2011 Chevrolet SILVERADO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
75 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
53,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 62 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 75 complaints (17.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 12 | 16.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 6.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 6.7% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 5.3% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 4.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.7% |
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 | 13 |
| Unknown Or Other | 12 |
| Structure:Body | 11 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 4 |
Air Bags: 13; Unknown Or Other: 12; Structure:Body: 11; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Engine: 7; Electrical System: 5; Service Brakes: 5; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 16 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 20 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 20; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (20). 13 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 | 5 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 16 |
| 2015 | 23 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2011: 5; 2012: 7; 2013: 10; 2014: 16; 2015: 23; 2016: 12; 2023: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 5 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 10429139 · 2011-10-07 (October 7, 2011)
BRAKE FAILURE. APPLIED BRAKES RAPIDLY DUE TO VEHICLE STOPPING IN FRONT OF ME. NOTICED TIRE SQUEAL THEN BRAKE PEDAL REMAINED FIRM BUT, MY VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. HAD TO STEER INTO OPPOSITE TRAVEL LANE TO AVOID ACCIDENT. BRAKES THEN BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. DROVE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE CHECKED. SERVICE MANAGER SAID BRAKES CHECKED OK. IN ROUTE TO MY HOME SERVICE BRAKE SOON LIGHT APPEARED ON DASH DISPLAY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,981 miles reported. Look up ODI 10429139 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10441828 · 2011-12-20 (December 20, 2011)
I HAVE A 2011 CHEVY SILVERADO WITH A FUEL GAUGE PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL, MY FUEL GAUGE LIGHT JUST COMES ON AND THE FUEL GAUGE GOES DOWN TO EMPTY. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLS LOSING ALL POWER AND CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE (BRAKES, STEERING). AS I REACH THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, I HAVE TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND IT STARTS RIGHT BACK UP BUT THE FUEL GAUGE STAYS AT EMPTY. I HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT A GM DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS STATED BY THE TECH THAT VEHICLE IS WORKING AS DESIGNED. THIS WAS ALSO CONFIRMED BY GM ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. IF I…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,105 miles reported. Look up ODI 10441828 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10488441 · 2012-12-11 (December 11, 2012)
2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON A STEEP INCLINE, WITH THE TRUCK AND TRAILER LOADED, THE ENGINE'S RPM SUDDENLY WENT TO 5500 RPM, WITHOUT INCREASE IN ACCELERATION. HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE TO RELEASE THE CRUISE CONTROL, AND STRONGLY PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE ENGINE WOULD RETURN TO A NORMAL RPM.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10488441 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10548304 · 2013-10-17 (October 17, 2013)
TRUCK DOWNSHIFTS TO PASSING GEAR SUCH AS ENTERING A HIGHWAY ON RAMP AND STEPPING DOWN TO ENTER SLOWER TRAFFIC ENGINE REVS TO RED LINE ON TACH BECAUSE IT DOES NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR LEAVING YOU HUNG OUT TO DRY IN TRAFFIC UNTIL YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOIN ON YOU HAVE FULLY LET UP FOR IT TO FIND A GEAR BY THIS TIME YOUR SPEED CAME DROP 10 MPH VERY DANGEROUS , HAD TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS TWICE BOTH SAID IT HAS NO PROBLEM ONE SAID IT WAS THE TORQUE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND IT WAS NORMAL.BUT IF I WANTED IT TO GO AWAY TAKE IT SOME WHERE AND HAVE THE PRO…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10548304 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10548388 · 2013-10-18 (October 18, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED WITH UREA SPECIAL FUEL FOR DIESEL TRUCKS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH, WHEN THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY DECELERATED FROM 55 TO 5 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE HEATER IN THE UREA TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10548388 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10576801 · 2014-04-02 (April 2, 2014)
WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC THE SILVERADO'S, ENGINE, POWER STEER AND POWER BRAKES SHUTDOWN COMPLETELY. AFTER THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED IN PARK AND THE TRUCK RESTARTED NORMALLY. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM OR CODE. THE SAME EVENT HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT 3 MONTHS LATER WHILE I WAS ON AN INTERSTATE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH. THE I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP IN THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I THEN PLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND THE VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY. I BELIEVE THERE IS AN ISS…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10576801 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10765012 · 2015-09-18 (September 18, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED, THE GAUGES FAILED, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 1…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10765012 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10760935 · 2015-09-02 (September 2, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE KEY REMAINED IN THE START POSITION. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V827000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10760935 at NHTSA ↗