Chevrolet Silverado problems
520 owners have filed defect reports on this one. That's not a small number. No active recalls — patterns come from the complaint record.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the body was repaired or replaced.
- 1 fatality report and 3 crash-related complaints on the body
- Electrical system: 49 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 48,000–105,000 mi
- Reliability score 7.0/10 — around the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
My dash board and panels are cracked and falling apart. Dealer cannot replace air bags without doing more damage to dashboard and will not be responsible. Only 52000 miles On this Vehicle and dash board is cracked and broken. A compliant has been filed several years ago for a…
Airbag light on airbags disabled safety concern vehicle is not as potentially as safe as it was designed to be. The sdm (airbag module) has water intrusion and caused corrosion inside the sdm and caused the circuit board to burn out no fuses were blown which is a concern as well…
2000 Chevrolet silverado 1500. Consumer states his wife was involved in an accident and the airbags did not deploy *tgw
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet silverado 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v381000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.0 out of 10 based on 520 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado?
On the NHTSA data, the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado is one to avoid unless a specific vehicle proves otherwise. The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the body was repaired or replaced. The record behind that call: 1 fatality report and 3 crash-related complaints on the body; Electrical system: 49 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 48,000–105,000 mi; Reliability score 7.0/10 — around the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 240 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 83,350 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The body is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 67,890 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Chevrolet Silverado has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 520 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.