2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about airbag recalls and airbag warning lights, and a separate group reports cracking dashboards around the airbag area. Others describe engine problems such as oil consumption and lifter noise, transmission slipping or hard shifting, and occasional sudden loss of power or unintended acceleration. Many reports come at higher mileages, though some appear early in ownership.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Airbag recall notices and airbag warning light

   • 163 complaints (45%)
   • median 107,500 mi at 7.9 yrs old (32 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2025

   Many owners write that they received a Takata airbag inflator recall notice for the passenger-side front airbag and could not get the repair done because parts were unavailable. Some say the airbag warning light came on and a dealer wanted a diagnostic fee before looking at it, or quoted a substantial repair despite the open recall. A few report that airbags did not deploy in a collision, and one describes a driver-side airbag deploying with no warning. Reported from roughly 54,000 to 202,000 miles, often years after the recall notice arrived.

   Recall 21V050000Recall 21V053000Recall 21V054000

   What to check: Check the VIN with a dealer or the recall lookup to confirm the passenger-side inflator recall was completed, and ask for paperwork. Have the airbag warning light diagnosed before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall. Several months after the recall notice for my vehicle, the airbag warning light came on while driving and I was notified to immediately bring my vehicle in for service. Upon doing so, the service advisor charged me a diagnostic fee and notified me that the airbag needed to be replaced. Even considering the recall that was in place there was no provision for the dealership to correct the issue without full payment of approximately $1200.00. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11034595, filed 2017-10, 123,600 miles

   “My family was involved with a collision with a guardrail at 45 degrees angle to the driver's side front. Drivers bag did not deploy, passengers airbag smoked but did not deploy. Thank god for seatbelts. The collision was at 65 mpg”

   NHTSA complaint #11119465, filed 2018-08, 169,912 miles
2. 2
   Body and structure

   Cracked dashboard around airbag and cluster

   • 52 complaints (14%)
   • median 66,000 mi at 6.2 yrs old (41 state mileage)
   • filed 2015–2023

   Owners describe cracks forming in the dashboard near the passenger airbag cutout and above the instrument cluster, sometimes with no impact or damage involved. Several mention heat and sun exposure, while others say the truck was parked in shade. Dealers generally declined to cover it, and owners express concern that loose dash pieces could affect airbag function. Usually reported between about 28,000 and 115,000 miles, often after a hot-weather season.

   What to check: Inspect the top of the dash along the airbag seam and above the gauges for hairline cracks, and ask whether the dash has been replaced or repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicle was parked under a tree during the day while I went to work. The tree blocked the sunlight but the truck was still quite hot due to the black interior and hot temperatures. After work, I noticed that there was a crack in the dash that went from the airbag to the middle seam. This, along with another crack that was new, makes the dash flimsy and you can see it vibrate when driving down the road. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11330475, filed 2020-06, 87,000 miles

   “My dash on my truck has cracks in the dash by the airbag and above the gauge cluster. I am worried if Chevrolet does not do a voluntary recall on this there is a chance that the airbag may not function properly.”

   NHTSA complaint #10859893, filed 2016-04, 58,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Sudden power loss, reduced power mode, and stalling

   • 27 complaints (7%)
   • median 67,100 mi at 6.6 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • filed 2011–2026

   Owners report the vehicle dropping into reduced power mode with traction control and StabiliTrak warnings, sometimes along with a misfire or throttle body code. Several describe the engine and electrical system shutting off as if the key were turned, causing loss of power steering and brakes, and restarting after a short wait. Some were told the throttle body or an electronic module needed replacement, and in some cases the problem returned. Reported from very low mileage up to about 211,000 miles, often at highway speed and sometimes repeatedly.

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body or engine control module has been replaced, scan for stored codes, and test that all warning lights are off at a steady highway speed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Entire vehicle shut off as if the key were turned off , this has happened many times- I lose power steering, all electrical, steering etc. Very frustrating bc chevy states that there is no recall for 2010 model silverado so I'm expected to pay out of pocket??? This isn't right- I've always been pleased with my chevys but not with this one.”

   NHTSA complaint #10695225, filed 2015-03, 49,000 miles

   “Driving approx 55mph down a highway when vehicle suddenly slowed to 30 MPH and several messages came to dash (engine power reduced, traction control off and service stabilitrack). Due to sudden drop in speed, I was involved in a near miss accident from a following vehicle I took the vehicle to be serviced at the Chevrolet dealership and they replaced the throttle body sensor. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10582770, filed 2014-04, 46,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Oil consumption and lifter noise (5.3L)

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners of the 5.3L V8 report using several quarts of oil between changes, fouled spark plugs, and a ticking noise that appears once the engine is warm. Some describe collapsed lifters tied to the cylinder-deactivation system and quotes for camshaft and lifter replacement. Dealers are reported to call oil use a known characteristic while declining warranty coverage for some vehicles. Mostly reported from about 45,000 to 140,000 miles, with ticking sometimes noted at startup in cold weather.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and smell the dipstick, ask how often oil is added between changes, and listen for ticking at idle when the engine is fully warm.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have collapsed lifters on my engine due to the afm system. It appears that even after replacing the collapsed lifter then you will have to replace one after another unless you perform an afm delete on your computer. This has cost me thousands of dollars and due to the stress of the shifting what occurs when stuck in 4cyl mode I have had to replace my transmission as well.”

   NHTSA complaint #11133257, filed 2018-10, 140,000 miles

   “Engine started ticking noise during winter 2020 at about km 83000. I changed engine oil. During winter no noise at start up, once the operating temp reaches 100 * f. Ticking noise starts. I took it to dealer, told me lifters, gave me quote for camshaft & lifters, very expensive. I hear these engines are known for hydraulic lifter problems. I just parked the truck as winter snow & cold. Out of warranty. My mileage is low. I contacted gmcanada, they refer me back to dealer. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11405710, filed 2021-03, 51,000 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping, hard shifts, and clunking

   • 24 complaints (7%)
   • median 64,000 mi at 6.7 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2026

   Complaints describe the transmission dropping out of gear and slamming back in with a clunk, jerking at stops and on inclines, and rolling backward on a hill. Some owners say the dealer could not duplicate the problem, while others were told the transmission had failed and needed repair or replacement. Reported from about 20,000 to 194,000 miles, with several cases described as present early in ownership.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive from a stop on an incline and at low speeds, noting clunks, delayed engagement, or rolling back; check the transmission fluid level and condition.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased this vehicle at a somewhat reliable local dealership only to have the vehicle in and out of the shop a total of 6 months for the first year and a half of my ownership. The problem with the vehicle has been, and still is, the transmission and it's ability to slip in and out of gear at random. At intersections, stops and starts, as well as in movement the transmission will disengage and slam into gear with a loud clunking noise and jerking action. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10568766, filed 2014-03, 20,757 miles

   “Heard a ticking noise coming from under hood of vehicle while pulling away from fast food establishment. Pulled over to find that transmission dipstick tube had fractured. Went home and found that GM had issued a customer care bulletin back in 2012 about this issue. However, I received no letter about this problem. I contacted GM this morning and they refuse to fix the problem under this bulliten . This should not be a bulletin , but should be a recall since it involves potential problems with the transmission. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10758747, filed 2015-08, 128,000 miles

Buying note. Have the airbag recalls verified by VIN before buying, and inspect the dashboard for cracks. On a 5.3L truck, check oil use and listen for warm-engine ticking, and take a highway test drive that includes gradual acceleration and shifting.

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.