2011 Chevrolet SILVERADO: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10427678 · 2011-09-27 (September 27, 2011)
WHY IS THE CABLES SUPPORTING THE TAIL GATE TWO DIFFERENT LENGTHS, ONE CABLE IS LOOSE WHEN THE TAIL GATE IS LOWERED AND NOT SUPPORTING ANYTHING, I TALKED WITH MY SALES PERSON AND HE TOLD HE TALKED WITH GM AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE ME SOME INFORMATION ON THIS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10427678 at NHTSA ↗
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 10429604 · 2011-10-12 (October 12, 2011)
#1. VEHICLE ACCELERATES WHEN LETTING OFF GAS, EVEN WHILE GOING UPHILL THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE. YOU CAN GO UP A STEEP HILL WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GAS. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACED, THE THROTTLE BODY, GAS PEDAL ASSEMBLY. THEY REINSTALLED THE ORIGINAL PARTS AND TOLD US THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. WE DROVE OTHER 2011 CHEVY SILVERADO'S WHICH DID NOT DO THE SAME THING. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US THAT ALL THE 2011 CHEVY SILVERADO'S ACCELERATE ON THEIR OWN. #2. THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE REAR WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS. THE DEALER…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10429604 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10441242 · 2011-12-26 (December 26, 2011)
THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR WILL NOT ADJUST OUTWARD FAR ENOUGH TO ELIMINATE A BLIND SPOT ON THAT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. 9/22/11 TOM BANNEN CHEVROLET IN MADISON TN ATTEMPTED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE MIRROR, BUT THAT RESULTED IN NO IMPROVEMENT. 12/8/11 I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AGAIN. [XXX], THE SERVICE WRITER, SAT IN MY TRUCK, OPERATED THE MIRROR AND CONFIRMED THAT THE MIRROR WOULD NOT ADJUST OUTWARD FAR ENOUGH TO ELIMINATE A BLIND SPOT. HE SAID THAT IT WAS DEFINITELY NOT RIGHT,' AND THEY WOULD CHECK IT OUT TO SEE WHAT REPAIR IS NEEDE…
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10441242 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 10447906 · 2012-02-14 (February 14, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 60 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN IMMEDIATELY. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED WITH EXTREME PRESSURE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND WAS ADVISED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AND THE COMPUTER WAS SUPPOSE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,000. UPDATED…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10447906 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10448331 · 2012-02-17 (February 17, 2012)
I WAS TRAVELING ON A DIVIDED HIGHWAY AND APPROACHING A SLOW MOVING TRUCK IN THE RIGHT LANE AHEAD OF ME. THERE WAS ANOTHER TRUCK BEHIND ME IN MY LANE. I MOVED TO THE LEFT LANE TO PASS THE SLOW TRUCK. JUST AFTER I BEGAN THE PASS MY PICKUP SLOWED QUICKLY AND BEGAN FLASHING ERROR MESSAGES: STABILITY CONTROL DISABLED, ENGINE POWER REDUCED & SERVICE STABILITRAK. THE TRUCK BEHIND ME HAD MOVED UP CLOSE AND FOLLOWED ME AROUND THE SLOW MOVING TRUCK. I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AND CONTINUED SLOWING QUICKLY. I HAD JUST ENOUGH ROOM TO SWERVE IN BEHIND…
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10448331 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10457632 · 2012-05-07 (May 7, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPARE TIRE FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT SOMEONE HAD STOLEN THE TIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT THE SPARE TIRE CABLE WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CUT ONCE THE TIRE WAS ATTACHED AND THE CABLE WAS RETRACTED. THE TIRE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,115.
Owner-reported narrative. 14,115 miles reported. Look up ODI 10457632 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
11V339000 · Steering:Linkages
Reported: 2011-06-28 (June 28, 2011)
GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV; CHEVROLET SILVERADO HD, SILVERADO LD, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; AND GMC SIERRA HD, SIERRA LD, YUKON, AND YUKON XL VEHICLES. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ATTACHING BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION.
Consequence: THIS COULD ALLOW THE JOINTS TO SEPARATE, AND THE DRIVER COULD EXPERIENCE LOSS OF STEERING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: GM DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ENSURE THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BOLTS ARE TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JULY 13, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
NHTSA campaign record ↗14V827000 · Electrical System:Ignition
Reported: 2014-12-30 (December 30, 2014)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the "Start" position.
Consequence: If stuck in the "Start" position, the ignition may suddenly snap back into the "Accessory" position, causing a loss of engine, steering, and braking power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. If the vehicle is in a crash, the air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ignition lock housing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14696 for the original equipment, and 14912 for the service replacement parts.
NHTSA campaign record ↗