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: other or unspecified
127 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Mar 16, 2025
Na
Other or unspecified, Feb 25, 2025
Unknown
Other or unspecified, Back over prevention, Jan 28, 2025
Stalking, harassment, identity thief, stealing of snap benefits and tampering
Other or unspecified, Dec 20, 2024
2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 severe frame rot drivers side front left from cab to rear wheel potential for snapping with holes of rot throughout also right side starting have had truck for 1.5 years which cost 11,000 dollars GM should be held accountable as I have read hundreds if not thousands of other Chevrolet truck owners with this issue, there was a recall for failure to add some type of rust prevention which issue would have been way past that stage GM is aware of this and fails to do anything about it, this is going to cost about 2500.00 to repair frames should not rot out like this what will it take before something is done about it 100,s of deaths due to fatal accidents the average person may not know about this as they may never go under their truck Thank You [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Other or unspecified, Oct 4, 2024
Afm Lifters are starting to fail and my frame is completely rotted and needs to be totally swapped out.
Other or unspecified, Aug 9, 2024
Frame and fuel cross member rotted out.
Other or unspecified, Jul 22, 2024
I am the original owner of a 2011Chevy Silverado 1500. At this time, the frame of the vehicle is badly rusted, and i was made aware after conducting research that General Motors had failed to properly apply anti corrosion material to the frame, which caused the frame to rust prematurely. The rear crossmember its totally rusted and could pose a problem in the very near future. By failing to apply anti corrosion material to the frame, it caused the acceleration and decay of the entire structure of the frame. This was visibly observed by both a NJ approved autobody shop as well as an independent repair shop where suspension work had just been completed.
Other or unspecified, Jul 12, 2024
I put my truck up on a 2 post lift to change the brakes. But once the full truck weight was on the lift the frame started to crack i instantly put it on the ground and took a look and found that there was a crack through the middle of my frame on the side facing me Spanning from the back part where it starts to go up all the way to about the part of the frame under the middle of the drivers door. Then I took a look under it and saw a large hole in the frame where the lift was placed. I proceeded to feel in the previously mentioned hole and found some of the frame was paper thin other parts where about half the thickness of a good part of the frame. After this I took it into my local GM dealer to take a look at it they said that the frame is definitely in a very bad shape but it will hold but it will be an issue in the future. I feel i could be put at risk because I could hit a bad part of road at some point in the future and it could damage the frame more or completely brake.
Other or unspecified, Apr 18, 2024
No. Plastic broke on my dash and from the sun or cheap plastic and popped and hit my child in the head which left a scratch on his head. The whole dashboard has cracked.
Other or unspecified, Apr 16, 2024
Frame is completely rotted out at 104,000 miles. Why are all Chevy Silverado 1500s from 09-14 all rotting out extremely fast. There needs to be a recall ASAP.
Other or unspecified, Apr 13, 2024
I recently had my vehicle inspected and the garage personnel told me it would pass inspection this time because there is a lot of rust on it.
Suspension, Other or unspecified, Mar 17, 2024
Complete structural failure of chassis (Frame). Upon inspection on a mechanics lift the frame is cracked in several places and due to the undersized structural components and type of steel resulted in extensive corrosion. All components of vehicle depend on structural integrity of support frame. The frame has been inspected by several mechanics. All suspension components attached to vehicle frame are in serious jeopardy of failure. Several other Chevrolet truck owners have total losses of vehicle value to to undersized structural frame and extensive corrosion. This is a manufacturer's defect, its similar to building a house on a weak foundation.
Other or unspecified, Feb 22, 2024
The frame is completely rusted on this truck it has approximately 133k miles on it. In my research on this year truck there are many complaints for the same issue some through this site and others through forums. There needs to be a frame recall issued on this truck the approximate date below is when it was noticed during an inspection
Suspension, Other or unspecified, Jan 13, 2024
Frame of truck rotted. Went to change shocks and it fell right off. Removed the bottom bolt on the shock and the 15 lbs shock fell to the ground with the top bolt still attached to the frame.2 years ago had to replace the the hitch due to rusted out Glad I was not pulling my 6000 lbs camper down the highway. The frame is so badly rotted it is unsafe to drive down the road. Not surface rust holes the inside of frame is rotted both sides. Unsafe to drive. Owned this truck for 9 years.
Other or unspecified, Dec 4, 2023
I was told when I had my oil changed that my frame is rusted and has cracks
Other or unspecified, Nov 5, 2023
TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO GET AN ALINGMENT, THE DEALER SAID COULD NOT DO THE ALINGMENT BECAUSE FRAME WAS BROKEN, UNDER CLOSER INSPECTION FOUND OUT THAT FRAME IS RUSTED AND DETERATING IN MANY SPOT INCLUEDING REAR LEFT SECTION AND REAR RIGHT SECTIONS, ON LEFT NEAR FUEL TANK, CROSS RAIL FOR FUEL TANK, THAT ATTACH FUEL TANK TO VEHICLE, ALSO CROSS MEMBER THAT ATTCH SHOCKS ON REAR TO TO FRAME.
Other or unspecified, Sep 11, 2023
I had my truck in my shop after a lot of clunking started to come from the rear suspension. I had the truck up on the lift to check out the cause, and found very disappointing news. This truck has approximately 107,000 miles on it, and should not have this much compromised structure. The body is in near perfect condition. The vehicle has always been garage kept and clean. The entire rear frame of the truck has rust scale/perforation. Multiple areas are flaking badly and have holes that are 1/2" and larger. The rearmost cross member that attaches the upper shock is rotted out and missing. The other crossmembers are in poor condition. The areas of the frame where the leaf springs attach are thin. The only solution that seems feasible is a complete stripping, reinforcement, and/or replacement of the rear frame section. I own and operate my own shop, and have the ability to do this work for myself but there is no reason I should have to fix a truck that is 12 years old. Sadly, this is not the only GM product I have seen with this type of rot. It's just unfortunate that my personal vehicle has one of the worst frames that I have encountered.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Sep 9, 2023
On August 24, 2023 I took my 2011 Silverado WT extended cab 4X4 to a local independent service facility for a required annual safety inspection. It has failed an annual vehicle safety inspection due to frame rust through. I am scheduled with the repair shop to repair this new rust section September 12, 2023. This is the second year in a row that it has failed due to frame rust through after having been repaired last year. The truck has 141,846 mile on it and should not be experiencing a frame issue requiring welding repairs. If I lived in a state that did not require annual safety inspections this could easily become a major safety hazard resulting in a crash with severe personal injury or death. GM should be notified and held accountable to provide necessary repairs and or compensation very similar to the Toyota Tacoma frame recall a few years back.
Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 21, 2023
Fuel leak at the fuel tank. Pulled tank from the truck, found the fuel pump housing was completely rusted out. Upon inspection of the pump housing, the high pressure line was rusted out and almost off the pump, causing gasoline to pump out and all over. After replacing this fuel pump I inspected the frame and found the frame looks like a frame off a truck that is 40 years old, not a truck that is only 12 years old. The frame has heavy levels of rust down thru from the drivetrain back. There are spots that are rusted completely thru the frame where it looks like a crack down the frame. Most of the rust is on the bottom side or inside area of the frame. This area with the rust crack will have to be repaired very soon for safety of the vehicle, because if the frame would happen to fail where this crack is, the truck would fold in half, and if it is being driven on the interstate it would cause a major accident for sure. The rusting is so extensive that instead of repairing the spots, it would be more feasible to just go ahead and replace the whole back half of the truck frame. This is unacceptable for Chevrolet to use material that craps out so fast on trucks that are supposed to last many years, instead of falling apart long before they are even paid off. A 12 year old truck shouldn't have this extensive amount of rust damage to the frame. I would just fix the frame if this was commonplace for trucks, but my 2000 Dodge Ram has a frame far better then what is under my 2011 Chevy Silverado as far as rust goes. 2000 Dodge surface rust in spots, 2011 Chevy completely rusted thru in spots. My next inspection on this Chevy will more then likely remove it off the road unless the frame is repaired. Unacceptable from Chevrolet and for only a 12 year old truck. I added pics of the frame right in front of the fuel tank, which the frame shows that long rusted crack down it. Can send more pictures of the frame in other places if needed.
Other or unspecified, Apr 30, 2023
The oil pump has been replaced and is still not working how it is supposed to.
Other or unspecified, Apr 21, 2023
The chassis on my truck is rusting apart.The truck has never been on the beach. I recently Had shocks replaced and this was pointed out by the mechanic. I went on line and found that this is a common problem. I .am the original owner. .
Other or unspecified, Feb 12, 2023
Frame has excess rust due to inferior undercoating. This was pointed out to me at the last 2 oil changes at the dealer. Truck is currently available to be inspected.
Other or unspecified, Jan 1, 2023
The frame and cross member that holds fuel tank have rusted to the point of failure. It is available for inspection. Safety hazard exist when the the vehicle become uncontrollable and also when fuel tank comes loose possible ignition if fuel. Have not reproduced or been inspected. Frame rusting to failure is a known issue with these trucks.
Other or unspecified, Nov 14, 2022
2011 Chevrolet Silverado Frame is disintegrating, cross member rusted apart from shock bracket. Truck is deemed dangerous to drive. Will have to get another vehicle.
Other or unspecified, Jan 3, 2022
There is a crack in the dashboard at the top left hand corner of the passenger air bag.