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Chevrolet · NHTSA safety record

2011 Chevrolet Silverado 3500

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

29

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 have filed 29 safety complaints with NHTSA between February 2011 and January 2024. The most complained-about system is the air bags, named in 10 of them (34%). The typical failure was reported at 54,588 miles, the median across the 16 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 5 recalls covering this vehicle. A further 1 defect investigation is open and unresolved.

Recalls (5)

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

21V054000 · February 5, 2021

The defect
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is recalling certain 2011-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL and 2011-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL and 2010-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY 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.
The risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The 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 25, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed to 40 VIN owners on May 11, 2021. A second owner notification letter was mailed to all other owners on January 24, 2022. 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 N212328800.

General Motors, LLC · up to 1,778,128 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

21V050000 · February 5, 2021

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

General Motors, LLC · up to 2,641,272 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT

18V267000 · April 26, 2018

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD, 2009 GMC Topkick 5000, 6000, 7000 and 8000 Series and Isuzu F Series, and 2009-2018 Chevrolet Express, and GMC Savana vehicles, equipped with certain Plastic-Handle Fire Extinguishers or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf
The risk
In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, instructing them to contact Kidde to get a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began June 11, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Isuzu customer service at 1-866-441-9638. GM's number for this recall is 18146.

General Motors LLC · up to 6,154 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK

17V664000 · October 19, 2017

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 and GMC Sierra 3500 trucks equipped with dual fuel tanks. The low fuel level sensor for the front tank may stick causing the rear tank to overfill the front tank.
The risk
If the front tank overfills, the excess pressure may cause the front tank to expand and contact the driveshaft, possibly resulting in a hole in the tank. The hole will leak fuel, which in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the rear tank fuel pump or update the fuel-level sensor software, as well as inspect the front tank, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2017. Owners may contact GM customer service for Chevrolet 1-800-222-1020 or for GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17399.

General Motors LLC · up to 35,292 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

14V407000 · July 2, 2014

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD 2500/3500 trucks manufactured January 18, 2007, to June 22, 2011, and GMC Sierra HD 2500/3500 trucks manufactured January 22, 2007, to June 21, 2011, and equipped with an auxiliary battery. Owners may unknowingly draw too much current through the vehicle's trailer harness resulting in the melting of fusible link for the auxiliary battery.
The risk
If the fusible link melts it may come into contact with adjacent components, damage the electrical center cover, the nearby wiring harness conduit and other vehicle components, increasing the risk of a fire.
The remedy
GM will notify owners and dealers will replace the jumper harness with one that includes a 40 amp inline fuse, and provide the owner with supplemental Owner Manual information, free of charge. The recall began on August 29, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 14260.

General Motors LLC · up to 9,371 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

EA21002

Still open engineering analysis · opened September 17, 2021

the air bags

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.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 29.

AIR BAGS 10 34%
POWER TRAIN 5 17%
ENGINE 4 14%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 4 14%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 4 14%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2 7%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 2 7%
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL 1 3%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 1 3%
SEAT BELTS 1 3%
SERVICE BRAKES 1 3%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 1 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2017 at 5.

2011 2017 2024
2011 to 2024

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 170,000 miles

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONSCIOUSNESS AND CRASHED INTO SEVERAL TREES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL TO RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED THREE BROKEN RIBS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED BY THE POLICE TO A TOWING LOT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA complaint 11195012. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
CP4 high pressure fuel pump failed causing Loss of Motive Power (LOMP) in Oct of 2018. Truck became hard to steer and brake but I was traveling at a lower speed. Had it of been 1 hour later I would have been at freeway speeds pulling a 13000lbs trailer. I had the truck towed to a local dealer where they diagnosed the truck as having a failed CP4 high pressure fuel pump made by Bosch. They informed me that the entire fuel system would have to be replaced do to the large amount of metal contaminants that this catastrophic failure produces and spreads though out the entire system. The total cost for the repairs were not covered under any type of warranty or recall and had to be paid entirely

NHTSA complaint 11564389, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM). FAILURE OF THIS PART LEAVES THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE AND UNABLE TO DRIVE. BEING STRANDED, OR IN TRAFFIC CAN CAUSE INJURY TO MYSELF OR ANY OTHER DRIVER THAT MAY ENCOUNTER ME DISABLED UNKNOWN, MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE. DEALER INVENTORY OF THE PART IS EXHAUSTED AND TRUCKS ARE SITTING INOPERABLE ALL OVER THE U.S.A. NO INDICATIONS OF A ISSUE WERE DISPLAYED PRIOR TO THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM DOES DISPLAY ON DASH, AFTER THE PROBLEM SHOWS UP

NHTSA complaint 11543113. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

220,000 miles

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH and slowing for a traffic signal, the vehicle downshifted very hard. The contact stated that there was an audible clunking sound while the transmission was downshifting. The contact stated that at approximately 1 MPH, the rear wheels locked up and the vehicle came to a sudden stop. The contact stated that the failure had recurred and was unpredictable. The contact stated that the "Shift Inhibited" message was displayed. The contact stated that the rough shifting occurred at various speeds while upshifting or downshifting. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where

NHTSA complaint 11541633, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The DEF system on this vehicle has failed three times since we bought it in 2021. The weather was not pleasant and in one case it was extremely dangerous. The DEF system froze up and fortunately I was able to limp it into a dealer who managed to get it working again but not after losing half a day and spending a couple hundred dollars. The second time a sensor failed and I was able to reset the system myself via removing all the electricity from the vehicle and doing what they call a shady tree reset. The third time the vehicle went into limp mode on us was when a sensor failed and the DEF pump failed at the same time. Chevy refused to help us cover the cost of repairs and refuses to

NHTSA complaint 11479129, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TIRES:TREAD/BELT
Complete collapse of tire (BLOWOUT) on highway that caused damage too wheel well of vehicle and outside body panel damages of vehicle including driver side mirror due to tire explosion of rubber coming apart on tire. The tire is the original tire that came with the vehicle green dot is still on tire with tread that covers Lincoln face during a penny test, the tires are maintained at my local Discount tire dealer here, I need the damages repaired caused by Michelin product .

NHTSA complaint 11474339. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21V054000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA complaint 11427687. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Chevrolet Silverado 3500

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 12 1
2024 48 3 2
2023 15 1
2022 27 3
2021 38 5
2020 41 8
2019 21 7
2018 18 6
2017 13 6
2016 50 6
2015 52 7
2014 10 3
2013 26 4
2012 23 4 1

Other 2011 Chevrolet models

Every Chevrolet on this site — 298 vehicles, 747 recall campaigns and 5 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst