A brand-new electric pickup truck spending more than two months parked at a dealership is not the ownership experience most EV buyers imagine. Yet that is exactly what happened to Nathan Fant, an EV enthusiast from Oregon whose red 2025 Chevrolet Silverado EV disappeared into a repair bay for 65 days over a failed air-conditioning compressor.
Fant finally announced on May 21, 2026, that he had his truck back, sharing a smiling selfie beside the bright red Silverado EV in a post on X. The video and update were originally posted by Nathan Fant himself through his account, @n_fantastik, where he documented the lengthy ordeal from the dealership lot.
The truck had reportedly been sitting at Ron Tonkin Chevrolet in the Portland area since roughly mid-to-late March. While General Motors covered the entire repair bill under warranty, including a rental vehicle that cost the automaker $3,575, the extended downtime left Fant frustrated with the dealership experience.
His story has now become another example of the growing pains surrounding first-generation electric trucks from traditional automakers. Owners are embracing the performance and technology of these new EVs, but many are discovering that servicing complex high-voltage systems can still be a painful process when parts are scarce.
A 65-Day Wait for a New Truck
According to Fant’s posts and discussions shared on the Silverado EV Forum, the issue centered on the truck’s A/C compressor, a critical component in the Silverado EV’s thermal management system. Unlike the simple cabin cooling systems found in older gas-powered vehicles, EV compressors play a major role in battery temperature regulation and overall vehicle operation.
When the compressor failed, the truck could not simply be driven indefinitely while waiting for repairs. It had to remain at the dealership while technicians diagnosed the issue and waited for replacement components.
Fant explained that the delay stretched on largely because the necessary parts were backordered. That has become an increasingly familiar complaint among owners of newer electric trucks and SUVs, especially models built around GM’s Ultium platform.
The Silverado EV is still relatively new to the market, having launched in recent years as Chevrolet’s flagship electric pickup. With production volumes still ramping up and specialized EV components in high demand, even a single failed part can sideline a vehicle for weeks.
Warranty Coverage Softened the Blow
Despite the aggravation, Fant did not have to pay for the repair itself. General Motors reportedly covered the entire job under warranty, leaving him with zero out-of-pocket repair expenses.
GM also supplied a loaner vehicle during the wait, another Silverado EV in Work Truck 4WT trim. Fant joked that it felt like a downgrade compared to his own truck, but he still appreciated having transportation while his vehicle sat at the dealership.
The financial breakdown he shared highlighted how expensive EV service support can become for manufacturers. Between warranty labor, parts, and rental coverage, the repair saga likely cost GM thousands of dollars before the truck ever returned to its owner. That level of manufacturer support may reassure some buyers, but it does little to ease the frustration of losing access to a brand-new vehicle for more than two months.
Early EV Truck Ownership Growing Pains
Fant is not an anti-EV owner venting online after a bad experience. In fact, he is deeply involved in the EV community and has openly supported electric transportation for years.
Alongside the Silverado EV, he also owns a Volkswagen ID.4 and serves as a Ranger EV Ambassador. His disappointment therefore carried extra weight because it came from someone already invested in the technology and enthusiastic about the future of electric vehicles.
Posts across owner forums suggest the Silverado EV is not alone in facing these kinds of service headaches. Some GMC Sierra EV and GMC Hummer EV owners have reported similar compressor-related failures, often paired with long waits for replacement parts.
Thrilled to FINALLY have my Silverado EV back with a new A/C compressor etc…!!!
Some stats:
Cost – $0
Days at Dealer – 65 (9 weeks)
Amount GM paid for my rental – $3,575
I’m incredibly relieved to have the truck back! I’m not very pleased with the extended downtime and… pic.twitter.com/yBXCz2C0qh
— Nathan Fant (@n_fantastik) May 21, 2026
Ford F-150 Lightning owners have also documented extended dealership stays for battery and high-voltage system repairs. The issue appears less about whether EVs can perform well and more about whether dealership service networks are fully prepared to support them at scale.
Relief Mixed With Frustration
Fant’s final update carried mixed emotions. He looked genuinely happy standing beside the freshly repaired truck, relieved to finally drive it home after nine weeks away.
At the same time, he made it clear that communication from the dealership left plenty to be desired. Long stretches without meaningful updates added to the frustration, especially for an owner watching a nearly new vehicle sit idle for weeks.
For now, the Silverado EV is back on the road, and Fant appears eager to move on from the experience. Still, his story offers a revealing look at the realities some early adopters face as legacy automakers continue learning how to service the next generation of electric trucks.