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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

Seat Belts complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
107,581 miles · Apr 11, 2016
Seat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD BANGING NOISE. THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS EXTRACTION BUCKLE EXPLODED AND EMITTED SMOKE FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE EXTRACTION BUCKLE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAPPED IN THE SEAT. THE SEAT BELT AND SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILL…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD BANGING NOISE. THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS EXTRACTION BUCKLE EXPLODED AND EMITTED SMOKE FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE EXTRACTION BUCKLE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAPPED IN THE SEAT. THE SEAT BELT AND SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TWO FRONT BUMPER SENSORS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,581.

NHTSA ODI #10854903

68,080 miles · Feb 9, 2016
Air BagsSeat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE SEAT BELT PRE-TENSIONER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPR…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE SEAT BELT PRE-TENSIONER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,080.

NHTSA ODI #10825021

74,000 miles · Feb 3, 2014
Seat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE P…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. UPDATED 3/28/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE TIMES, WHEN THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT EVEN LATCH. THERE WERE TIMES, WHEN THE SEAT BELT WOULD UN-LATCH WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. UPDATED 04/22/14

NHTSA ODI #10562665

59,000 miles · May 18, 2012
Air BagsSeat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT'S SON OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH A DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE BEFORE, BUT THE VEH…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT'S SON OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH A DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE BEFORE, BUT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 59,000. UPDATED 6/20/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELTS LOCKED UP AND NOW THEY HAVE TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 06/22/12

NHTSA ODI #10458943

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2011
Seat Belts

THE SEAT BEAT CLICK DOESN'T WORK ON THE BACK SEATS FROM MY SILVERADO N WAS NEVER REPLACE BY THE DEALERSHIP SO I CAN'T SIT MY 4 YEAR SON ON THE BACK SINCE HIS CAR SEAT CANNOT BE SECURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10407779

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 →