2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: common problems

Owners of the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 filed 445 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and structure. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 445
involving a crash: 9

What fails most often

1 Air bags 52% of all complaints
2 Structure 12% of all complaints
3 Electrical system 10% of all complaints
4 Engine 8% of all complaints
5 Service brakes 4% of all complaints
6 Electronic stability control 3% of all complaints
7 Fuel/propulsion system 3% of all complaints
8 Powertrain 3% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Air bags: 231 complaints (52% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Structure: 54 complaints (12% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Electrical system: 43 complaints (10% of all).
Engine: 36 complaints (8% of all).
Service brakes: 17 complaints (4% of all).

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 445 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

warning lights, check engine46 · 10%
rust, corrosion24 · 5%
airbag warning light23 · 5%
door locks, latches, handles16 · 4%
loss of power / limp mode11 · 2%
seat belts11 · 2%
fuel system, fuel smell9 · 2%
headlights and tail lights9 · 2%
won't start8 · 2%
knocking, grinding or other noise8 · 2%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Air bags	231	4
Structure	54	2
Electrical system	43	0
Engine	36	0
Service brakes	17	0
Electronic stability control	13	0
Fuel/propulsion system	12	0
Powertrain	12	0
Vehicle speed control	11	0
Seat belts	10	0
Exterior lighting	9	0
Steering	9	2
Suspension	8	0
Latches, locks, linkages	6	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

The contact stated that the vehicle was involved in a hit and run accident and the air bags did not deploy, but the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact did not sustain injuries and did not seek medical assistance. A police report was filed.
Air bags · crash · 2021-03-01 · NHTSA complaint #11398576
While driving approximately 72 mph, the front driver's tire experienced a blowout. The contact lost control of the vehicle as it ran off the roadway and crashed into a ditch. The contact stated that the front differential and the front bumper were damaged. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed.
Tires · crash · 2018-04-17 · NHTSA complaint #11088585
Takata recall - been waiting 4 months for parts at the dealer and I live in a high heat - high humidity area. Was in an accident in november 2010 and luckily the airbag did not deploy.
Air bags · crash · 2017-11-17 · NHTSA complaint #11047030
Consumer states his wife was involved in an accident and the airbags did not deploy
Air bags · crash · 2010-12-29 · NHTSA complaint #10374131
This resulted in the spindle breaking in two at the point just behind where the tie rod end connects resulting in a loss of steering on that wheel. Luckily the silverado was only traveling approximately 25 mph at the time of the accident and was safely stopped in a short distance.
Steering · crash · 2009-10-03 · NHTSA complaint #10286158
3 estimates: (1 dealer, 1 private shop, 1 gm preferred collision center) parts needed; new rear bumper new bumper re inforcement new tail light new truck bed side panel.(yes, the whole side panel!) estimates for damage repairs; $2600 dealer $2600 private $3200 gm authorized collision center about 50/50 parts & labor…
Structure · crash · 2009-03-04 · NHTSA complaint #10260734
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 itâs doing it again. Yes we had it inspected last November for tag renewal.
Exterior lighting · 2025-06-21 · NHTSA complaint #11668385
The contact stated that after having the vehicle inspected, the contact was informed that the under body was extremely rusted, and the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The certified mechanic determined that the sub frame could not be repaired and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired.
Structure · 2024-07-19 · NHTSA complaint #11603338

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

20095
201017
20117
20126
20137
201417
201510
201665
2017110
201858
201937
202031
202137
202211
202313
20249
20254
20261

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 860 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 2% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Silverado 1500 has 534 complaints (34 years in the data). This year has 445, below average.

What to check before buying

Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

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

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, structure, electrical system. Total complaints: 445. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (10%), rust, corrosion (5%), airbag warning light (5%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 2009 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.