Most common 2011 Chevrolet Silverado problems
Share of the 75 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Silverado complaints by model year
Best Silverado years: 2016, 2010, 2013. Years to avoid: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 1999. Compare all years →
2011 Chevrolet Silverado recalls (2)
Electrical system › Ignition
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ignition lock housing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2015.
Steering › Linkages
GM is recalling certain model year 2011cadillac escalade, escalade esv; Chevrolet silverado hd, silverado ld, suburban, tahoe; and GMC sierra hd, sierra ld, yukon, and yukon xl vehicles. The intermediate steering shaft attaching bolts May not have been tightened to the proper specification.
Remedy: GM dealers will inspect and ensure that the intermediate steering shaft bolts are tightened to the proper specification. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about July 13, 2011.
What 2011 Chevrolet Silverado owners say
Body & structure
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while parked, it was noticed that there was a fracture on the front passenger side window above the air bag area. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who, diagnosed that the trim needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that there was a crack on the dashboard. The contact mentioned that the crack was approximately six inches wide and near the instrument cluster. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000.
Air bags
We were making a stop at the light , when a 18-wheeler didn't stop and hit us in the back ,pushing us towards the bus that was in front of us , making the glass of the back break and throwing all the crystals in our body and clothes ,the air bags never open , the front seats were broken and 3 of the 4 doors couldn't close anymore, the driver tried to make a move to the left or right , but he could not , because we were stuck, when we realize there were no major injury, we stayed until the red cross came to check our condition,but there were crystals everywhere so we couldn't move without hurting ourselves. We buy the truck with 2 miles,we are the only owners.
Car pulled out from gas station into path of my vehicle striking it in left rear quarter panel and left rear wheel. My truck spun to the left striking a semi truck totaled my truck heavy front end damage. Injury to my stepson who was the driver. Air bags never deployed nor did seat belts keep him in place allowing him to hit his head on the roof of the truck cab
Brakes
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado. While driving approximately 15 MPH, the contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle continued to accelerate. The contact stated that the throttle was also sticking and the engine indicator was illuminating. The vehicle stalled and would not restart for ten minutes. This was a recurring failure. The contact had to push the OnStar button, which provided the codes of the failure. The failure codes stated that the pps throttle system was failing. The dealer stated that they could not locate a failure. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 83,918. The VIN was unknown.
In (always and only) very cold weather warning messages appear on the dashboard warning of traction control/ABS failure. On a snow covered road the rear axel sent power to the wheel with the least traction and the truck started sliding backwards. ABS brakes fail to work as anti-lock. This failure occurs whenever the temperature is below 25 degrees. The failure occurs at any speed and is preceded with difficulty shifting out of park. Note: I did a google search on this issue and found it has been occurring for several years across general motors brand vehicles.
2011 Chevrolet Silverado engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.0L 8-cyl hybrid | CVT | RWD | 20 / 23 / 21 |
| 6.0L 8-cyl hybrid | CVT | 4WD | 20 / 23 / 21 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 22 / 18 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD | 14 / 18 / 16 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 12 / 18 / 14 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 12 / 18 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado a good car?
Based on 75 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Silverado rates better than average: 58% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Silverado at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado?
The body & structure — 15 complaints, 20% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body. Next are the air bags (13) and brakes (9).
How many recalls does the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado, the most recent from December 30, 2014 (ignition). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Silverado?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2016, 2010 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 1999. See the full Chevrolet Silverado years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Chevrolet Silverado problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 54,000 miles; 45% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.