"How reliable is the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?"

"Based on 553 NHTSA complaints, the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has a median complaint mileage of 70000 miles. The most common issue is Air Bags."

"What are common problems with the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is Air Bags, accounting for a significant portion of the 553 total complaints filed."

2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 553 complaints

553

Total Complaints

70,000mi

Median Mileage

Air Bags

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

40,000 25th Percentile

70,000 Median Mileage

104,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Air Bags

229

Unknown Or Other

Electrical System

Body

Engine

Electronic Stability Control (Esc)

Fuel/Propulsion System

Power Train

Service Brakes

Vehicle Speed Control

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"I HAVE A 2009 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500 CREW 4X4. I RECENTLY HAD COLLISION BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. I COLLIDED WITH A TOYOTA CAMRY BACKING OUT OF A SPACE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE AISLE. WE BASICALLY HIT REAR CORNER TO REAR CORNER. MY COMPLAINT IS THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK ON SUCH A LOW SPE..."

"VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY A MOTORCYCLE TRAVELING AROUND 50MPH IN THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE. THIS IS A 4 WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS ONLY A 50CC MODEL SMALL MOTORCYCLE. THIS RESULTED IN THE SPINDLE BREAKING IN TWO AT THE POINT JUST BEHIND WHERE THE TIE ROD END CONNECTS RESULTING IN A LOSS..."

"VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 2.5 OR SO HOURS IN DRIVEWAY. DETERMINED BY FIRE MARSHALL TO HAVE STARTED FROM A ECM IN RIGHT FRONT DASH AREA. FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED AND EXTINGUISHED FIRE WITH WATER INSTEAD OF FOAM BECAUSE "FOAM TANK WAS NOT OPERATIONAL AT THAT TIME". NO REPAIRS HAVE..."

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 229 complaints

25th: 49,802 mi Median: 77,000 mi 75th: 115,500 mi

Unknown Or Other 56 complaints

25th: 49,605 mi Median: 70,000 mi 75th: 95,000 mi

Electrical System 43 complaints

25th: 45,000 mi Median: 72,000 mi 75th: 103,250 mi

Body 42 complaints

25th: 45,000 mi Median: 79,000 mi 75th: 105,000 mi

Engine 36 complaints

25th: 63,190 mi Median: 90,000 mi 75th: 113,903 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

TX: 103 FL: 47 CA: 34 PA: 26 GA: 26 LA: 25 OH: 19 TN: 19 NY: 18 AL: 16

Who Files Complaints?

3.6%

Original Owners

96.4%

Second+ Owners

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1997	693	90,000	Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	31
1998	452	73,575	Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	17
1999	711	109,200	Service Brakes	51
2000	731	102,000	Service Brakes	87
2001	627	87,000	Service Brakes	84
2002	620	90,000	Service Brakes	60
2003	958	82,000	Service Brakes	33
2004	951	70,000	Service Brakes	47
2005	642	64,000	Electrical System	27
2006	462	60,000	Service Brakes	23
2007	1049	70,000	Air Bags	31
2008	1090	70,000	Air Bags	45
2010	449	67,000	Air Bags	10
2011	695	72,000	Air Bags	32
2012	273	74,433	Unknown Or Other	8
2013	385	62,186	Unknown Or Other	12
2014	2184	62,826	Steering	105
2015	1390	52,000	Service Brakes	82
2016	1025	45,000	Service Brakes	62
2017	928	41,555	Power Train	50
2018	715	35,090	Power Train	16
2019	1436	11,232	Engine	46
2020	934	12,500	Engine	20
2021	924	47,000	Engine	27
2022	696	32,000	Engine	14
2023	430	25,500	Engine	16
2024	317	7,500	Engine	10
2025	98	2,650	Engine	2
2026	28	-	Engine	0

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