2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 1090 complaints
1090
Total Complaints
70,000mi
Median Mileage
Air Bags
Top Issue
45
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
37,000
25th Percentile
70,000
Median Mileage
110,000
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Air Bags
587
Electrical System
87
Unknown Or Other
86
Body
45
Engine
44
Latches/Locks/Linkages
34
Power Train
23
Fuel/Propulsion System
19
Suspension
16
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
13
Severity Assessment
45
Crashes
18
Fires
60
Injuries
4
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"UPON BRAKING HARD TO AVOID HITTING VEHICLES BRAKING ABRUPTLY IN FRONT OF ME, ALL FOUR WHEELS OF MY VEHICLE LOCKED UP AND JUST SLID ON DRY PAVEMENT. ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DIDN'T WORK AS DESIGNED. THERE WAS NO PEDAL PULSATION OR RATCHETING NOISE AS USUAL WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WORKING PROPERLY. SHOULD HAV..."
"I PURCHASED A NEW CHEVY SILVERADO EXT. CAB 4X4 LTZ AND DROVE APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES FROM THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER TRAVELING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I PROCEEDED APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER 50 YARDS IN AN EFFORT TO FIND A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER TO INVESTIG..."
"TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AND CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH ON STAR; HOWEVER, IF THE AIR BAGS DO NOT DEPLOY DURING A CRASH, ON STAR IS UNABLE TO..."
Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.
When Were Complaints Filed?
Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.
When Does Each Component Fail?
Median mileage at complaint for top components.
Air Bags
587 complaints
25th: 50,500 mi
Median: 83,000 mi
75th: 120,000 mi
Electrical System
87 complaints
25th: 34,625 mi
Median: 68,405 mi
75th: 109,250 mi
Unknown Or Other
86 complaints
25th: 43,500 mi
Median: 67,500 mi
75th: 98,250 mi
Body
45 complaints
25th: 55,000 mi
Median: 90,000 mi
75th: 101,000 mi
Engine
44 complaints
25th: 74,000 mi
Median: 115,000 mi
75th: 146,663 mi
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
TX: 155
CA: 87
FL: 71
NY: 42
PA: 41
IL: 40
AL: 38
MI: 36
GA: 35
IN: 34
Who Files Complaints?
3.1%
Original Owners
96.9%
Second+ Owners
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
Active Recalls (3)
Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.
Inflator Module
Campaign 21V050000 | 05/02/2021
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 notifica
Inflator Module
Campaign 21V052000 | 05/02/2021
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 23, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notifica
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
Campaign 09V325000 | 03/08/2009
THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE UNINTENTIONALLY.
QUALITY VANS IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E095). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR QUALITY VANS AT 1-480-464-7007.
Airbag Safety
Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.
- Check for open airbag recalls at NHTSA.gov using your VIN
- Never ignore the airbag warning light — get it diagnosed immediately
- Don't install aftermarket steering wheel covers that block the airbag
- Keep the area around airbag deployment zones clear of accessories
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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.
Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.
Data through: 2026-03-28