2011 Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
563 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 262 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 305 of 563 complaints (54.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 32 | 5.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 23 | 4.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 18 | 3.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 14 | 2.5% |
| Steering behavior | 13 | 2.3% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 0.7% |
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 | 305 |
| Unknown Or Other | 115 |
| Structure:Body | 57 |
| Engine | 40 |
| Electrical System | 24 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 18 |
| Suspension | 17 |
| Power Train | 16 |
Air Bags: 305; Unknown Or Other: 115; Structure:Body: 57; Engine: 40; Electrical System: 24; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 18; Suspension: 17; Power Train: 16
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 42 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 42 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 54 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 56 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 50 |
| 150,000 and above | 18 |
Under 25,000: 42; 25,000 to 49,999: 42; 50,000 to 74,999: 54; 75,000 to 99,999: 56; 100,000 to 149,999: 50; 150,000 and above: 18
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (56). 301 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 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 15 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 83 |
| 2017 | 124 |
| 2018 | 77 |
| 2019 | 62 |
| 2020 | 43 |
| 2021 | 49 |
| 2022 | 20 |
| 2023 | 18 |
| 2024 | 29 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2011: 15; 2012: 12; 2013: 2; 2014: 8; 2015: 8; 2016: 83; 2017: 124; 2018: 77; 2019: 62; 2020: 43; 2021: 49; 2022: 20; 2023: 18; 2024: 29; 2025: 9; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 32 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 23 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 18 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 10398803 · 2011-05-03 (May 3, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING 20 MPH AND ABOVE, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WOULD ACTIVATE INDEPENDENTLY WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TO REPORT THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6.
Owner-reported narrative. 6 miles reported. Look up ODI 10398803 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10407269 · 2011-06-17 (June 17, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK; WHEN THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE RPMS INCREASED TO 1300. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL GEAR AND THE RPMS INCREASED UP TO 1500. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY FAILURES AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND CU…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10407269 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10383691 · 2011-02-18 (February 18, 2011)
2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION CLUNK AND A LEAKY (WATER) DRIVERS CABIN AND EXPRESSES DISCONTENT IN REGARDS TO GM *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES FOR THE TRANSMISSION NOISE. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED GM BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK AND FURNISHED HIM WITH A NEW VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO HEAT IN THE VEHICLE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE INLET HOSE WAS INSTALLED UPSIDE DOWN DURING MANUFACTURING. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE NEW TRUCK ALSO EXHIBITED THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. UPDATED 04/08/1…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10383691 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10870792 · 2016-05-25 (May 25, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE EXHAUST FLUID LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXHAUST HEATER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V407000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10870792 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10891533 · 2016-07-29 (July 29, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY START WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V827000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10891533 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10605516 · 2014-06-24 (June 24, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, FUEL LEAKED CONTINUOUSLY ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE FEEDER FUEL LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER FUEL WAS DISPENSED INTO THE FUEL TANK TO THE FULL CAPACITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10605516 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10894803 · 2016-08-10 (August 10, 2016)
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PRESENCE OF A FUEL LEAK FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10894803 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10425659 · 2011-09-15 (September 15, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO K1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN WHICH THE SET BELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN HIM AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS THROWN INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE KNEE, NECK AND HEAD. THE DEALER WAS SENDING SOMEONE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 4,900.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10425659 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10488050 · 2012-12-11 (December 11, 2012)
STEERING COLUMN BROKE IN PASSENGER SIDE IMPACT. FULL LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CAN SPIN STEERING WHEEL IN COMPLETE CIRCLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10488050 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10981435 · 2017-04-29 (April 29, 2017)
ONE NIGHT ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK, I WAS DRIVING 60MPH AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY TRUCK HYDROPLANED. I MANAGED TO GET THE TRUCK STRAIGHT AND REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, AS I'M HEADING HOME ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY ABS, BRAKE, AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ALL ILLUMINATED. THE DIC READS SERVICE STABILITRAK AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, THEN IT WILL DISPLAY STABILITRAK OFF AND TRACTION CONTROL OFF. I HAD THE CODES READ AND MY TROUBLE CODE WAS P069E - FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE REQUESTED MIL ILLUMINATION AND U0073 - CONTROL MODULE C…
Owner-reported narrative. 72,453 miles reported. Look up ODI 10981435 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11422387 · 2021-06-26 (June 26, 2021)
**randomly at any given speed ** First the radio system will randomly turn off then moments later… stabiliTrak off flashes followed by abs and traction control lights on dash then suddenly my Chevrolet Silverado has a mind of its own ! The door locks will flicker uncontrollably , and the vehicle just suddenly has a loss of power while rpms and gauges are continuously moving while you are unable to even move the vehicle .. this is a ongoing problem since 2019 , that no one seems to have an answer too .. I’ve taken it to 3 different mechanics an…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11422387 at NHTSA ↗