2011 Chevrolet Silverado 3500: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 29 owner complaints on record; most reports concern air bags; the 2009 and 2010 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Feb 2021
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 29 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Transmission control module (tcm). Failure of this part leaves the vehicle inoperable and unable to drive. Being stranded, or in traffic can cause injury to myself or any other driver that may encounter me disabled unknown, major problem with this make and model of vehicle. Dealer inventory of the part is exhausted and trucks are sitting inoperable all over the u.s.a. No indications of a issue were displayed prior to the problem. The problem does display on dash, after the problem shows up”Owner report · Power Train · Aug 2023
“Complete collapse of tire (BLOWOUT) on highway that caused damage too wheel well of vehicle and outside body panel damages of vehicle including driver side mirror due to tire explosion of rubber coming apart on tire. The tire is the original tire that came with the vehicle green dot is still on tire with tread that covers Lincoln face during a penny test, the tires are maintained at my local Discount tire dealer here, I need the damages repaired caused by Michelin product .”Owner report · Tires · Jul 2022
“Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V054000 (Air Bags) however, the contact was informed by the dealer that parts for the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and confirmed that the remedy was not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2021
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“Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21V054000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jun 2021
“Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet silverado 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v381000 (air bags). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time to repair the vehicle. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and stated that the part was not available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2019
“Tl* takata recall. The contact owned a 2011 chevrolet silverado 3500. While driving 70 mph, the contact lost consciousness and crashed into several trees. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact was taken to the hospital to receive medical attention. The contact sustained three broken ribs. The vehicle was totaled and towed by the police to a towing lot. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The cause of the failure was not determined. The failure mileage was 170,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · Apr 2019
“While driving on the freeway, exiting to an off-ramp, truck lost power steering and brakes simultaneously, without any prior indications of mechanical trouble. Chevrolet currently shows no recall on this vehicle. Fortunately traffic was light and a collision was avoided. Why would one critical system's pump--power steering--be used to drive a second critical system's pump--hydrobooster?”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jan 2018
“Takata recall nothing yet but not comfortable driving with a unstable bomb in my vehicle. Whats the hold up with a replacement?”Owner report · Air Bags · Nov 2017
“Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 chevrolet silverado 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v381000 (air bags). The contact stated that connell chevrolet (located at 2828 harbor blvd, costa mesa, ca 92626, (714) 786-5630, (706) 653-7420) exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and stated that the part was not available for the repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”Owner report · Air Bags · Dec 2016
“Received letter from gm july 2016 about recall. Called dealership that sold me the vehicle. They said, gm has not come up with a repair yet. The dealership would call to set up repair appointment once they know of repair and parts on hand. Called dealership 10/26/2017 still no clue about repair procedure or parts. They will call once repair is known. Why isn't this safety issue fixed yet?”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2016
When filing, owners marked a crash in 1 of these complaints and injuries in 1 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 5 campaigns
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 and GMC Sierra 3500 trucks equipped with dual fuel tanks. The low fuel level sensor for the front tank may stick causing the rear tank to overfill the front tank.
Remedy: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the rear tank fuel pump or update the fuel-level sensor software, as well as inspect the front tank, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2017. Owners may contact GM customer service for Chevrolet 1-800-222-1020 or for GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17399.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD 2500/3500 trucks manufactured January 18, 2007, to June 22, 2011, and GMC Sierra HD 2500/3500 trucks manufactured January 22, 2007, to June 21, 2011, and equipped with an auxiliary battery. Owners may unknowingly draw too much current through the vehicle's trailer harness resulting in the melting of fusible link for the auxiliary battery.
Remedy: GM will notify owners and dealers will replace the jumper harness with one that includes a 40 amp inline fuse, and provide the owner with supplemental Owner Manual information, free of charge. The recall began on August 29, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 14260.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328760.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is recalling certain 2011-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL and 2011-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL and 2010-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed to 40 VIN owners on May 11, 2021. A second owner notification letter was mailed to all other owners on January 24, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328800.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD, 2009 GMC Topkick 5000, 6000, 7000 and 8000 Series and Isuzu F Series, and 2009-2018 Chevrolet Express, and GMC Savana vehicles, equipped with certain Plastic-Handle Fire Extinguishers or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf
Remedy: GM will notify owners, instructing them to contact Kidde to get a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began June 11, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Isuzu customer service at 1-866-441-9638. GM's number for this recall is 18146.
How other years compare
Check your exact Silverado 3500 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
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Is the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 reliable?
NHTSA has 29 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The most complained-about area is air bags.
Does the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 have open recalls?
5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning fuel system, gasoline:storage:auxillary tank. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.