2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems, complaints & recalls

2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 recalls (2)

• Recall 21V050000Feb 5, 20212,641,272 vehicles
  AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

  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.

  Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

  Remedy: 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.

• Recall 21V052000Feb 5, 2021557,023 vehicles
  AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

  General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and 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." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming 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.

  Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

  Remedy: 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 notification letters were mailed on September 20, 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 N212328780.

NHTSA defect investigations

• EA21002Opened Sep 17, 2021Open

  Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

  From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.C…

• EA08010Opened Jun 12, 2008Closed Sep 8, 2008led to recall 08V441000

  Non-crash engine compartment fires

  In a letter dated august 27, 2008, general motors corp. (gm) notified nhtsa that it will conduct a safety recall (nhtsa recall number 08v-441) to address a safety relateddefect that can result in engine compartment fire in approximately 850,000 vehicles equipped with a heated windshield washer fluid option.the subject vehicles of this investigation comprise over three-quarters of the recall population. According to gm, a short circuit on the printed circuit board for the windshield washer fluid heater module may overheat the control-circuit ground wire. This may cause other electrical features…

• PE08010Opened Feb 4, 2008Closed Jun 12, 2008

  Non-crash engine compartment fires

  In response to an information request letter sent by the office of defects investigation(odi) during preliminary evaluation pe08-010, gm provided odi with 41 allegations of non-crash engine compartment fires including 16 allegations of fires originating with the ignition in the off position.one of the fires was determined to be caused by an arson event.odi has also received 5 reports, 4 of which are of duplicative of reports provided by gm, alleging non-crash engine compartment fires in the subject vehicles.in total, odi is aware of 41 non-crashengine compartment fires in the subject vehicles …

Recent 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

1. Filed Aug 3, 2026ILAirbags

   The truck was parked in the driveway not running. My husband took his lunch box out of the front seat,closed the door and the airbag deployed. He then went to the driver's side to see if it would still start so he could drive it to work the next day and be able to schedule repairs the drivers side then deployed knocking him onto the ground injuring his neck ,he was seen in ER after that.

   NHTSA complaint #11754541 · source
2. Filed Jul 27, 2026MOAirbagsSeats & Seat Belts

   I had the recall #09184 regarding the faulty air bag for my Chevy Silverado. I took my truck to Chevy dealership in Marshfield mo. They were supposed to fix the airbags and bc the air bags deployed without an accident the seat belts locked up. They did not fix the seat belts. Making my Trunk unable to pass state inspection. They refused to fix the full issue.

   NHTSA complaint #11753101 · source
3. Filed Jun 3, 2026TXCrash1 injuredTowedAirbags

   At a stop avoided hitting a truck pulling trailer I may have hit trailer not sure but I hit a pole . I was on my way to national guard ema took me hit the steering wheel needed stitches below my lip and glue above my lip my feet are lose and my knees crack bottom dash and my wrist is injured. Not sure if police report was made police were on site they towed my truck to b&m towing in giddings Texas paid $500 to tow company and another $500 to bring it to my home in San Antonio

   NHTSA complaint #11741915 · source
4. Filed Mar 2, 2026NC2 injuredAirbags

   I was driving down a main road near the Piedmont triad international airport having a casual conversation with my passenger. I went to make a left turn into a Sheetz gas station when all of a sudden the passenger airbag deployed, without warning or wreck. The passenger hand flew up into windshield and cracked the windshield. The Immediately after the passenger airbag deployed without warning the airbag in the steering wheel deployed and my arm was slung into the driver side…

   NHTSA complaint #11721579 · source
5. Filed Feb 24, 2026OR1 injuredAirbags

   My son was sitting in our Silverado waiting for the truck to warm up before he left for work. As he was sitting there both driver and passenger side air bags deployed. It hit my son in the head. The truck has never been in an accident. It doesn't have a branded title. There doesn't seem to be a logical explanation for why this happened.

   NHTSA complaint #11720247 · source
6. Filed Feb 10, 2026HIAirbagsElectrical System

   There is a recall number 09184C that only pertains to certain states but I live in a wet state also not listed and the carpet under my seat held moisture and now my airbag control module totally disintegrated from being in moisture for so long, they won't accept my truck in for inspection or repair

   NHTSA complaint #11717082 · source
7. Filed Jan 3, 2026TXAirbags

   Airbags deployed without collision or any bumps or anything. I was pulling out of parking space in public parking lot. I turned my wheel to the left and the airbags deployed.

   NHTSA complaint #11708503 · source
8. Filed Sep 18, 2025278,000 miGACrash1 injuredTowedAirbags

   The contact owned a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 70 MPH and making a right downhill turn, he crashed into the rail guard before impacting a tree where the vehicle came to a stop. No warning lights were illuminated. No air bags deployed. The contact was concerned about whether the air bags should have deployed for the type of impact experienced. The contact stated that the Driver's side seat belt had locked. The local dealer…

   NHTSA complaint #11688082 · source

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology