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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
162Owner complaints

Model-year median: 76

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2008 Chevrolet Silverado

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 162 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Air Bags: 62 reports
  • Electrical System: 48 reports
  • Latches/locks/linkages: 18 reports
  • Structure: 14 reports
  • Power Train: 12 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
316
2005182
2006183
2007162
200876
200962
201075
2011
Compare all Silverado years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Air Bags
62Electrical System
48Latches/locks/linkages
18Structure
14Power Train
12
All reported categories
Engine
11Unknown Or Other
7Seat Belts
5Vehicle Speed Control
5Engine And Engine Cooling
4Exterior Lighting
4Service Brakes
4Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Tires
4Electronic Stability Control (esc)
3Equipment
2Fuel System, Gasoline
2Fuel/propulsion System
2Suspension
2Visibility
2Wheels
2Firerelated
1Service Brakes, Air
1Service Brakes, Electric
1Steering
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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

Power Train complaints

12 reports
Clear category filter
20,000 miles · Dec 29, 2009
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE IDLING AT A STOP SIGN HE HEARD A THUMPING SOUND FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. SIMULTANEOUSLY THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE LUBRICATED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 20000.…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE IDLING AT A STOP SIGN HE HEARD A THUMPING SOUND FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. SIMULTANEOUSLY THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE LUBRICATED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 20000.

NHTSA ODI #10297327

15,731 miles · Nov 24, 2009
Power Train

I HAVE A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO CREW CAB THAT MAKES CLANKING SOUND WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS INTO THIRD GEAR. I WENT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS "NORMAL FOR THIS TRUCK". THE TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 16,000 MILES ON IT. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE WAS "SURPRISED THAT IT HAD NOT STARTED MAKING THIS NOISE SOO…

Read full complaint

I HAVE A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO CREW CAB THAT MAKES CLANKING SOUND WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS INTO THIRD GEAR. I WENT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS "NORMAL FOR THIS TRUCK". THE TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 16,000 MILES ON IT. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE WAS "SURPRISED THAT IT HAD NOT STARTED MAKING THIS NOISE SOONER". IT HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER AND CAN BE HEARD WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. COINCIDENTALLY, THIS IS THE SAME SOUND THE TRUCK STARTED MAKING A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN I WOULD TAKE OFF AT A STOPLIGHT/STOP SIGN. I COULD FEEL A PAUSE AND THEN IT WOULD CLANK AND START TO MOVE. AGAIN THIS CAN BE HEARD WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AT THAT TIME AND WAS TOLD "THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION". NOW THE TRUCK CLANKS WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP AND WHEN IT SHIFTS INTO THIRD GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10293367

Recall campaigns

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 ↗

Defect investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.

Go deeper into Chevrolet Silverado problems

Chevrolet Silverado transmission problems →Chevrolet Silverado electrical problems →