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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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44,000 miles · Nov 9, 2011
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

ALL 4 LOCK ACTUATORS FAILED AND WITH THAT, THE BODY CONTROL MODULE CANNOT PROPERLY WORK THE SECURITY SYSTEM. THE POWER LOCKS INSIDE THE VEHICLE WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND SEEM TO RANDOMLY UNLOCK ONE OF MY DOORS. THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN GEAR DOES NOT WORK. THIS CAUSES MULTIPLE SAFETY RISKS. 1) FAILURE OF …

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ALL 4 LOCK ACTUATORS FAILED AND WITH THAT, THE BODY CONTROL MODULE CANNOT PROPERLY WORK THE SECURITY SYSTEM. THE POWER LOCKS INSIDE THE VEHICLE WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND SEEM TO RANDOMLY UNLOCK ONE OF MY DOORS. THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN GEAR DOES NOT WORK. THIS CAUSES MULTIPLE SAFETY RISKS. 1) FAILURE OF AUTO LOCK COULD RESULT IN CARJACKING AND PASSENGER EJECTION DURING A WRECK 2) FAILURE OF SECURITY SYSTEM TO ARM AND ALARM COULD LEAD TO THEFT 3) INTERMITTENT AND RANDOM UNLOCKING OF ONE DOOR WHEN UNEXPECTED RESULTS AN UNSECURED VEHICLE DESPITE DELIBERATE OWNER EFFORT AND EXPECTATION OF SECURITY AND CAN RESULT IN THEFT AND EJECTION4) SINCE ONLY THE DRIVER DOOR HAS A KEY LOCK MECHANISM, I HAVE TO CRAWL THROUGH THE CAB TO UNLOCK BACK DOORS RESULTING IN BODY STRAIN AND INJURY. DO THIS*** GOOGLE "2008 CHEVY SILVERADO LOCK ACTUATOR FAILURE. SEE HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES THIS IS HAPPENING TO. I HAVE NEVER HAD ONE ACTUATOR FAIL, AND IN THIS VEHICLE IT HAS BEEN ALL 4 AND THAT IS HAPPENING TO THOUSANDS. THE COST IS $1000 TO REPAIR AND THERE IS A "NATIONAL BACK ORDER" SO THEY HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP US LITTLE GUYS AND MAKE THIS RIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10435048

50,000 miles · Oct 14, 2011
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

ALL FOUR DOOR ACTUATORS HAVE FAILED. HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK/UNLOCK DOORS.. I SEE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10430203

46,108 miles · Sep 25, 2011
Electrical System

INTERMITTENTLY, AND NOW MORE FREQUENT 1, 2 OR ALL GAUGES GO HAYWIRE, READING OTHER THAN NORMAL, AND DIGITAL READOUT GOES OUT. TRUCK STILL WORKS OK, BUT NO ACCURATE READING ON GAUGES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10427124

41,800 miles · Nov 26, 2010
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Structure

2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. DOOR LOCKS CYCLING, A/C NOT WORKING INTERMITTENT, ALT GAUGE FLUCTUATING, FUEL GAUGE FLUCTUATING, ENGINE STALL, ABS & TCS LIGHTS BLINKING. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO MY DEALER AND THE KEPT IT FOR A WEEK. THEY ENDED UP REPLACING THE 175 AMP MEGAFUSE AND BATTERY CABLES. I GOT B…

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2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. DOOR LOCKS CYCLING, A/C NOT WORKING INTERMITTENT, ALT GAUGE FLUCTUATING, FUEL GAUGE FLUCTUATING, ENGINE STALL, ABS & TCS LIGHTS BLINKING. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO MY DEALER AND THE KEPT IT FOR A WEEK. THEY ENDED UP REPLACING THE 175 AMP MEGAFUSE AND BATTERY CABLES. I GOT BACK AND HAVE DRIVEN IT FOR A WEEK AND EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE WORKING PROPERLY EXCEPT THE ALT GAUGE. I INTEND ON CALLING THEM BACK NEXT WEEK SO I CAN DRIVE IT A LITTLE LONGER TO SEE IF ANY OF THE OTHER ISSUES PERSIST.

NHTSA ODI #10368753

Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2010
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ASSOCIATED WITH THE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V441000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT WAS IN DISAGREEMENT WITH THE RECALL DEFECT REMEDY REPAIR WHICH CONSISTED OF DISABLING THE HEATED WASHER SYSTEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ASSOCIATED WITH THE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V441000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT WAS IN DISAGREEMENT WITH THE RECALL DEFECT REMEDY REPAIR WHICH CONSISTED OF DISABLING THE HEATED WASHER SYSTEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED AND DESIGNED WITH A HEATED WASHER SYSTEM WHICH SHOULD BE REPLACED INSTEAD OF COMPLETELY DISABLING AND REMOVING SOME OF IT'S COMPONENTS. NO FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED AT THIS TIME; HOWEVER, THERE WAS CONCERN OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED.

NHTSA ODI #10341834

9,000 miles · Apr 5, 2010
Electrical System

THE VEHICLE HAS NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE "CHECK AIRBAGS" LIGHT WILL BEGIN FLASHING, THE DOOR LOCKS WILL BEGIN ACTUATING RAPIDLY, THE GAUGES WILL FREEZE, AND THE TRANSMISSION BEGINS SHIFTING IN AND OUT OF GEAR. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10323872

3,000 miles · Jun 5, 2009
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD GO OUT IF THE CONTACT SLIGHTLY REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER BOTH STATED THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS SLIGHTLY RELEASED. THE DE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD GO OUT IF THE CONTACT SLIGHTLY REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER BOTH STATED THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS SLIGHTLY RELEASED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER COULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS. THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 7,000. UPDATED 07/01/09 *BF WHILE TOWING A TRAILER, THE VEHICLE WOULD LURCH FORWARD WHEN BRAKING. THE ELECTRIC TRAILER BRAKES SEEMED TO FUNCTION OFF OF THE VEHICLE BRAKE LIGHTS, WHICH CAUSES THE TRAILER BRAKES TO DISENGAGE EVEN WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE. THE VEHICLES BRAKE LIGHTS ALSO FLICKER ON AND OFF WHILE BRAKING. UPDATED 07/02/09.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10272957

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2008
Electrical System

2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. CONSUMER HAS ISSUES WITH THE RECALL 08048 AND OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED ON THEIR OWN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW LOCKOUT WAS INOPERATIVE, THE RIGHT SIDE DOOR MIRROR TILT FEATURE WORKED OCCASIONALLY, THE INSTRUMENT…

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2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. CONSUMER HAS ISSUES WITH THE RECALL 08048 AND OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED ON THEIR OWN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW LOCKOUT WAS INOPERATIVE, THE RIGHT SIDE DOOR MIRROR TILT FEATURE WORKED OCCASIONALLY, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE RADIO/CD PANEL LIGHTS WORKED SOMETIMES. THE CONSUMER STATED HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL WHICH STATED A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE WASHER FLUID HEATER MAY OVERHEAT THE CONTROL- CIRCUIT GROUND WIRE. THIS MAY CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES TO MALFUNCTION. RECALL 08V441000. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10244789

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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