2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 638 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 8th highest complaint count among 19 Silverado 1500 model years with reports.
Of the 2011 reports, 29 involved a crash and 6 involved a fire. 39 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 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is recalling certain 2011-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL and 2011-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL and 2010-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY 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 25, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed to 40 VIN owners on May 11, 2021. A second owner notification letter was mailed to all other owners on January 24, 2022. 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 N212328800.
Campaign 21V054000 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
Suspension, rear, axle, spindleJan 6, 2011
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, COLORADO, EXPRESS, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; AND GMC CANYON, SIERRA, SAVANA, YUKON AND YUKON XL VEHICLES. THE REAR AXLE CROSS PINS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND COULD FRACTURE AND BECOME DISPLACED WITHIN THE REAR AXLE. SHOULD THE PIN SHIFT OUT OF POSITION, IT COULD CREATE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION AND CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO LOCK.
THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REAR AXLE CROSS PIN FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 11, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Campaign 11V007000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, rear, axle, spindleDec 17, 2010
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT, CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO LD AND GMC SIERRA LD VEHICLES. THE REAR AXLE CROSS PINS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND COULD FRACTURE AND BECOME DISPLACED WITHIN THE REAR AXLE. SHOULD THE PIN SHIFT OUT OF POSITION, IT COULD CREATE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION AND CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO LOCK.
THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REAR AXLE CROSS PIN FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 11, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Campaign 10V643000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: structure
87 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Structure, Dec 22, 2017
LARGE CRACK ON UPPER LEFT HAND SIDE OF PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DASHBOARD. TRUCK USED ON HARD SURFACE ROADS. TRUCK IS PARKED IN GARAGE. CRACK SHOWED UP WITHOUT MALICE. CONCERNED ABOUT POSSIBLE DASHBOARD SHATTERING IF AND WHEN AIRBAG IS DEPLOYED IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION CAUSING HARM TO DRIVER/PASSENGERS.
Structure, Nov 5, 2017
CRACKED DASH OVER INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND SIDE AIR VENT AND AIR BAG AND GLOVE BOX.
Structure, Sep 16, 2017
MY DASHBOARD STARTED TO CRACK AND THEN A BIG CHUNK FELL OUT OF IT.
Air bags, Structure, Other or unspecified, Jan 21, 2017
DASHBOARD CRACK AT THE TOP LEFT FRONT CORNER OF THE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT.
Structure, Jan 13, 2017
THE DASH IS CRACKING JUST LIKE ALL THE COMPLAINTS ONLINE. CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES INCLUDING AROUND AIRBAG.
Air bags, Structure, Jan 1, 2017
I BOUGHT MY 2011 SILVERADO 1500 WITH 8,000 MILES ON IT FROM THE DEALERSHIP OCT 2012. WHILE UNDER A BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY MY DASH BUSTED AT THE AIR BAG. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER THE TRUCK HAD AROUND 16,000 - 18,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS TOLD THE DASH WAS MADE THAT WAY SO NO CLAIM WAS MADE. SINCE THEN MY DASH HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE AND WORSE. NOW THAT ITS NO LONGER UNDER THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY THEY ADMIT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT MY COST! I'M AM SO FED UP WITH GM'S PRODUCT. I HAVE SPENT THE PAST 4 YEARS TRYING TO GET MY DASH REPLACED AT THEIR COST. ITS CLEARLY NOTHING I DID WRONG TO CAUSE IT. I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS ON COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM.. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL LAWSUITS THAT'S BEEN TAKING OUT ON THEM FOR THIS ISSUE. "IF I GET IN A WRECK THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL SEND SHARP PLASTIC INTO MY PASSENGERS FACE.. MY FARTHER HAS A 2010 SILVERADO 1500 WITH 50,000 MILES ON IT AND HIS IS ALSO BUSTED THE SAME WAY AT THE AIR BAG. THIS IS A HUGE KNOW QUALITY / SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE IMMEDIATELY RECALLED AT GM'S COST. I PAID $28,000 FOR MY NEW TRUCK AND LESS THEN A YEAR ITS FALLING APART..
Structure, Dec 26, 2016
DASH HAS LARGE CRACK DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF STEERING WHEEL AND TWO SMALLER CRACKS ON EACH SIDE OF AIR BAG ON PASSENGER SIDE OF DASH.IT APPEARS TO HAVE HAPPENED QUICKLY AS I NOTICED IT WHEN WIPING DOWN DASH AND HAD NOT NOTICED IT LAST TIME I CLEANED.
Structure, Dec 7, 2016
THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, TOP LEFT CORNER WHERE THE AIRBAG SITS IS CRACKED!
Structure, Nov 27, 2016
THE DASHBOARD HAS DEVELOPED A CRACK AT THE CORNER OF THE AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. NORMALLY I WOULDN'T THINK THIS IS A RECALL ISSUE BUT I PERSONALLY KNOW OF AT LEAST THREE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME EXACT CRACK AT THE SAME EXACT LOCATION ON THEIR DASHBOARD. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THE ISSUE AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE 2007-2011 SILVERADO AND TAHOE VEHICLES FROM CHEVROLET.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Nov 19, 2016
DASH CRACKS AT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS THIS A PROBLEM IF THE BAG WENT OFF WILL THE BROKEN PIECE OF DASH BOARD GO WITH IT. ALSO LOOSE BODY SIDE MOLDINGS HAD REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY AND CAME OFF AGAIN LUCKILY IT DIDN'T COME OFF WHILE DRIVING.
Structure, Oct 11, 2016
THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2011 CHEVY SILVERADO LTZ IS CRACKED IN MULTIPLE PLACES, INCLUDING OVER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND AT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG.
Electrical system, Air bags, Structure, Oct 3, 2016
TO YOUR COMPANY OFFERING TO PUT A USED ENGINE IN A USED VEHICLE. THEN PURCHASING A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500, AND HAVING NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. YOU HAD ASKED ME TO GIVE YOUR DEALERSHIP A SECOND CHANCE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH MY 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WITH THE AMOUNT OF UNPROFESSIONAL DEMEANOR THAT I EXPERIENCED PRIOR I DECIDED TO GIVE YOUR COMPANY A SECOND CHANCE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM.
Structure, Sep 16, 2016
2011 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500. THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH BOARD IS CRACKED. THE TRUCK ONLY HAD 40000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE DASH CRACKED. I CONTACTED GM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, WITH NO LUCK TO GET THEM TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM. IN THE EVENT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYING PIECES OF THE DASH WILL COME APART AND GO FLYING EVERWHERE!!
Structure, Sep 8, 2016
THIS IS THE SECOND DASH BOARD THAT HAS CRACKED BY THE AIR BAG AND ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FIRST WAS COVERED UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY AND NOW ITS OUT OF WARRANTY. I WORRY THAT HAVING A DASH THAT IS COMING A PART WILL BLOW APART IF THE AIR BAG GOES OFF AFTER ALL THE AIRBAG COVER IS ALSO THE SAME PLASTIC..THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND GM NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF IT. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU GET INTO A ACCIDENT AND THE DASH COME A PART.
Structure, Jul 5, 2016
DASHBOARD CRACKING RIGHT IN FRONT OF DRIVER ON TOP OF SPEEDOMETER. THERE ARE 2 CRACKS. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY, THE SHARP BROKEN PLASTIC, CAN BECOME SHRAPNEL, AND A SECONDARY DANGER FROM PUNCTURE WOUNDS. THIS VEHICLE IS A 2011, WELL CARED FOR AND HAS LESS THAN 18K MILES
Structure, Jun 20, 2016
DASHBOARD IS CRACKING IN TWO PLACES. CRACKS ARE APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES IN LENGTH AND HAVE SHARP EDGES. CONCERNED SHARP EDGES COULD CAUSE NEGATIVE IMPACT DURING AN IMPACT THAT CAUSES AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.
Structure, May 16, 2016
CRACK IN THE DASH ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OVER THE AIR BAG.
Structure, Apr 22, 2016
DRIVERS SIDE INSIDE HANDLE BROKE. WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, WHEN THE LEVER BROKE OFF IN MY HAND. HAD TO ROLL WINDOW DOWN TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. I WOULD BE UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE QUICKLY IN AN EMERGENCY.
Air bags, Structure, Other or unspecified, Mar 9, 2016
2011 CHEVY SILVERADO LT WITH A CRACKED DASH ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND BY THE AIRBAG. ALWAYS HAVE A SUN SCREEN OVER DASH DURING THE DAY AND IN THE GARAGE WHEN AT HOME.
Structure, Feb 11, 2016
I HAVE A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 THAT HAS APPROXIMATELY 44,000 MILES ON IT AND IS GARAGE KEPT. I HAVE SEVERAL CRACKS AROUND MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WHICH COULD POSE A SAFETY ISSUE EVEN THOUGH GM SAID THE CRACKS WILL NOT.
Air bags, Structure, Other or unspecified, Jan 5, 2016
DASHBOARD CRACK NEAR PASSENGER AIRBAG. SAFETY ISSUE IN MY OPINION. NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS NOT VEHICLE SPECIFIC. MANY CHEVROLET DASHBOARD ISSUES. FACEBOOK PAGE DEDICATED TO GM CRACK DASH ISSUES
Structure, Dec 3, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW ABOVE THE AIR BAG AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO, DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRIM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.
Structure, Oct 28, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CRACK WAS APPROXIMATELY SIX INCHES WIDE AND NEAR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Structure, Mar 20, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD DEVELOPED A CRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO REPORT THE FAILURE TO THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE PERFORMING THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,500.
Air bags, Structure, Dec 12, 2014, crash
I WAS DRIVING INTO THE PARKING GARAGE AT WORK TO A PARKING SPOT. AS I BRAKED AND SLOWED TURNING INTO THE PARKING SPOT THE TRUCK ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE SUPPORT BEAM. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THE TRUCK SUFFERED QUITE A BIT OF DAMAGES TO THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT END. I AM UNSURE OF SPEED AT TIME OF ACCIDENT. *TR