The power tailgate unlatching switch malfunctioned and would repeatedly attempt to open and close the tailgate while the truck was parked. On one occasion, this occurred continuously overnight. The following morning, my key fob was completely unresponsive, and the truck had zero battery life. The battery would not accept a charge, and the vehicle had to be towed to the dealership. Upon inspection, the dealership confirmed that the battery had been fully depleted and permanently damaged due to a short in the power tailgate switch. The faulty switch continuously drew power as it attempted to actuate the tailgate, ultimately destroying the battery. This failure created a serious safety and reliability concern, leaving me stranded with a completely inoperable vehicle. Given that this issue resulted from an electrical short and caused total battery failure, I believe it represents a significant safety defect. Based on the similarity to issues addressed in the current Chevy HD safety recall, I strongly believe this make and model should be included in that recall. I respectfully request that this matter be reviewed and addressed to prevent other owners from experiencing the same hazardous situation. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I look forward to your response. Sincerely, Charles Senn