2011 Chevrolet SILVERADO

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Chevrolet SILVERADO has 99 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is body/structure problems (15% of all complaints), specifically: 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, than. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 13 crash reports 13 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BODY/STRUCTURE

15 complaints

15%

• 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, THAN
• 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
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“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, THAN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

13 complaints

13%

• 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
• MY VEHICLE WAS FORCED OFF THE ROAD BY ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO HIT A LIGHT POLE HEAD ON. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURY. *TR
• CAR PULLED OUT FROM GAS STATION INTO PATH OF MY VEHICLE STRIKING IT IN LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL AND LEFT REAR WHEEL. MY TRUCK SPUN TO THE LEFT STRIKING A SEMI TRUCK TOTALED MY TRUCK HEAVY FRONT END DAMAGE. INJURY TO MY STEPSON WHO WAS THE DRIVER. AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED NOR DID SEAT BELTS KEEP HI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

13 complaints

13%

• THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE COMPLETELY BROKE AND NOW MY DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL CHEVROLET MODELS MY WIFE ALSO HAS A 08 TAHOE AND ALL FOUR HANDLES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE DRIVER SIDE HAS PULLED LOOSE AGAIN. FOR THE PRICE WE HAVE TO PAY FOR OUR VEHICLES WE SHOULD BE
• I WAS DRIVING ON NJTP MY DAUGHTER WAS FOLLOWING BEHIND ME AND CALLS ME (HANDSFREE) SAYING MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON . SO I TAP MY BRAKES A FEW TIMES THEN PULL UP ON OEDAL AND LIGHTS GO OFF THEN MY CC STARTED WORKIMG AGAIN .AT SAME TIME MY STABILTRAC IDIOT LIGHT COMES ON TO GET IT SERVICED SO MAKE APP
• MY DASH IS CRACKING AROUND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AND ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE CRACKED AREAS COULD COME LOOSE AND BECOME A PROJECTILE. THE ENGINE IS ALSO BURNING OIL BADLY AND COULD SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE COMPLETELY BROKE AND NOW MY DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL CHEVROLET MODELS MY WIFE ALSO HAS A 08 TAHOE AND ALL FOUR HANDLES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE DRIVER SIDE HAS PULLED LOOSE AGAIN. FOR THE PRICE WE HAVE TO PAY FOR OUR VEHICLES WE SHOULD BE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

10 complaints

10%

• I HAVE A 2011 CHEVY SILVERADO WITH A FUEL GAUGE PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL, MY FUEL GAUGE LIGHT JUST COMES ON AND THE FUEL GAUGE GOES DOWN TO EMPTY. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLS LOSING ALL POWER AND CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE (BRAKES, STEERING). AS I REACH THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, I HAVE TO PLACE THE VE
• EVERYTIME I GO TO THE PUMP IT KICKS OUT LIKE THE TANK IS FULL. IF YOU HOLD THE NOZZLE AS ITS BARELY COMING OUT IT WILL WORK NORMAL BUT YOU CANT EVEN USE THE LOWEST NOTCH ON THE PUMP TO SET IT ON TO PUMP GAS, IT WONT WORK. SO IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED AND I'VE TOLD THE CHEVY DEALER ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED WITH UREA SPECIAL FUEL FOR DIESEL TRUCKS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH, WHEN THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY DECELERATED FROM 55 TO 5 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE MECHANIC S

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“I HAVE A 2011 CHEVY SILVERADO WITH A FUEL GAUGE PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL, MY FUEL GAUGE LIGHT JUST COMES ON AND THE FUEL GAUGE GOES DOWN TO EMPTY. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLS LOSING ALL POWER AND CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE (BRAKES, STEERING). AS I REACH THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, I HAVE TO PLACE THE VE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

9 complaints

• BRAKE FAILURE. APPLIED BRAKES RAPIDLY DUE TO VEHICLE STOPPING IN FRONT OF ME. NOTICED TIRE SQUEAL THEN BRAKE PEDAL REMAINED FIRM BUT, MY VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. HAD TO STEER INTO OPPOSITE TRAVEL LANE TO AVOID ACCIDENT. BRAKES THEN BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. DROVE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE CHECKED. SERV
• I HAVE A 2011 CHEVY SILVERADO WITH A FUEL GAUGE PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL, MY FUEL GAUGE LIGHT JUST COMES ON AND THE FUEL GAUGE GOES DOWN TO EMPTY. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLS LOSING ALL POWER AND CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE (BRAKES, STEERING). AS I REACH THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, I HAVE TO PLACE THE VE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 60 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN IMMEDIATELY. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED WITH EXTREME PRESSURE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“BRAKE FAILURE. APPLIED BRAKES RAPIDLY DUE TO VEHICLE STOPPING IN FRONT OF ME. NOTICED TIRE SQUEAL THEN BRAKE PEDAL REMAINED FIRM BUT, MY VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. HAD TO STEER INTO OPPOSITE TRAVEL LANE TO AVOID ACCIDENT. BRAKES THEN BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. DROVE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE CHECKED. SERV”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 99 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: 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, THAN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE COMPLETELY BROKE AND NOW MY DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL CHEVROLET MODELS MY WIFE ALSO HAS A 08 TAHOE AND ALL FOUR HANDLES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE DRIVER SIDE HAS PULLED LOOSE AGAIN. FOR THE PRICE WE HAVE TO PAY FOR OUR VEHICLES WE SHOULD BE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: I HAVE A 2011 CHEVY SILVERADO WITH A FUEL GAUGE PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL, MY FUEL GAUGE LIGHT JUST COMES ON AND THE FUEL GAUGE GOES DOWN TO EMPTY. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLS LOSING ALL POWER AND CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE (BRAKES, STEERING). AS I REACH THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, I HAVE TO PLACE THE VE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)