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2008 Chevrolet Silverado

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Silverado years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado are substantially higher than the model-year median of 76.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

118 reports with mileage · 44 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 62 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports5 fire reports13 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

48 reports
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60,000 miles · Jul 13, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemEquipment

THE FRONT SPEAKERS AND ONE OF THE EXTENDED CAB DOORS SPEAKERS DO NOT WORK.CAN NOT HEAR THE WARNING CHIME. SOMETIMES WHEN THE TRUCK HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR AWHILE THE SPEAKERS IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE STARTS TO WORK. AS OF 07/11/14 THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR SPEAKERS DOESN'T WORK UNLESS THE TRUCK HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR AWHILE.. I'VE CONTACTED …

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THE FRONT SPEAKERS AND ONE OF THE EXTENDED CAB DOORS SPEAKERS DO NOT WORK.CAN NOT HEAR THE WARNING CHIME. SOMETIMES WHEN THE TRUCK HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR AWHILE THE SPEAKERS IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE STARTS TO WORK. AS OF 07/11/14 THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR SPEAKERS DOESN'T WORK UNLESS THE TRUCK HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR AWHILE.. I'VE CONTACTED GM SEVERAL TIMES ON THIS ISSUE AND GET THE SAME RESPONSE, THEY CAN NOT HELP ME WITHOUT PAYING THEM A FEE.... I TELL THEM WHAT IS HAPPENING AND THEY DON'T CARE. I SENT AN EMAIL TO THEM ON 07/12/14 AND HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM YET. I AFRAID THAT THE TRUCK IS GOING CATCH ON FIRE OR SHUT OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING OR WHEN MY WIFE IS DRIVING WITH MY KIDS IN THE TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610234

43,000 miles · Jul 1, 2014
Air BagsElectrical System

TURNED KEY TO ON POSITION STARTED TRUCK AND AIR BAG WARNING WOULD NOT GO OFF. FRONT SENSOR WAS CRACKED. REPLACED IT ON MY OWN!!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10607297

86,000 miles · May 16, 2014
Electrical SystemFire

VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, WAITING TO ENTER ROAD, DASHBOARD LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE AND SMOKE STARTED POURING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. TURNED VEHICLE OFF, CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND IT WAS TAKEN TO OUR MECHANIC. THE SEALED INTERNAL FUSE BOX AND WIRING HARNESS CONECTIONS HAD CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED, DAMAGING THE MAIN FUSE PANEL THAT COSTS …

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VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, WAITING TO ENTER ROAD, DASHBOARD LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE AND SMOKE STARTED POURING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. TURNED VEHICLE OFF, CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND IT WAS TAKEN TO OUR MECHANIC. THE SEALED INTERNAL FUSE BOX AND WIRING HARNESS CONECTIONS HAD CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED, DAMAGING THE MAIN FUSE PANEL THAT COSTS $450 TO REPLACE AND THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS CONNECTED TO THE FUSE BOX. I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FILED BY OTHER SILVERADO OWNERS FOR THE SAME REASON BUT THEIR VEHICLES COMPLETELY BURNED TO THE GROUND. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO INJURED OR KILLED BY THIS BEFORE THERE IS A RECALL? PLEASE HELP! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10588957

80,000 miles · Apr 14, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

THE CAB TO OPERATOR COMMUNICATION STARTED SLOWLY DIMINISHING. EVENTUALLY ALL AUDIBLE BEEPS, DINGS AND MUSIC ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAB WERE SHUTOFF. THE SPEED CONTROL CRUISE WAS NOT ACTIVATION, BUT THE BUTTON WOULD LIGHT UP. CURRENTLY THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TRUCK, IN THE CAB, IS OUT OF POWER. I AM CONCERNED, DOES THIS AFFECT …

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THE CAB TO OPERATOR COMMUNICATION STARTED SLOWLY DIMINISHING. EVENTUALLY ALL AUDIBLE BEEPS, DINGS AND MUSIC ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAB WERE SHUTOFF. THE SPEED CONTROL CRUISE WAS NOT ACTIVATION, BUT THE BUTTON WOULD LIGHT UP. CURRENTLY THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TRUCK, IN THE CAB, IS OUT OF POWER. I AM CONCERNED, DOES THIS AFFECT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM TOO? THE TRUCK DOES A SELF DIAGNOSTICS MONTHLY AND NO ISSUES WERE NOTED, BUT THEY WERE OBVIOUS ISSUES THAT A DIAGNOSTIC SHOULD HAVE PICKED UP A NOTABLE CHANGE. THE LIGHTING ISSUE I EXPERIENCED WERE WITH EACH TAILLIGHT. I WOULD RANDOMLY BLOW TAIL LIGHT BULBS. A CLOSER LOOK SHOWED CORROSION AND OBVIOUS SHORTING, BUT NO FUSE WAS FAULTED. BULB WAS BURNED AT THE CONNECTORS. FURTHER REVIEW IT WAS NOTICED THAT EACH TAIL LIGHT HAD WATER IN THE BOTTOM. TRAVELING CAUSED THE WATER TO SHORT OUT AND DAMAGE THE BULB, LEAVING ME WITH NO REAR LIGHTING RANDOMLY. I HAVE SINCE DRILLED HOLES IN THE BOTTOM OF EACH TAIL LIGHT AS THERE IS NOT WAY TO REMOVE THE MOISTURE. I HAVE ALSO INSPECTED THE BULB SEALS AND FIND THEY ARE FIRMLY PRESSING ON TO THE SEALING SURFACES, WHICH ARE CLEAN AND FREE FROM ROAD DUST AND GRIME...PLUS THEY ARE HIDDEN INSIDE THE BODY OF THE TRUCK. IN SUMMARY, I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE SOME LEVEL OF DETAIL REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL ISSUE, FOCUSING ON HOW IT CAN BE REPAIRED. REGARDING THE LIGHTING, THIS IS CONCERNING AND SHOULD BE A CONSIDERATION FOR RISK ASSESSMENT DURING DESIGN. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10579520

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2014
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

2008 SILVERADO CREW CAB - DOOR ACTUATOR FAILURE WITH ALL FOUR DOORS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10577844

20,960 miles · Feb 16, 2014
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

DOOR LOCK BROKE AND DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME AND HAS OCCURRED ON ALL FOUR DOORS AT DIFFERENT INTERVALS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10564583

102,000 miles · Dec 7, 2013
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

DRIVING AT NIGHT AT 55 MPH, THE TRUCK INTERMITTENTLY LOST POWER BUT DID NOT COMPLETELY QUIT; THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BLEW AND WENT OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10555174

15,000 miles · Nov 22, 2013
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

3 OF 4 DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS HAVE FAILED. CALLED CHEVY AND HAD ME BRING TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE TESTED AND DEALERSHIP DID CONFIRM THAT WAS ACTUATORS. CHEVY NOT WILLING TO COVER COST OF REPLACING FAULTY PARTS. I AM UNABLE TO USE DOOR LOCKS ON 3 OF MY 4 DOORS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10553314

27,000 miles · Oct 15, 2013
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

3 OF 4 ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK. MULTIPLE MESSAGE BOARDS WITH PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS NO LONGER WORKING ON THIS MODEL/YEAR. SAFETY CONCERN AS I HAVE TO CLIMB INTO BACK SEAT TO UNLOCK DOORS WHEN MY CHILDREN ARE IN THE BACK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10547915

72,125 miles · Oct 15, 2013
Air BagsElectrical SystemPower Train

MY TRUCK STAYED PARKED FOR 10 DAYS WHILE ON VACATION. IT WAS RUNNING FINE WHEN I PARKED IT. UPON RETURNING FROM VACATION I TRIED TO START IT AND NOTHING! IT WONT EVEN TRY TO TURN OVER. AFTER HAVING A PRIVATE MECHANIC LOOK AT IT HE SAID THE FUSE BLOCK UNDER THE HOOD HAS A SHORT IN IT. HOW CAN IT SHORT OUT JUST SITTING THERE? THIS…

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MY TRUCK STAYED PARKED FOR 10 DAYS WHILE ON VACATION. IT WAS RUNNING FINE WHEN I PARKED IT. UPON RETURNING FROM VACATION I TRIED TO START IT AND NOTHING! IT WONT EVEN TRY TO TURN OVER. AFTER HAVING A PRIVATE MECHANIC LOOK AT IT HE SAID THE FUSE BLOCK UNDER THE HOOD HAS A SHORT IN IT. HOW CAN IT SHORT OUT JUST SITTING THERE? THIS COULD BE A FIRE HAZARD & A SAFETY ISSUE!! I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN & IF I WERE DRIVING & IT CAUGHT ON FIRE WE ALL COULD BE INJURED!!!!!! THIS SHOULD OPEN GM'S EYES TO HAVE A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10547913

Official recalls

1

08V441000 · Electrical System

Aug 28, 2008

GM IS RECALLING 857,735 MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MY 2007-2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL, SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WIPER WASHER FLUID SYSTEM. A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE WASHER FLUID HEATER MAY OVERHEAT THE CONTROL-CIRCUIT GROUND WIRE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS MAY CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES TO MALFUNCTION, CREATE AN ODOR, OR CAUSE SMOKE INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS WITH AN IN-LINE FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CADILLAC AT 1-800-982-2339 OR HTTP://WWW.CADILLAC.COM; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR HTTP://WWW.SATURN.COM, GMC AT 1-866-996-9436; OR HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493; OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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