2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 520 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 10th highest complaint count among 19 Silverado 1500 model years with reports.
Of the 2009 reports, 14 involved a crash and 9 involved a fire. 7 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleFeb 5, 2021
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, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, 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."
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 24, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 11, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328790.
Campaign 21V053000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleFeb 5, 2021
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 may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 23, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 20, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328780.
Campaign 21V052000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleFeb 5, 2021
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 may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328760.
Campaign 21V050000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
60 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Mar 11, 2013
WHILE DRIVING ALONG HIGHWAY I NOTICED THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE WAS ON ZERO. UPON FARTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND ALL INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WERE OFF AND DIRECTIONAL AND HAZARD FLASHERS WOULD NOT OPERATE. I STOPPED, RECYCLED MASTER SWITCH OFF THAN ON, LIGHTS WORKED PROPERLY. EVENT OCCURRED AGAIN SIX DAYS LATER. *TR ## VIN FAILED ##
Electrical system, Aug 20, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT SOMEONE WOULD RETURNED HIS CALL LATER. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, May 11, 2012
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW FROM CLASSIC CHEVROLET IN GRAPEVINE, TX IN JANUARY 2010. THE FIRST FEW MONTHS I HAD THE VEHICLE, I HAD NO PROBLEMS. STARTING IN MARCH 2010 I NOTICED THAT MY RADIO(NAVIGATION SYSTEM) WOULD SOUND LIKE IT WOULD SHORT OUT INTERMITTENTLY. I DIDN'T REALLY THINK ANYTHING OF IT. I THOUGHT THAT IT HAD TO BE THE RADIO STATION OR INTERFERENCE WITH OTHER WIRELESS SIGNALS. I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT IT WOULD BECOME A PROBLEM UNTIL RECENTLY. ON 5/5/2012, I WAS TRAVELING 70MPH AT NIGHT DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SEEMED LIKE IT WAS "RESETTING" ITSELF MULTIPLE TIMES. FROM DOOR LOCKS TO INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, TO NAVIGATION SYSTEM, TO EVEN HEADLIGHTS, EVERYTHING CYCLED MORE THAN 3 OR 4 TIMES IN RAPID SUCCESSION. I WAS MERELY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, I HADN'T JUST TOUCHED ANYTHING, I WAS JUST CRUISING ALONG. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, IT IS APPARENT THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AMONG THIS DESIGN OF THE SILVERADO. FORUM AFTER FORUM HAS OWNERS DESCRIBING THIS SAME ISSUE AND MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN THAT COULD END UP KILLING SOMEONE. HEADLIGHTS AND RUNNING LIGHTS THAT TURN OFF WITHOUT CAUSE? WHAT IF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS AFFECTED AND IT CAUSES A PREMATURE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WHILE SOMEONE IS TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED? THIS IS NOT AND ISOLATED ISSUE AND THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO STEP IN TO FORCE GENERAL MOTORS TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE ALONG WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ISSUE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT GENERAL MOTORS MAY BE AWARE OF THE ISSUE BECAUSE THE 2011 AND 2012 SILVERADOS HAVE HAD DESIGN CHANGES MADE TO THEIR ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS.(I READ THIS IN FORUMS AS WELL.) *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Feb 8, 2012
THIS HAS BEEN ON GOING FROM DAY ONE MY TRUCK HAS 30900 MILES ON IT AND ALMOST 3 YEARS OLD HEAD LIGHTS FLICKER OR DIM OUT FOR NO REASON ALONG WITH THE DASH LIGHTS DEALER SAID IT WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO IT WAS JUST THAT TYPE OF VOLTAGE REGULATOR. *TR
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 9, 2012
I WAS AT 60 TO 65 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE AND THE TRUCK POWERED THE MOTOR DOWN. THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL MODULE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF AT THE LAST SAFE EXIT FOR QUITE A WAY. ONSTAR RECOMMENDED NOT DRIVING IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DID THE DIAGNOSTIC AND AT 28000 MILES TOLD ME IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. IT TOOK 5 DAYS TO GET A "NEW" ONE.( APROX 1/26/11) ON APROX 12/15/11 AN ALMOST IDENTICAL THING HAPPENED, MILEAGE 50,000. OUT OF WARRANTY I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SHOP. THEIR COMPUTER TEST CONCLUDED A THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTION. $450.00 TO REPAIR. CALL THE DEALER " NO THAT IS UNDER WARRANTY" DEALER CONCLUDED THAT IT "JUST NEEDED CLEANED". PRIOR TO SERVICE (I RELY ON THIS TRUCK FOR WORK, I CAN NOT GET A RIDE, I CAN NOT RIDE A BUS) I WAS ABLE TO "RESET " THE STABILITRACK ( THE BUTTON WOULD NOT TURN IT OFF) BY PULLING 4 FUSES UNDER THE HOOD FUSE BLOCK. BUT BOY WHEN IT HAD ENOUGH THE TRUCK WOULD POWER THE MOTOR DOWN AND WITHIN 15 SECONDS THE TRUCK WOULD DIE RIGHT WHERE IT WAS. 5 MPH, OR 15 MPH NO POWER NOTHING, BRAKES ,STEERING GONE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Nov 29, 2011
AT 46,487 MILES HAD TO SPEND $415.75 TO CORRECT ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. NOW DOOR CHIME COMES ON AT RANDOM TIMES WHEN KEY IS NOT IN IGNITION. *KB
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Tires, May 8, 2010
ENGINE JUST SHUTS DOWN. NO POWER. HAVE TO PULL OVER AND WAIT 5 MINUTES OR SO AND THEN IT WILL RESTART. NO PATTERN. HAS HAPPENED TRAVELING ON HWY. *TR
Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Mar 12, 2010, fire
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 CREW CAB. HE STATED THE PASSENGER'S SIDE POWER DOOR LOCKS FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LOCK ACTUATOR UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. LATER, HE COULD SMELL A BURNING SMELL, SIMILAR TO BURNING PLASTIC, FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE SOURCE. ON A LATER DATE, WHILE GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED A TWO INCH BURN HOLE NEAR THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED REPLACING THE DOOR HANDLE. THE DEALER COULD NOT PROVIDE A REASON AS TO WHY THE BURN HOLE WAS ON THE DOOR. THE DEALER FOUND THERE WERE WIRES THAT FAILED AND OVERHEATED, CAUSING THE DAMAGE TO THE DOOR. REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE DOOR AND THE LOCK ACTUATOR WAS REPLACED A SECOND TIME, UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 13,310.
Electrical system, Feb 5, 2010, fire
ON MARCH 10, 2009 WE PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO FROM NU CAR CHEVROLET IN NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE. ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2009, WHILE ON VACATION IN OCEAN CITY, MD, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITH US AND OUR TWO YOUNG CHILDREN (AGES 2 AND 5) INSIDE, STRAPPED IN THEIR CAR SEATS. WE WERE ABLE TO PULL THEM FROM THEIR CAR SEATS (TERRIFIED) AND GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM THE RESTAURANT WERE WE WERE PARKED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO NU CAR CHEVROLET ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2009 AND IT HAS REMAINED WITH THEM EVER SINCE. THE DEALERSHIP AND GENERAL MOTORS DETERMINED THE CAUSE TO BE A DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS AND HAS ADMITTED FAULT (THERE WAS NO AFTER MARKET WIRING IN THE VEHICLE AND NO PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS). AS OF TODAY, FEBRUARY 5, THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR THE ISSUE AND ARE NOW GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH US TRYING TO GET US TO PAY MORE MONEY FOR A NEW VEHICLE SINCE THEY CAN'T FIND A 2009 REPLACEMENT MODEL. WE ARE REFUSING TO PAY ANY ADDITIONAL MONEY AND STATED THAT WE WILL ACCEPT A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE WITH SAME FEATURES AT NO COST OR WE WANT A FULL REFUND OF OUR VEHICLE PURCHASE. *TR
Electrical system, Oct 19, 2009, fire
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 2.5 OR SO HOURS IN DRIVEWAY. DETERMINED BY FIRE MARSHALL TO HAVE STARTED FROM A ECM IN RIGHT FRONT DASH AREA. FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED AND EXTINGUISHED FIRE WITH WATER INSTEAD OF FOAM BECAUSE "FOAM TANK WAS NOT OPERATIONAL AT THAT TIME". NO REPAIRS HAVE YET BEEN MADE TO THE VEHICLE DUE TO OUTSTANDING INSURANCE INVESTIGATION. *TR