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: structure
68 reports, newest first. Show all
Structure, Sep 5, 2025
Driver and passenger side extended cab doors metal is cracking horizontally near the front edge of the doors.
Structure, Jul 19, 2024
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.
Suspension, Structure, Other or unspecified, Jun 19, 2024
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?
Structure, Mar 22, 2024
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.
Structure, Dec 18, 2023
Frame is so rotted it is falling apart in pieces. Truck doesn’t even have 100000 miles
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Oct 24, 2023
Windshield trim flew off on the Highway could of struck another vehicle. But thankfully no one was behind us.
Electrical system, Air bags, Structure, Jul 25, 2023
Smiths auto Canton ohio told me they sold it to me with no problems but the locks are going out it has a dent in the side that's getting worse. I had to buy breaks and a new starter twice.
Structure, Jun 26, 2023
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that the dashboard was fractured on the passenger’s side near the passenger’s side air bag housing. The contact stated that the fracture extended to the driver's side dashboard. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the dashboard needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered to replace the air bag free of charge however, the dashboard had to be replaced by the owner out-of-pocket. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.
Structure, Feb 13, 2023
The frame on my truck has rusted to the point that my mechanic cannot put it on the lift to inspect the vehicle. Wherever he tries to put the jack points the frame crumbles. He has declared that it is unsafe to operate, and cannot be inspected. The truck would most likely break into pieces in any type of collision. There is also a risk of the frame collapsing during normal operation, and possibly causing an accident, or injury or death due to collapse of the vehicle frame during highway operation. The truck is only 14 years old and rusted more than most 50 year old vehicles.
Suspension, Structure, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 28, 2022
Fuel system leak at fuel pump due to corrosion. Found raw gas leaking out from under vehicle while vehicle in operation. Upon further investigation, found metal supply and return lines severely corroded and leaking. Repaired with new pump. While being repaired, noted severe corrosion on frame and cross members to include upper shock mounts and spare tire mount. Holes in frame were noted.
Structure, Apr 1, 2022
Along with many, many other people. My pickup has the dreaded dash cracks. I would like for GM to step up and replace this free of charge.
Structure, Feb 18, 2022
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that the dashboard was cracked. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the crack was caused by a failure of the composite material. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 131,000.
Structure, Jul 27, 2021
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V050000 (Air Bags). The contact stated that he noticed a crack on the passenger’s side dashboard that later expanded throughout the dashboard. The middle defrosts vent had collapsed because of the crack on the dashboard. There was no impact on the dashboard that could have caused the crack. The contact was concerned that the dashboard would be damaged more if the air bag recall repair was performed. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the vehicle was out of warranty coverage. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact attempted to notify the manufacturer but was unable to speak with a live representative. The failure mileage was 188,472.
Air bags, Structure, Apr 26, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LARGE CRACK HAD FORMED ACROSS THE DASHBOARD, FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE TO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. DALE EARNHARDT, JR. CHEVROLET (3127 W TENNESSEE ST, TALLAHASSEE, FL 32304) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY TAKEN TO THE SAME DEALER FOR THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG RECALL REPAIR. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED, THE CONTACT SIGNED A WAIVER THAT THE DEALER WOULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGES TO THE DASHBOARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Structure, Mar 25, 2021
DASH WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY WHEN VEHICLE WAS FIRST REPLACED. HOWEVER, SINCE THEN THE REPLACED DASHBOARD HAS THE CRACK AGAIN.
Air bags, Structure, Aug 5, 2020
DASH IS CRACKING EVERYWHERE
Structure, Jul 1, 2020
DASH BOARD CRACKED WHILE STATIONARY.
Structure, Jun 8, 2020
DASHBOARD PRESENTS MULTIPLE CRACKS BY AIRBAG IN PASSENGER SIDE AND BY THE IDLE AREA. LINES ARE SIMILAR TO MANY REPORTED IN 2018 LAWSUIT. CONCERN ABOUT SAFETY IN CASE AIRBAG BREAKS FRAGILE DASHBOARD AND THIS INJURES MY FAMILY. *TR
Structure, Jan 7, 2020
THE DASHBOARD IN MY SILVERADO HAS MYSTERIOUSLY DEVELOPED CRACKS AROUND THE STEERING WHEEL AREA AND THE AIRBAG. I AM AFRAID THAT IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN THAT IT COULD PROJECT PLASTIC PIECES CAUSING BODILY HARM IF THE AIRBAG WERE DEPLOYED.
Structure, Mar 7, 2019
CRACKED DASHBOARD - TYPICAL OF GM/CHEVROLET TRUCKS AND SUV'S NO ACCIDENT OR OTHER TRAUMA INVOLVED
Suspension, Structure, Engine, Mar 1, 2019
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY AS I CAME TO ON RAMP I HEARD A NOISE AS CONTINUED SEEMED TO GET LOUDER SO I PULLED OVER AND HAD IT TOWED APPROX 70-80K MILES, REPLACED WHEEL BEARINGS SIDES. CONTINUOUS MULTIPLE MISFIRE, DRIVING VEHICLE STARTS TO SHAKE LOSS OF POWER... CALLAPS/ FROZEN LIFTER(S) WITH ONLY 110K, TAIL GATE LATCH HAVE TO BUNGEE TO KEEP CLOSED, TRANSMISSION REPLACED BEFORE RECOMMENDED FACTORY TANSMISSION/ TRANSFER CASE CHANGE... PROBLEMS RANGED FROM APPROX 2013 TO PRESENT. NOW DEALING WITH LIFTER(S)...
Structure, Nov 19, 2018
DASH CRACKED ABOVE PASSENGER AIRBAG.
Structure, Jun 25, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR HANDLES DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AL WILLEFORD CHEVROLET (1603 US-181, PORTLAND, TX 78374, (361) 444-0250), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE DOOR HANDLES WERE REATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. *TT
Structure, Service brakes, Jun 13, 2018
THE ENTIRE UNDERBODY, INCLUDING ROCKERS, INNER DOOR PANEL FRAME, TAILGATE AREA, ENGINE BAY AREA, AND BRAKES, CONTROL ARMS, STRUTS IS RUSTED OVER.
Air bags, Structure, Dec 6, 2017
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD CRACKS THAT PROGRESSED FROM THE MIDDLE TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CRACKS COULD AFFECT THE SAFETY OF THE AIR BAG COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A NOTIFICATION. A DEALER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED YEARS LATER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.