2009 Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
444 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 224 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 229 of 444 complaints (51.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 32 | 7.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 22 | 5.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 2.9% |
| Steering behavior | 13 | 2.9% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 2.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 9 | 2.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 229 |
| Unknown Or Other | 56 |
| Electrical System | 43 |
| Structure:Body | 42 |
| Engine | 36 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 13 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 12 |
| Power Train | 11 |
Air Bags: 229; Unknown Or Other: 56; Electrical System: 43; Structure:Body: 42; Engine: 36; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 13; Fuel/Propulsion System: 12; Power Train: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 41 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 38 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 45 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 39 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 41 |
| 150,000 and above | 20 |
Under 25,000: 41; 25,000 to 49,999: 38; 50,000 to 74,999: 45; 75,000 to 99,999: 39; 100,000 to 149,999: 41; 150,000 and above: 20
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (45). 220 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 17 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 17 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 65 |
| 2017 | 110 |
| 2018 | 58 |
| 2019 | 37 |
| 2020 | 31 |
| 2021 | 37 |
| 2022 | 11 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2025 | 4 |
2009: 5; 2010: 17; 2011: 7; 2012: 6; 2013: 7; 2014: 17; 2015: 10; 2016: 65; 2017: 110; 2018: 58; 2019: 37; 2020: 31; 2021: 37; 2022: 11; 2023: 13; 2024: 9; 2025: 4
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 32 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 22 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10316365 · 2010-03-03 (March 3, 2010)
NOT MUCH FOR BRAKES ON THE INITIAL PUSH OF THE PEDAL BUT IF YOU PUMP THEM UP THEY ARE GOOD. REALLY BAD IN A EMERGENCY STOP OR WHEN YOU HAVE A LIGHT TRAILER ON THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE SEPARATE BRAKES ON TRAILER. I HAD IT BOTH ON 1500 4X4 08GMC AND ON THE SAME 09 CHEVY I HAVE NOW. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10316365 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10320339 · 2010-03-16 (March 16, 2010)
THE BRAKE PEDAL BACK PRESSURE IS WEAK, SPONGY OR SOFT WHEN APPLIED. THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR BOARD FURTHER THAN NORMAL/ TRADITIONAL OF ALL MANUFACTURER VEHICLE MODELS THROUGH OUT PAST DECADES OF PRODUCTION. HAVE TO PUMP THIS VEHICLES BRAKE PEDAL MORE THAN TWICE IN ORDER TO OBTAIN SUFFICIENT BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE CONTROL OF VEHICLE'S BRAKES. FOR UNEXPECTED BRAKING, THE CURRENT BRAKING SYSTEM ON 1500 SILVERADO CHEVROLETS IS INADEQUATE FOR THE AVERAGE DRIVER WHICH POSSIBLY WILL RESULT WITH HARM TO OTHERS AND VEHICLE. …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10320339 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10458078 · 2012-05-11 (May 11, 2012)
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW FROM CLASSIC CHEVROLET IN GRAPEVINE, TX IN JANUARY 2010. THE FIRST FEW MONTHS I HAD THE VEHICLE, I HAD NO PROBLEMS. STARTING IN MARCH 2010 I NOTICED THAT MY RADIO(NAVIGATION SYSTEM) WOULD SOUND LIKE IT WOULD SHORT OUT INTERMITTENTLY. I DIDN'T REALLY THINK ANYTHING OF IT. I THOUGHT THAT IT HAD TO BE THE RADIO STATION OR INTERFERENCE WITH OTHER WIRELESS SIGNALS. I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT IT WOULD BECOME A PROBLEM UNTIL RECENTLY. ON 5/5/2012, I WAS TRAVELING 70MPH AT NIGHT DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY ENTIRE…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10458078 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10524630 · 2013-07-13 (July 13, 2013)
MY 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO WAS PARKED FOR TWO DAYS. IT WAS RUNNING PERFECTLY UP UNTIL IT WAS PARKED..AFTER TWO DAYS OF BEING PARKED IN THE RAIN,THE REAR TAIL LIGHT SUDDENLY WENT ON BY ITSELF. I OPENED THE DOOR TO THE VEHICLE TO SEE HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN AND THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT WAS ON. I PUT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND IT WAS TOTALLY DEAD. I OPENED THE HOOD AND LIFTED OFF THE FUSE PANEL COVER,BECAUSE THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF BURNING. THEN,THERE WAS SMOKE. I IMMEDIATELY DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE N…
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10524630 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10653670 · 2014-11-09 (November 9, 2014)
I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM OCCASIONALLY SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW, BUT RECENTLY IT STARTED TO DO THE SAME THING ON A REGULAR BASIS. START THE TRUCK AND IT'S FINE, BUT GO TO SHIFT INTO GEAR AND THE SERVICE ENGINE, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, AND SERVICE ABS LIGHTS AND MESSAGES COME ON THE DASH. TODAY, I PRESSED THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING IT AND HEARD A CLICK WHEN I DID SO, SO I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED AND FOUND THAT IF I PUSH MY BRAKE PEDAL VERY FAR, MY BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OUT. I JUST HAD MY VEHICLE SERVICED AND INSPECTED AT THE GM DEALERSHIP ABOUT 9 …
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10653670 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10864241 · 2016-05-10 (May 10, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO DRIVE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT AND REPROGRAMMED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIPPED TO A THIRD PARTY WHERE IT WAS REBUILT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED MORE VIOLENTLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL BACK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 155,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10864241 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10286158 · 2009-10-03 (October 3, 2009)
VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY A MOTORCYCLE TRAVELING AROUND 50MPH IN THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE. THIS IS A 4 WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS ONLY A 50CC MODEL SMALL MOTORCYCLE. THIS RESULTED IN THE SPINDLE BREAKING IN TWO AT THE POINT JUST BEHIND WHERE THE TIE ROD END CONNECTS RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING ON THAT WHEEL. LUCKILY THE SILVERADO WAS ONLY TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND WAS SAFELY STOPPED IN A SHORT DISTANCE. THIS IS A HEAVY DUTY PART AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN. THE TIE ROD SHOULD HAVE BROKEN FI…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,745 miles reported. Look up ODI 10286158 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10443240 · 2012-01-09 (January 9, 2012)
I WAS AT 60 TO 65 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE AND THE TRUCK POWERED THE MOTOR DOWN. THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL MODULE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF AT THE LAST SAFE EXIT FOR QUITE A WAY. ONSTAR RECOMMENDED NOT DRIVING IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DID THE DIAGNOSTIC AND AT 28000 MILES TOLD ME IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. IT TOOK 5 DAYS TO GET A "NEW" ONE.( APROX 1/26/11) ON APROX 12/15/11 AN ALMOST IDENTICAL THING HAPPENED, MILEAGE 50,000. OUT OF WARRANTY I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SHOP. THEIR COMPUTER TEST…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10443240 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10393040 · 2011-03-28 (March 28, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING 40 MPH AND ABOVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS ALWAYS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED VIA EMAIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10393040 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10596439 · 2014-06-05 (June 5, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FUEL SYSTEM CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPROGRAMMED THE PCM SOFTWARE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 104,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10596439 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10969038 · 2017-03-28 (March 28, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HESITATION, A LOSS OF POWER, AND STALLING. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10969038 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10982982 · 2017-05-02 (May 2, 2017)
ON THURSDSY, APRIL 27, 2017, I PARKED MY 2009 CHEVY SILVERADO AT HOME IN MY DRIVEWAY AFTER WORK AND SHUT IT OFF FOR THE NIGHT. IT WAS STATIONARY AT THAT POINT. I DID NOT RESTART IT OR MOVE IT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY/EVENING. THE NEXT MORNING, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO START, BUT TO NO AVAIL AFTER SEVERAL TRIES. I DETERMINED IT WAS NOT GETTING FUEL. I CALLED A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR TECH WHO DIAGNOSED IT ON SITE, TO BE A FAULTY CHASSIS ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE, WHICH SENDS FUEL TO THE FUEL PUMP. UPON RES…
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10982982 at NHTSA ↗