repaired · 2023 Q1
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 914 owner complaints about the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-050 the manufacturer reports only 28% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 3, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has problems
914 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
594Air bags33 crash/fire/injury
91Electrical system8 crash/fire/injury
60Structure
44Engine
37Latches/locks/linkages
25Power train
19Fuel/propulsion system
18Suspension
14Service brakes, hydraulic
10620 other systems15 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 594 | 33 |
| Electrical system | 91 | 8 |
| Structure | 60 | 3 |
| Engine | 44 | 4 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 37 | 1 |
| Power train | 25 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 19 | 1 |
| Suspension | 18 | 2 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 14 | 2 |
| 20 other systems | 106 | 15 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2023 Q3
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
no report yet
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Risk. THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE UNINTENTIONALLY.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.
Mileage at failure
When do air bags problems start?
80kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 179 air bags complaints. 63% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 47% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
24under 30k miles113under 100k miles66100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Air bags
8 owners mentioned a cost$463median
Middle half: $325 – $525
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2008 vs. every other Silverado 1500 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Silverado 1500 median. How we score
'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
3 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and the recalls they led to.
- NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESLed to recall 08V-441
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
- NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESNo recall
In owners' words
What Silverado 1500 owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The truck was parked in the driveway not running. My husband took his lunch box out of the front seat,closed the door and the airbag deployed. He then went to the driver's side to see if it would still start so he could drive it to work the next day and be able to schedule repairs the drivers side…
I had the recall #09184 regarding the faulty air bag for my Chevy Silverado. I took my truck to Chevy dealership in Marshfield mo. They were supposed to fix the airbags and bc the air bags deployed without an accident the seat belts locked up. They did not fix the seat belts. Making my Trunk unable…
At a stop avoided hitting a truck pulling trailer I may have hit trailer not sure but I hit a pole. I was on my way to national guard ema took me hit the steering wheel needed stitches below my lip and glue above my lip my feet are lose and my knees crack bottom dash and my wrist is injured. Not…
Own a 2008 Silverado 1500?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.