Owners have filed 553 complaints
about the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with NHTSA between 2009 and 2025.
The largest single group is the airbags.
Across this model's run it ranks 26 of 32 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 38
Against the median year of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 22
4.3% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 39
23% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2009 compares with every other Chevrolet Silverado 1500
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a
system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and
knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Body
4276.4%
Dashboard
47.3%
Fuel Pump
23.6%
Engine
23.6%
Door
23.6%
Yaw/Angle Sensor
11.8%
Pressure Monitoring AND Regulating Systems
11.8%
Side/Window
11.8%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
62.0%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
175.7%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
289.4%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
5418.1%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
6020.1%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
5317.7%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
5117.1%
150,000+ miles
3010.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Mar 2009peak 25Nov 2025
NHTSA investigations into the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.C...
DP22005Opened 27 Jan 2023Closed 7 Aug 2023ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after Marc...
Recalls on the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
United States — NHTSA
21V052000
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
21V050000
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
21V053000
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban,
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Fostoria, OHCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
Airbags for the steering wheel did not deploy.
NHTSA complaint #11437577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fostoria, OHCrash1 injured
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Airbags for the steering wheel did not deploy.
NHTSA complaint #11437577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pittsburgh, PACrash
STEERING
I was driving on the road. The road naturally turned to the left, and when I turned the steering wheel, the truck did not turn. I hit three parked cars. The steering column steering shaft disconnected from the back of the steering wheel. There was no warning signs prior to the accident. I contacted GM. They sent out a adjuster. And denied my claim but did not give me a reason why. My safety was at risk because I lost my steering. The steering wheel turned but the steering shaft became disconnected from the back of the steering wheel and there was no steering. This is a huge safety concern. If this happens to other people. Some one will get killed. I have pictures of the defective part.
NHTSA complaint #11436233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesHanover, PACrash
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN INJURIES AND DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V052000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE DEALER OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT TRIED INFORMING THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS PUT ON HOLD AND HUNG UP AFTER BEING PLACED ON HOLD FOR TOO LONG. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. * (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS
NHTSA complaint #11398576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 172,000 milesGallion, OHCrash
TIRES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 EQUIPPED WITH COOPER DISCOVERER A/T3 TIRES, SIZE: 275/70/R17 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 72 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS IT RAN OFF THE ROADWAY AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL AND THE FRONT BUMPER WERE DAMAGED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE TIRE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.
NHTSA complaint #11088585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 6,500 milesSAN Antonio, TXCrash
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL - BEEN WAITING 4 MONTHS FOR PARTS AT THE DEALER AND I LIVE IN A HIGH HEAT - HIGH HUMIDITY AREA. WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN NOVEMBER 2010 AND LUCKILY THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #11047030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 146,000 milesMesa, AZ
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V052000 (Air Bags) while having an inspection completed. After receiving notification of the recall, while driving approximately 35 MPH, the passenger’s side air bag unexpectedly deployed, damaging the dashboard and fracturing the window. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 146,000.
NHTSA complaint #11697134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tamaqua, PA
STRUCTURE:BODY
Driver and passenger side extended cab doors metal is cracking horizontally near the front edge of the doors.
NHTSA complaint #11685405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kerrville, TX
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The front drivers headlight low beam keeps going out. I just received my second warning for this failure. It got dark before I got home from the store. We took it to a friend who does mechanical work back in the spring. He fixed it; but now it’s doing it again. Yes we had it inspected last November for tag renewal. There are no warning lights or signals that come on.i think it started acting up around November 2024
NHTSA complaint #11668385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Racine, WI
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
P305/55 R 22
NHTSA complaint #11634588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 200,000 milesWheatfield, IN
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that after having the vehicle inspected, the contact was informed that the under body was extremely rusted, and the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The certified mechanic determined that the sub frame could not be repaired and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000.
NHTSA complaint #11603338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cuba City, WI
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Recently while up on the hoist the technician said the frame rust was very severe and the truck was in danger of buckling. Should it be so bad at 114,000?
NHTSA complaint #11595233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cuba City, WI
SUSPENSION
Recently while up on the hoist the technician said the frame rust was very severe and the truck was in danger of buckling. Should it be so bad at 114,000?
NHTSA complaint #11595233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cuba City, WI
STRUCTURE:BODY
Recently while up on the hoist the technician said the frame rust was very severe and the truck was in danger of buckling. Should it be so bad at 114,000?
NHTSA complaint #11595233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Yawkey, WV
AIR BAGS
There was no incident yet light came on dash 2 days ago and I got a letter in mail for a recall
NHTSA complaint #11593815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fruitland, NM
ENGINE
Solenoid was rubbed by the wiring harness which caused a leak.
NHTSA complaint #11582806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fruitland, NM
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Solenoid was rubbed by the wiring harness which caused a leak.
NHTSA complaint #11582806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesSeabrook, NH
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that the service air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the air bag control module was corroded due to moisture in the driver weld. The vehicle was not covered under a recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
NHTSA complaint #11580603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesSeabrook, NH
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that the service air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the air bag control module was corroded due to moisture in the driver weld. The vehicle was not covered under a recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
NHTSA complaint #11580603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Forney, TX
STRUCTURE:BODY
I realized last weekend that BOTH of my rear doors were full of water. When I opened the rear door on the drivers side, I heard a water sloshing sound, which caught my attention. I closed & reopened the door & once again I heard the sound clearly. I left the door open & noticed the water pouring out at one corner. The water was draining from inside the door panel. I went to the passenger side of the vehicle & noticed the exact same situation. After 30 minutes of swinging the doors back & forth, I drained over a gallon of water from EACH of the rear doors. Considering the weight of a gallon of water, this is very much a safety hazard, not to mention the corrosion & rust that I am sure have built up over time.
NHTSA complaint #11579003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alton, MO
AIR BAGS
Driving up driveway and airbags on the side door panels went off didn't hit anything and they went off
NHTSA complaint #11574225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alexandria, LA
SEAT BELTS
My truck has roughly 26,000 miles and the airbag sensing module on it corroded due to water gathering around it in the acoustic padding. It happens because water runs down a line that enters the cab and gets absorbed by the acoustic padding. This is a known issue as there is a recall for other states. My state is not one even though Louisiana is one of the wettest states and we also use salt in the winter when the roads ice. I’m glad I didn’t get hurt by this since it can cause the seatbelt pretentioners to fire and/or the airbag to deploy. This is the document from GM/NHTSA. GM Bulletin [XXX] [XXX] Can you please include Louisiana in this recall since the issue is affecting us? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11573781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alexandria, LA
AIR BAGS
My truck has roughly 26,000 miles and the airbag sensing module on it corroded due to water gathering around it in the acoustic padding. It happens because water runs down a line that enters the cab and gets absorbed by the acoustic padding. This is a known issue as there is a recall for other states. My state is not one even though Louisiana is one of the wettest states and we also use salt in the winter when the roads ice. I’m glad I didn’t get hurt by this since it can cause the seatbelt pretentioners to fire and/or the airbag to deploy. This is the document from GM/NHTSA. GM Bulletin [XXX] [XXX] Can you please include Louisiana in this recall since the issue is affecting us? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11573781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alexandria, LA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My truck has roughly 26,000 miles and the airbag sensing module on it corroded due to water gathering around it in the acoustic padding. It happens because water runs down a line that enters the cab and gets absorbed by the acoustic padding. This is a known issue as there is a recall for other states. My state is not one even though Louisiana is one of the wettest states and we also use salt in the winter when the roads ice. I’m glad I didn’t get hurt by this since it can cause the seatbelt pretentioners to fire and/or the airbag to deploy. This is the document from GM/NHTSA. GM Bulletin [XXX] [XXX] Can you please include Louisiana in this recall since the issue is affecting us? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11573781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 63,000 milesMontesano, WA
AIR BAGS
The contact’s father owns a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while his dad was driving 25 MPH, he heard a loud explosion coming the front driver’s side air bag. The air bag warning light was illuminated prior to the explosion. The air bag did not deploy because there was no crash. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 63,000.
NHTSA complaint #11566513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dunreith, IN
STRUCTURE:BODY
Frame is so rotted it is falling apart in pieces. Truck doesn’t even have 100000 miles
NHTSA complaint #11560603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brooksville, FL
STRUCTURE:BODY
Windshield trim flew off on the Highway could of struck another vehicle. But thankfully no one was behind us.
NHTSA complaint #11551520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brooksville, FL
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Windshield trim flew off on the Highway could of struck another vehicle. But thankfully no one was behind us.
NHTSA complaint #11551520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Davisburg, MI
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Steel fuel line of fuel sending unit rusted out causing fuel to be sprayed through a pin hole sized area at high pressure.
NHTSA complaint #11548926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Salisbury, NC
POWER TRAIN
Going down a busy road transmission started hunting for gears downshifting very hard finally like it was trying to go into park very dangerous situation trying to get out of traffic and get stopped
NHTSA complaint #11543103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Branch, MN
POWER TRAIN
The TCM failed in rush hour traffic! In Minneapolis Minnesota, the stability control light came on, traction control light came on, no throttle, no power. We backed up traffic, got push to the side of the road, towed to the service shop, and was told the Transmission control module (TCM) failed. Then told they are on national backorder from GM. The truck has been down for 3 months with no answers or parts in sight.
NHTSA complaint #11540427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.