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
638 reports, newest first.
Air bags, Jan 30, 2017
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Jan 27, 2017
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Electrical system, Jan 27, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR, FORCING THE CONTACT TO SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FIRST AND SECOND SOLENOIDS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 17,000.
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.
Air bags, Jan 20, 2017
"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS INFORMED OF A TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL,GM NUMBER 49151, DATED MAY 27, 2016, ISSUED ON MY VEHICLE. AS OF TODAY, JAN. 20, 2017, THERE HAS BEEN NO RESOLUTION AND NO REPAIR. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, A PASSENGER IN MY VEHICLE COULD BE INJURED OR KILLED. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO EXPEDITE THIS REPAIR?
Air bags, Jan 14, 2017
MANUFACTURER FAILED TO REMEDY RECALL IN A TIMELY FASHION.
Structure, Jan 13, 2017
THE DASH IS CRACKING JUST LIKE ALL THE COMPLAINTS ONLINE. CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES INCLUDING AROUND AIRBAG.
Air bags, Jan 11, 2017
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/18/17 LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE HE WAS NOT INFORMED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO ADVISED ON WHEN THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE REPAIRED. UPDATED 08/07/2017*JS
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jan 10, 2017
DASH CRACKED AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG.
Air bags, Jan 9, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Jan 6, 2017
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE REMEDY WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. ...UPDATED 03/08/17 *BF UPDATED 8/16/2017*JS
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.
Air bags, Dec 20, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/25/2017*CT UPDATED 02/14/17.*JB
Air bags, Dec 17, 2016
DASHBOARD CRACKS AT THE AIRBAG AND OVER THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER.
Air bags, Dec 14, 2016
TAKATA AIRBAGS
Structure, Dec 7, 2016
THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, TOP LEFT CORNER WHERE THE AIRBAG SITS IS CRACKED!
Power train, Air bags, Engine, Dec 6, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/25/17*LJ CONSUMER STATED TRUCK/ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH. INTERMITTENT LOUD THUMP SOUND WHEN TRANSMISSION ENGAGES. UPDATED 7/16/18*JB
Other or unspecified, Dec 2, 2016
DASHBOARD CRACKS AT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THIS WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY IN 2014. THE DASH HAS CRACKED AGAIN IN THE SAME PLACE. SHOULD THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOY, I FEEL IT COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.
Other or unspecified, Nov 27, 2016
THE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, RUNNING FROM THE TOP LEFT CORNER OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG TO THE RIGHT EDGE OF THE CENTRAL AIR VENT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS CRACK COULD JEOPARDIZE THE EFFICACY OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SHOULD DEPLOY, WHETHER THE CRACK PREVENTS THE AIRBAG FROM FULLY OPENING AND/OR PUNCTURING THE AIRBAG ONCE IT DOES OPEN. FURTHERMORE, SHARDS OF THE DASHBOARD COULD CAUSE HARM IF THE AIRBAG DOES DEPLOY. I AM NOT CERTAIN WHEN THE CRACK FIRST DEVELOPED, BUT NOTICED IT EARLIER TODAY.
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.
Air bags, Nov 22, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/04/17*LJ UPDATED 01/17/17.*JB
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Nov 21, 2016
THE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED IN 2 SEPARATE PLACES DUE TO CHEAP SUPPLIES. ONE OF THE CRACKS IS NEAR THE AIRBAG SO IF THE AIRBAG WERE TO DEPLOY PARTS OF THE BROKEN DASHBOARD WOULD BE THROWN INTO THE PASSENGER AND CAUSE INJURY.
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.
Air bags, Nov 16, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.