2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year cluster around two things: the passenger-side air bag inflator recall and a dashboard that cracks around the air bag cover and instrument cluster. Beyond that, owners describe electrical glitches and a fuel pump control module that takes on water. Many reports come in well under 100,000 miles, and the dashboard cracks are often described as appearing with age and heat rather than after any impact.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Dashboard cracking around the air bag cover

   • 87 complaints (20%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 7.7 yrs old (63 state mileage)
   • filed 2010–2025

   Owners describe cracks forming in the top plastic of the dashboard, often starting near the passenger air bag cover and spreading toward the center or driver's side. Several say the cracks appeared without any impact and got worse over time or in cold weather, sometimes leaving loose or sharp pieces over the instrument cluster or defrost vent. Complaints describe dealers declining to cover the repair, in some cases noting the dash was not part of the recall and would have to be replaced at the owner's expense. Reported from very low mileage up past 150,000 miles; several owners mention the cracks worsening as the truck aged or in hot or cold weather.

   What to check: Inspect the top of the dash along the passenger air bag seam and above the gauge cluster for hairline cracks, especially on sun-exposed trucks. Ask whether the dashboard has been replaced and whether any prior air bag work damaged it.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This is a complaint about the cracks on my dash around the air bag. Over the past month they have grown and gotten worse, one is huge (about 7 inches long) and there's two more pieces in the corner about to fall out and one near the radio. I would just like GM to put a new dash in for free so I can cover it with a carpet dash and not have to worry about it. Thanks”

   NHTSA complaint #11301389, filed 2020-01, 120,000 miles

   “I have a concern about the dash board around the passenger air bag. . The dash is cracking around the plastic cover and I know of 2 other trucks that have done the same thing? I have read different articles about people who have had the same issues and the dealer tells them it's too bad and they will not warrant the repairs. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10992763, filed 2017-06, 70,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Passenger air bag inflator recall not yet repaired

   • 201 complaints (45%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 8.0 yrs old (64 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2025

   Many owners write about the Takata passenger-side inflator recall, often noting that they received notice but the dealer had no parts available, sometimes months or years later. Some describe the air bag warning light coming on and being told sensors or the air bag module needed replacement, or that a module was corroded, without a clear resolution. A few report the air bag light staying on after recall service was performed. Reports span low mileage trucks to ones past 200,000 miles, with many owners writing while the recall parts were still unavailable.

   Recall 21V050000Recall 21V053000Recall 21V052000

   What to check: Check the VIN against open recalls and ask for documentation that the passenger inflator replacement was completed; confirm the air bag warning light is off with the key on.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall the airbag service maintenance the vehicle was stationary started it and the warning airbag service light came on stating the airbag needed maintenance. I did not ask for this I need this issue addressed asap.”

   NHTSA complaint #10950160, filed 2017-02, 61,000 miles

   “Takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle was involved in a hit and run accident and the air bags did not deploy, but the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact did not sustain injuries and did not seek medical assistance. A police report was filed. The contact received recall notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21v052000 (air bags). The contact did not inform the dealer of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11398576, filed 2021-03, 120,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Intermittent electrical faults while driving

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe door locks cycling on their own, gauges dropping or bouncing, dash and exterior lights flickering, and the radio cutting in and out, sometimes with a service stability message. Several say the truck lost power or the transmission stopped engaging during the event, and that restarting cleared it temporarily. Complaints describe dealers being unable to reproduce the problem or find stored codes. Mostly reported between roughly 35,000 and 160,000 miles, often at highway speed.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the battery cables, grounds and fuse block have been inspected, and whether any stored body or stability control codes were ever pulled. A test drive with accessories on can help reveal flickering or lock cycling.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased this vehicle new from classic Chevrolet in grapevine, tx in january 2010. The first few months I had the vehicle, I had no problems. Starting in march 2010 I noticed that my radio(navigation system) would sound like it would short out intermittently. I didn't really think anything of it. I thought that it had to be the radio station or interference with other wireless signals. I never really thought it would become a problem until recently. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10458078, filed 2012-05, 7,000 miles

   “The truck was sitting parked in the driveway and my neighbor noticed that the lights and wipers came on (truck was not on, no keys were in it, nobody was in it or near it!). Smoke then began to billow out from under the hood and a fire started. My neighbor was able to disconnect the battery and put out the fire. I had the truck towed to a garage where they told me that the fuse panel caught on fire. They called GM and was told there was no recall for the part. Dealing with insurance now.”

   NHTSA complaint #10905022, filed 2016-09, 105,000 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Underbody and frame rust

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners in the sample describe heavy corrosion of the frame, underbody, brake lines, and rear wheel seal and brake cylinder area found during inspections or repairs. In one case a mechanic judged the subframe beyond repair and needing replacement; another had rear axle seals leaking onto the brake cylinders. Reported from about 16,000 miles up to 200,000 miles, typically on older trucks in rust-belt use.

   What to check: Get the truck on a lift and inspect the frame rails, cab corners, brake lines and spare tire area for scale and perforation, especially if it has been in a road-salt state.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Stopped at a stop sign, and truck would not move so I backup then it went ahead. The first corner I went around heard a scrapping sound. Went to dealer truck had 16615 mi. On it , had 16615 miles on when I got it back, they said nothing wrong. Had same trouble 2 days later went back to dealer then they told me both rear seals were leaking that also ruined both rear brake cylinders. All was replaced they said was not covered on my warranty cost 191.20 rear wheel seals, 98.08 for rear wheel brake cylinders. Gm was no help.”

   NHTSA complaint #10863182, filed 2016-05, 16,615 miles

   “The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500. The contact stated the undercarriage of the vehicle was corroded. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the spare wheel assembly, bed assembly, and tailgate assembly needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 33,500. The VIN was unavailable.”

   NHTSA complaint #10872787, filed 2016-06, 33,500 miles

Buying note. Check open air bag recalls and whether the passenger inflator was actually replaced, and inspect the dashboard and frame carefully before purchase. A pre-purchase scan for stored body and fuel pump codes is worthwhile given the electrical and fuel module reports.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.