2011 Chevrolet Silverado cruise control problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2011 Silverado 1500 exhibits serious drivability issues including uncontrolled acceleration, cruise control failures, and limp-mode power loss with warning lights—some intermittent and difficult to diagnose, others recurring. Multiple owners report dealer inability to recreate or resolve the problems; know that some blame FPCM or transmission software, but no consistent recall has proven effective for all affected trucks.
Owners of the 2011 Silverado 1500 describe two broad categories of trouble: sudden loss of control and intermittent limp mode.
Unintended acceleration is the most alarming complaint. Owners report the truck accelerating on its own with feet off both pedals, or the throttle pedal sticking and rocketing the engine to 5000+ RPM. In one case, a truck accelerated into a road stump and injured five passengers. Another owner's pedal stuck at a turn, locking the truck at 60 mph around the corner. The brake can stop the truck, but the issue returns days or weeks later. Dealers have been unable to reproduce it.
Cruise control fails to hold set speed, climbing well above the target on downhill grades—one truck went from 65 mph set to 85+ mph. Remote start and Tow Haul mode also reportedly fail to stay engaged.
Limp mode is the third pattern: Check Engine, StabiliTrak, Traction Control, and ABS lights all come on together, the engine runs rough, and the truck tops out at 35–40 mph regardless of throttle input. Transmission jerks hard between gears and the speedometer bounces erratically. This usually clears after a restart or sitting for ten minutes, but recurs days later. Some owners found online complaints referencing GM Recall 14515 (FPCM) and P069E/U0073 codes, but VIN lookups did not show the recall as applicable.
Transmission hunting—downshifting then upshifting repeatedly while accelerating—compounds sluggish response and makes the truck feel unsafe.
Same Chevrolet Silverado cruise control reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration / stuck accelerator pedal
Vehicle accelerates on its own without driver input, or accelerator pedal becomes mechanically stuck or unresponsive. Owners report RPM surges of 1300–5000+ and speed increases they cannot control with the gas pedal alone; braking can stop the truck but the problem recurs intermittently.
When: At 1,000–22,000 miles; occurs on-and-off over days or weeks
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates without foot on throttle; Accelerator pedal stuck or unresponsive to initial input; Engine RPMs spike to 1300–5000+; Pedal seized or required tapping to release; Brake alone insufficient to prevent acceleration in some cases; Problem intermittent; resets after stopping
Codes mentioned: P069E (Fuel Pump Control Module Requested MIL Illumination), U0073 (Control Module Communication BUS A Off)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership diagnostics unable to reproduce issue in multiple cases; vehicle not repaired. One owner shifted to Neutral to control runaway RPMs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM Recall 14515 (Fuel Pump Control Module) mentioned by owner but recall lookup showed only Takata airbag recall for their VIN. Throttle Position Sensor recall notice mentioned in narrative #10.
Cruise control does not hold or disengage
Cruise control fails to maintain set speed, either refusing to stay engaged or allowing vehicle to drift above set speed, particularly on downhill grades. One owner reports dealership cited emissions standards as reason; another reports Tow Haul mode and remote start also affected.
When: Various mileages; problem ongoing in some cases
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control will not stay engaged; Vehicle speed increases beyond set limit despite cruise engaged; Speed climbs to 85+ mph when set to 65 mph downhill; Tow Haul mode will not stay engaged; Remote start lights flash instead of starting truck
Repairs/costs cited: No repair notes provided; dealership attributed issue to emissions-related transmission tuning.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership stated transmission tuned per DOT emission standards to reduce carbon footprint; no TSB or recall cited.
Limp mode / reduced power with check engine and stability warnings
Vehicle enters limp or reduced-power mode with multiple warning lights (Check Engine, StabiliTrak, Traction Control, ABS) and loss of responsiveness. Engine runs rough, transmission jerks between gears, and truck cannot exceed 35–40 mph even with throttle input. Problem is intermittent, often resolving after engine restart or sitting.
When: Various mileages; problem intermittent—may clear after restart or 10+ minute soak
Symptoms owners cite: Check Engine and StabiliTrak lights illuminate; Traction Control and ABS warning lights on; Engine running rough; Severe power loss; truck limited to 35–40 mph; Hard jolting during gear shifts; Speedometer jumps and is unstable; No power response to acceleration; engine revs but vehicle won't go
Codes mentioned: P069E (Fuel Pump Control Module Requested MIL Illumination), U0073 (Control Module Communication BUS A Off)
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs performed in reported cases. One owner found many complaints on Chevrolet forum but no recalls listed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM Recall 14515 (Fuel Pump Control Module) mentioned; owner believes truck affected but VIN lookup showed only Takata airbag recall. No TSB cited.
Transmission hunting / harsh shifting and acceleration hesitation
Transmission exhibits erratic shifting behavior—downshifting to raise RPMs, then shifting to higher gear, then back to lower gear repeatedly. Vehicle hesitates or fails to respond when accelerator is pressed, then suddenly jerks forward. Engine feels sluggish and lacks power.
When: Various mileages including low mileage (under 5000 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission hunts for right gear while driving; Repeated downshift-upshift-downshift cycling; Vehicle hesitates on acceleration; Sudden jerking forward after hesitation; Engine feels sluggish; no power; Vehicle feels unsafe overall
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to diagnose failure in one case. Vehicle not repaired.
Accelerator and brake pedal spacing too close
Owner alleges accelerator and brake pedals installed too close together, allowing foot to engage both simultaneously during low-speed maneuver.
When: At approximately 1,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Both accelerator and brake engaged at the same time during low-speed braking
Repairs/costs cited: Crash occurred with front bumper moderate damage; vehicle not repaired.
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 7,600 and 71,380 miles, with the median around 22,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 7,600; a quarter make it past 71,380. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.