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
Structure, Other or unspecified, Equipment adaptive/mobility, Oct 22, 2014, crash
BACKED INTO HAY RAKE
Structure, Oct 17, 2014
DASHBOARD CRACKED IN TWO PLACES AT THE AIRBAG ON PASSENGER SIDE. *TR
Structure, Sep 30, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED ABOVE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Electrical system, Structure, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 22, 2014
ONCE THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK IT IS SITTING UP AND AFTER PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND STARTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE LOWERS TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE PULLS WHEN DRIVING AND CAUSES AN ADDITIONAL PULL ON THE ENGINE AND FUEL SYSTEM. *TR
Structure, Jul 22, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE SPARE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SPARE TIRE ROLLED INTO INCOMING TRAFFIC AND OTHER DRIVERS WERE FORCED TO SWERVE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. UPDATED 09/02/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE CABLE SNAPPED OFF INSIDE THE PULLEY SYSTEM. THE TIRE HIT THE RESCUE HITCH. THE BACK OF THE TRUCK JUMPED INTO THE AIR. UPDATED 11/6/2014 *JS
Air bags, Structure, May 3, 2014
THE DASH SURROUNDING THE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CRACKED. DON'T KNOW HOW THIS WILL AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE AIR BAG IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. *TR
Structure, Oct 28, 2013
FIRST I WENT TO OPEN MY FRONT PASSENGER DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE AND THE CHROME DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF THE TRUCK IN MY HAND. APPROXIMATELY A WEEK LATER, THE DRIVER DOOR HANDLE ALSO CAME OFF IN MY HAND AS WELL. BOTH INSTANCES RENDERED THE DOOR INOPERABLE FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
Structure, Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 6, 2013
THE TRUCK I PURCHASED HAS A MAX TOWING PACKAGE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO SAFELY TOW 10,600# IN CREW CAB CONFIGURATION. I HAVE A 28' PACE DAYTONA TRAILER THAT WEIGHS UNDER 8,000# AS I TOW IT. AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE TRUCK HAS A VERY SEVERE SWAY ISSUE. IT IS FRIGHTENING TO DRIVE AS THE TRAILER STARTS SHIFTING THE REAR OF THE TRUCK BACK AND FORTH. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH THE TRUCK AS YET, BUT I FEEL THE SITUATION IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE CONTACTED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE IN MICHIGAN TO ASK FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THIS ISSUE. THEY SAY THEY HAVE NO INFORMATION THAT CAN HELP SOLVE MY PROBLEM. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO BRING THE TRUCK AND TRAILER TO LONE STAR CHEVROLET IN HOUSTON WHERE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK. SEVERAL VISITS THERE AND TALKING TO SEVERAL SERVICE PEOPLE HAS YIELDED NO HELP. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRUCK CAN'T PULL A TRAILER OF THAT PHYSICAL SIZE. ODDLY ENOUGH, THE 2012 MODEL TRUCK ADVERTISES A NEW SWAY CONTROL FEATURE. THIS 2013 BROCHURE EVER DEPICTS A SCENE OF THE TRAILER SWAYING AS MINE DOES, WITH A BOX TYPE TRAILER IN THE ADD. SINCE CHEVROLET CLAIMS IT HAS NO HISTORY OF THIS BEING AN ISSUE, I FELT THAT I SHOULD NOTIFY SOMEONE OF THIS UNSAFE SITUATION WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE MY PROBLEM WITH SOMEONE WHO MIGHT RESEARCH THIS ISSUE AND TRY TO PREVENT A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.
Structure, Aug 27, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TOWING A BASS BOAT, THE REAR BUMPER COLLAPSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE BUMPER WAS WORKING AS DESIGNED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT SHOULD GET AN AFTER MARKET BUMPER SINCE THE FACTORY BUMPER WAS BUILT TO SPECIFICATIONS AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO ALTER IT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BUMPER DID NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH AND TOWING ABILITY AS IT WAS ADVERTISED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,000. UPDATED 10/11/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED A BASS BOAT WAS LOADED ONTO THE TRAILER. THE CONSUMER STEPPED OFF THE TRAILER ONTO THE REAR BUMPER OF THE CHEVY PICKUP, WHEN THE CORNER COLLAPSED TO THE DOWNWARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PLANNED TO EXCHANGE THE BUMPER FOR A STURDY ONE. THE MANUFACTURER THEN STATED THE BUMPER MET REGULATIONS SO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BUMPER COULD BE BENT BY SIMPLY USING HIS HAND WITH BARELY ANY EFFORT. UPDATED 10/16/2012 *JS
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Jun 21, 2012
I OWN A CHEVROLET 2011 1/2 TON TRUCK AND I NOTICED DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT THAT THE RIGHT COLUMN BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE PASSANGER WINDOW CREATES A BLIND SPOT FOR THE DRIVER THAT ALMOST COST ME AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE A MOTOCYCLE COMING FROM MY RIGHT IN THE INTERSECTION ABOUT TO DO A LEFT TURN. *TT
Structure, Sep 27, 2011
WHY IS THE CABLES SUPPORTING THE TAIL GATE TWO DIFFERENT LENGTHS, ONE CABLE IS LOOSE WHEN THE TAIL GATE IS LOWERED AND NOT SUPPORTING ANYTHING, I TALKED WITH MY SALES PERSON AND HE TOLD HE TALKED WITH GM AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE ME SOME INFORMATION ON THIS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *TR
Power train, Structure, Feb 18, 2011
2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION CLUNK AND A LEAKY (WATER) DRIVERS CABIN AND EXPRESSES DISCONTENT IN REGARDS TO GM *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES FOR THE TRANSMISSION NOISE. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED GM BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK AND FURNISHED HIM WITH A NEW VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO HEAT IN THE VEHICLE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE INLET HOSE WAS INSTALLED UPSIDE DOWN DURING MANUFACTURING. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE NEW TRUCK ALSO EXHIBITED THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. UPDATED 04/08/11