If you’re driving a 2022–2024 Chevrolet or GMC vehicle and experiencing annoying crackling or static sounds from the speakers during phone calls, you’re not alone. I recently started noticing this in my vehicle and decided to dig into what might be causing it. After some research, I found out that GM is aware of the issue and has addressed it in a preliminary technical service bulletin (PIT6241). Here’s everything I learned.

Silverado/Sierra Phone Crackle Noise – What’s Going On?

The problem involves crackling or static noise from the speakers during phone calls. It appears to be tied to a software anomaly in vehicles equipped with the IOK radio system. This isn’t an isolated incident, and GM has acknowledged the issue, which is affecting several of their popular models.

Silverado/Sierra Phone Crackle Noise – Which Vehicles Are Affected?

This problem applies to the following Chevrolet and GMC models:

Chevrolet

GMC

If your vehicle falls into one of these categories and you’ve noticed this issue, it’s likely related.

2024 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2, front view, affected by GM’s speaker crackling issue during phone calls.
The 2024 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2, a rugged off-road truck, is among the vehicles included in GM’s bulletin about crackling speakers during phone calls.

Silverado/Sierra Phone Crackle Noise – What Is GM Saying?

GM has issued a preliminary bulletin (PIT6241) about this issue. They’ve confirmed that it’s caused by a software bug and are working on a fix.

In the meantime, GM has specifically instructed dealerships not to replace the radio, as that won’t resolve the problem. Instead, technicians are directed to verify the issue and note it in the system while waiting for further instructions from GM.

Silverado/Sierra Phone Crackle Noise – What Should I Do?

If you’re experiencing this problem:

Visit Your Dealer: Let them know what’s happening. Be sure to mention PIT6241 so they can quickly identify the issue.
Verification Process: The dealer may test your system to confirm the crackling noise. GM has assigned a specific labor code (3486248) for this process, which takes about 0.2 hours.
Wait for a Fix: GM is working on a resolution and plans to release a software update. Your dealer should contact you when it’s ready.Warranty Coverage

If your vehicle is still under the Bumper-to-Bumper warranty, the diagnosis and eventual fix should be covered. Make sure the dealership verifies your warranty status through the Investigate Vehicle History (IVH) system.

GM has apologized for the inconvenience and emphasized that they’re working to provide a solution as soon as possible. While it’s frustrating to deal with, knowing that GM has acknowledged the issue offers some reassurance that a fix is coming.

2024 Chevrolet Tahoe in black, front view, one of the vehicles affected by GM’s speaker crackling issue
The 2024 Chevrolet Tahoe is one of the GM vehicles experiencing a known software-related speaker crackling issue during phone calls.

Silverado/Sierra Phone Crackle Noise – More Info To Come

If your speakers are crackling during calls, you’re not imagining it—it’s a known issue affecting many recent Chevrolet and GMC models. Keep an eye out for updates from GM, and in the meantime, visit your dealer to have the problem documented.

Hopefully, a software fix will arrive soon.