2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems and complaints

Owners have filed 520 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The most-reported areas: Air Bags (246), Structure (68), Unknown Or Other (62).

Key takeaways

  • 520 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
  • 14 involve a crash, 9 a fire, 7 reported injuries.
  • Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
Complaints by component
ComponentComplaintsShare
Air Bags24647%
Structure6813%
Unknown Or Other6212%
Electrical System6012%
Engine428%
Service Brakes245%
Vehicle Speed Control194%
Fuel/Propulsion System183%
Power Train153%
Electronic Stability Control (esc)153%
Steering112%
Exterior Lighting102%

One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

NHTSA 5-Star crash ratings
VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular CabNot ratedNot ratedNot rated4/5
2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4-DR.Not ratedNot ratedNot rated4/5
2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4-DR. w/SABNot ratedNot ratedNot rated4/5
2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Extended Cab w/SABNot ratedNot ratedNot rated4/5

Latest complaints, as filed

Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.

Air Bags - filed 2025-11-03

The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V052000 (Air Bags) while having an inspection completed. After receiving notification of the recall, while driving approximately 35 MPH, the passenger’s side air bag unexpectedly deployed, damaging the dashbo...

Structure - filed 2025-09-05

Driver and passenger side extended cab doors metal is cracking horizontally near the front edge of the doors.

Exterior Lighting - filed 2025-06-21

The front drivers headlight low beam keeps going out. I just received my second warning for this failure. It got dark before I got home from the store. We took it to a friend who does mechanical work back in the spring. He fixed it; but now it’s doing it again. Yes we had it inspected last November for tag renewal. Th...

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More for the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.