2009 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 most often describe dashboard plastic cracking next to the passenger airbag, and airbag recall repairs for which replacement parts were not available. Other reports involve sudden acceleration or power loss, brake warning lights with loss of brake power, and melted wiring or fires. Where mileage is listed, the reports range from very low mileage to about 248,000 miles.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Dashboard cracks next to the passenger airbag

   • 18 complaints (30%)
   • median 95,000 mi at 8.4 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2021

   Owners describe cracks in the dashboard plastic next to or around the passenger airbag, and some report cracks in more than one place. Some owners worry that cracked plastic could send pieces toward occupants if the airbag deploys. According to some complaints, the dealer or manufacturer attributed the cracks to sun exposure or said it was not a safety issue, and offered only a small contribution toward repair. Where mileage is listed, the cracks are reported from about 55,000 to 170,000 miles, and some owners found cracks while the vehicle was parked.

   What to check: Inspect the dashboard around the passenger airbag for cracks, including the corner nearest the airbag and the area above the instrument cluster, and ask whether any dash repair has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have had several electrical issues as wiring harness rub through behind the left cylinder head,right side of dashboard cracking above passenger side airbag which was reported and nothing done as replies ,I see this as a danger to me and passengers as it may blow up and hurt or kill occupants and electrical issues are a fire hazard as personal safety .”

   NHTSA complaint #11395572, filed 2021-02, 85,000 miles

   “Got in my truck today to find cracks in the dash around the passenger airbag. Concerns me that if the airbag were to deploy it would send sharp pieces of dash flying into the face of the passenger. Vehicle was not in motion when I found the cracks.”

   NHTSA complaint #10939105, filed 2017-01, 75,217 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbag recall repair parts not available

   • 11 complaints (18%)
   • median 26,502 mi at 10.8 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2016–2024

   Owners describe receiving airbag inflator recall notices but being unable to get the repair part. Some say the dealer confirmed the part was not yet available, and others say the manufacturer had taken longer than a reasonable time to provide a remedy or had not given a date for parts. Some owners say they had not experienced a failure, and others ask for an update on the campaign status. Where mileage is listed, it is about 53,000 miles or less, and the complaints describe waiting months for a remedy after the recall notice.

   Recall 21V050000Recall 21V052000Recall 21V053000

   What to check: Ask the dealer to check every open airbag recall for this VIN and whether a replacement inflator is in stock before you buy.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall received a safety recall notice by mail dated july 2016 regarding the front passenger air bag inflators can malfunction. Over the last year and a half I have contacted several dealerships in my area for a replacement. I was told that there was an ongoing court battle where takata claims that their is nothing wrong with the original installed inflator. The dealerships told me that they do not have replacement parts and would not install a replacement part until the court case was settled. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11061444, filed 2018-01, 53,000 miles

   “Been getting notification post cards about this airbag recall and called my dealer in June 2023 about getting the work done, and have not heard back from them to schedule anything. 11 months later I talked to them, and they say the part is hard to get, and they are waiting on the parts. Now I am 14 months past the time I called to schedule repairs and still no parts. I don't think this is being handled in a timely manner. Still driving around with a recalled airbag.”

   NHTSA complaint #11607699, filed 2024-08
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Sudden acceleration or engine power loss

   • 8 complaints (13%)
   • median 12,000 mi at 1.6 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2023

   Owners describe the throttle staying open or the truck accelerating on its own, including while passing at highway speed and while slowing for a light. Some describe a noticeable delay before the truck responds to the pedal, followed by rapid acceleration. Other complaints describe engine power being cut back to about 30 to 40 mph with a check engine light on, and an engine shutdown at freeway speed. Dealers reportedly could not reproduce the problem or found no codes, and some owners say they were told nothing could be done. Where mileage is listed, the reports range from very low mileage to about 121,000 miles, and some describe the problem while passing, towing, or slowing at about 20 mph.

   What to check: Ask the dealer to scan for stored throttle, engine power and check engine codes, and test the pedal response from a stop before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving normally (35-40 MPH on a residential road) in dry conditions, the check engine light illuminates and the onboard error message reads service traction control, service stabilitrak, engine power down. Consequently, the vehicle will not travel faster than approximately 40 MPH and steering sharply becomes difficult. This error has occurred twice in the 11 weeks we have had our new 2009 SILVERADO 2500 hd. With the first repair (odometer 1101 miles), they could not find anything wrong with the truck. They just reset the computer. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10340554, filed 2010-06, 1,101 miles

   “Was passing a vehicle and the throttle stuck wide open after I kicked it into passing gear, at about 90 MPH, after trying to kick the throttle off, pulling on the floor mat to make sure it wasn't the problem, I finally put both feet on the brake pedal and tried to get the pickup slowed down as the engine was still pulling hard, finally after getting the speed down to about 75-80 MPH the throttle finally let go and I was able to slow the vehicle down, took it to the dealer where I purchased it and they couldn't get it to do it again, after …”

   NHTSA complaint #10643450, filed 2014-10, 41,236 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brake warnings or loss of brake power

   • 9 complaints (15%)
   • median 38,753 mi at 4.0 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2023

   Owners describe a brake pedal that feels hard or rigid with little response, so the truck slowed but would not stop. Other complaints describe brakes that did not operate at about 50 mph, and ABS and stability warning lights that came on with a loss of brake power. Some complaints also describe a trailer brake warning message, including a trailer brake that activated on its own while towing, and in another case wiring was found rubbing near the parking brake pedal. Where mileage is listed, the reports range from about 36,000 to 248,000 miles.

   What to check: Check that the brake pedal feels firm with the engine running and that no ABS, stability or trailer brake warning lights come on, then ask whether the ABS module or its wiring has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Traveling at about 45 MPH with about 3 to 4 car lengths between us, traffic immediately and abruptly stopped. I stomped on the brake pedal only to find it hard and rigid with little response. The truck slowed but would not stop. I rear ended the car in front of me. Resulting in substantial damage to my truck as well as the other car, also a ticket for me. The truck didn't slide, jerk or anything, just gradually slowed till impact. I drive a tractor-trailer that has better braking response.”

   NHTSA complaint #10556899, filed 2013-12, 248,000 miles

   “i have a 2009 Chevy 2500 HD and my ABS, Stable Trac and air bag lights resently went on and i all the sudden lost brake power and found out that the Abs module and Harness were melted really bad. i have not reported it to anyone yet i dont know how to go about it .”

   NHTSA complaint #11516137, filed 2023-04
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Melted wiring and fire reports

   • 6 complaints (10%)
   • median 79,000 mi at 8.8 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2023

   Owners describe wiring that melted, including a headlamp harness on both sides that nearly caught fire, a trailer hitch plug that caught fire, and an ABS harness that melted. Other complaints describe an engine compartment fire while the truck was idling, with the reason for the fire not determined, and a fuel tank leak that the owner describes as a fire risk. Where mileage is listed, the reports range from about 12,000 to 110,000 miles, and the headlamp harness melting is described on both sides.

   Recall 14V407000

   What to check: Look for melted or discolored plastic at the headlamp, trailer hitch and ABS wiring connectors, and ask whether any fuel tank or EVAP leak has been checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “About 4 months ago, the passenger side headlamp harness melted, and almost caught fire. I had it replaced, and thought of it as a one off type situation. However, recently, the driver side did the same exact thing! Upon research, I found that it is happening all over the place to them. I am not an isolated incident. The real danger here is this- what happens if both melt at the same time??? Aside from the danger of fire, the larger, more pressing danger is losing both lights at once. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10692880, filed 2015-03, 110,000 miles

   “Our truck 7 pin female hitch plug caught fire and caught our trailer on fire. There is a recall for the 2009 Chevy 2500's but the recall is not on our VIN Number. We would like to report this just in case it is happening to other 2009 Chevy 2500 trucks. ,”

   NHTSA complaint #11536874, filed 2023-08

Buying note. For a used 2009 Silverado 2500, confirm with the dealer whether any airbag recall repair is still open for the VIN, and inspect the dashboard around the passenger airbag for cracks. Because some complaints also describe brake and wiring problems, ask for records of brake, ABS and wiring repairs and have a mechanic check those systems before buying.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 49 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.