2011 Chevrolet Silverado

Typical pattern

10.1% of complaints about the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2011 vehicle — around the middle of the 203 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.0 yr in service. The most-reported system is structure (15 complaints), typically at 4.0 yr or about 43,000 miles.

Complaints: 99
Median age at failure: 4.0 yr
Median mileage: 55,000 n=81
Crash / fire / tow: 17.2% of reports
Safety recalls: 2

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

14V827000 2014-12-30

Electrical system:ignition

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the "Start" position.

If stuck in the "Start" position, the ignition may suddenly snap back into the "Accessory" position, causing a loss of engine, steering, and braking power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. If the vehicle is in a crash, the air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of occupant injury.

11V339000 2011-06-28

Steering:linkages

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV; CHEVROLET SILVERADO HD, SILVERADO LD, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; AND GMC SIERRA HD, SIERRA LD, YUKON, AND YUKON XL VEHICLES. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ATTACHING BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION.

THIS COULD ALLOW THE JOINTS TO SEPARATE, AND THE DRIVER COULD EXPERIENCE LOSS OF STEERING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

In owners’ own words

Structure mileage not reported 0 mo in service

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, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *TR

Structure 70,000 mi 3.1 yr in service

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

Structure 30,750 mi 3.7 yr in service

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

Other Silverado model years

How to read this

This is what owners reported, not a reliability rating. People file with NHTSA about alarming failures, not routine ones, and complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold.
Failure ages come from the incident date on each complaint, populated on about 83% of records. Mileage is shown where reported — NHTSA’s 2021 system change cut mileage capture to roughly 15%, so it thins out sharply after MY2020.
Every rank compares this vehicle only against others of the same model year. A 2025 car has not had time to accumulate five-year failures, so comparing early-failure share across years is meaningless.
Fourteen make-months distorted by media storms and mass recalls — Toyota in February 2010 ran 11× normal volume across 33 models — are excluded.
Recalls are manufacturer actions and authoritative; complaints are not. A recall listed here may already have been performed on any individual car. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

2011 Chevrolet Silverado

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

In owners’ own words

Other Silverado model years

How to read this