Component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL
152 NHTSA complaints about electrical system: integrated trailer brake control issues across 12 makes and 38 models.
The electrical system: integrated trailer brake control is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 152 filings from 12 manufacturers and 38 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.
Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 5 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500 with 17 filings, followed by CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 and CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.
Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.
Most Affected Vehicles
| # | Vehicle | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500 | 17 |
| 2 | CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 | 14 |
| 3 | CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 | 14 |
| 4 | FORD F-150 | 12 |
| 5 | FORD F-350 SD | 10 |
| 6 | GMC SIERRA 1500 | 9 |
| 7 | FORD F-250 | 8 |
| 8 | GMC SIERRA 3500 | 7 |
| 9 | FORD F-450 SD | 6 |
| 10 | FORD F-150 HYBRID | 6 |
| 11 | CHEVROLET TAHOE | 6 |
| 12 | RAM 3500 | 4 |
| 13 | RAM 2500 | 4 |
| 14 | DODGE RAM 3500 | 4 |
| 15 | TOYOTA TUNDRA | 3 |
| 16 | GMC SIERRA 2500 | 3 |
| 17 | FORD F-350 | 3 |
| 18 | DODGE RAM 2500 | 2 |
| 19 | RAM 1500 | 1 |
| 20 | NISSAN KICKS | 1 |
| 21 | NISSAN FRONTIER | 1 |
| 22 | KIA SORENTO | 1 |
| 23 | JEEP CHEROKEE | 1 |
| 24 | HYUNDAI IONIQ 5 | 1 |
| 25 | HONDA CR-V | 1 |
| 26 | GMC YUKON DENALI | 1 |
| 27 | GMC YUKON | 1 |
| 28 | FORD MAVERICK | 1 |
| 29 | FORD FIESTA | 1 |
| 30 | FORD F-250 SD | 1 |
Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and hauling a travel trailer, the ABS warning light illuminated, and the trailer brakes became inoperabl
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and hauling an RV, the trailer brakes intermittently became inoperable. The message "Trailer Brakes Disconnect
The contact owns a 2011 Ram 3500. The contact stated that the OEM trailer brake controller indicated that the trailer brake was disconnected even though it was attached correctly. The failure occurred
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that the message âService Trailer Brake Systemâ was displayed on the instrument panel while starting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the trailer brakes became inoperable. The trailer brake system failure message was displayed. The local dealer was contacted, where it was d
The contact owns a 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and towing a trailer or an RV, the brake pedal was depressed, and the trailer brake failed to
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the trailer brake control failed to operate as needed while hauling a trailer. No warning light was illuminat
The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH and attempting to depress the brake pedal, the message âTrailer Brakes Disabledâ was displayed. A dea
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH and hauling a horse trailer with several horses inside, the automatic headlights activated, and the trail
The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact stated that the trailer brake control module failed to operate as needed while hauling a trailer, causing the trailer to lose braking capa
The contact owns a 2024 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated while driving at approximately 60 MPH and towing a Forest River Riverstone Legacy 5th Wheel trailer, the brake pedal was depressed to slow f
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the service brake warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the failu
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop. No warning light was illuminated. In a
I purchased the Curt Triflex Next Trailer Brake Controller GM Part # 19435732 ( Although may be sold through several part #s) from Jim Norton Chevrolet as this is a GM recommended part through the GM
The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while towing a trailer and driving approximately 30 MPH, the electronic trailer braking system erroneously activated, causing the vehicle to
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated that while hauling a 2020 Heartland Cyclone, the trailer brakes unexpectedly deactivated. The contact stated that the trailer brake
The contact owns a 2024 Ford F-350 SD. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and hauling a trailer, the trailer brakes failed to activate while depressing the brake pedal. During the
The contact owns a 2015 Ram 2500. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, driving, or attempting to depress the brake pedal, the integrated trailer brake control failed to respond as intended
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle failed to properly respond. There were no warning lights illuminated; however, the message ESC was display
Related Vehicle Components
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Related Safety Data
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data Sources
Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.
Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.
Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.