Check a VIN

2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: engine knocking or ticking

11 of the 914 complaints about the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 describe engine knocking or ticking.

owner complaints
11
of this car's complaints
1%
typical mileage
117,000
recalls
0
Is there a fix? 186 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Engine knocking or ticking by model year

What owners say

Filed Aug 3, 2026 · Airbags · IL

The truck was parked in the driveway not running. My husband took his lunch box out of the front seat,closed the door and the airbag deployed. He then went to the driver's side to see if it would still start so he could drive it to work the next day and be able to schedule repairs the drivers side then deployed knocking him onto the ground injuring his neck ,he was seen in ER after that.

Filed Jun 28, 2025 · Engine · CA

While driving uphill in my 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, I experienced a sudden and dangerous loss of power, accompanied by a flashing check engine light, ticking noise, and loss of oil pressure. The engine began to shake violently and I nearly rolled backward into another vehicle before I was able to shut it off. After restarting the truck, it began jerking and misfiring, making it completely undriveable. The issue occurred without warning and required a tow. Symptoms Observed: •Low oil pressure warning •Ticking/knocking noise from engine •Engine shaking and loss of power •Jerking and severe misfire when restarted •Flashing check engine light •Diagnosed failed/stuck AFM lifter in cylinder 6 •Engine misfire isolated to cylinder 6 (confirmed by unplugging ignition coil with no change) •Oil consumption and burning smell over prior months •Possible camshaft damage due to lifter failure Shops Involved: 1.Pep Boys (North Clairemont, San Diego) – Charged $400 and claimed to fix the issue, but symptoms returned immediately. 2.Rosecrans Automotive (San Diego) – Confirmed the issue is likely due to AFM system failure (collapsed lifter/cam damage). Estimated repair cost: $4,500+. Additional Impact: •Required towing after complete loss of drivability •Rental car for over a week (ongoing) •Potential lost income due to inability to commute to work •Total cost between diagnostics, failed repair, and upcoming repairs is significant Safety Concerns: •Sudden power loss occurred while climbing a steep hill—nearly caused a rear-end collision •Jerking, misfire, and engine instability made it unsafe to control •No prior warning; failure happened instantly Why I am reporting: This is clearly a systemic issue with GM’s Active Fuel Management system, especially in 5.3L V8 engines like mine. It poses not only a major safety risk to drivers and other vehicles, but also an enormous financial burden on consumers. Based on online forums an

Filed May 1, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · 70,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed white smoke coming from the exhaust with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic; however, the failure was not duplicated. The contact stated that the following day, while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. Additionally, there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the vehicle. The contact used a diagnostic machine and retrieved several codes indicating electrical failures. The vehicle was towed to another independent mechanic; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact stated that the engine had been replaced twice. The contact stated the last engine was replaced in 2021. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

Filed Jun 27, 2017 · Engine · 165,000 miles · MS

Started using oil all check engine lights came on an now is knocking motor no good.afm sucks.

Filed Apr 30, 2017 · Driver assistance, Engine · 35 miles · CA

Cylinder 1 misfire,collapsed lifter,dod/afm system failed. Ticking noise from engine before lifter failed.stability traction control also giving problems once problem with lifter started 144000 miles mostly highway this truck is only used for family outthings.not every day driver 3 days out of a 7 day week.

Filed Jun 20, 2016 · Engine · 117,000 miles · NM

Vehicle began to knock and idle rough. Noticed while in stationary mode on a city street. Vehicle is misfiring in cylinder 1. Engine has a history of beating up its cam shaft and lifters.

Filed Jun 3, 2016 · Engine · 124,000 miles · CA · 1 injury

Engine lost compression and started ticking while traveling at 65 MPH and came to an abrupt stop in traffic. This caused a safety concern with my 2 infant sons as passengers. The engine light was flashing which resulted in a code p0304.

Filed May 26, 2016 · Engine · 124,000 miles · CA · 1 injury

Engine lost compression and started ticking while traveling at 65 MPH and came to an abrupt stop in traffic. This caused a safety concern with my 2 infant sons as passengers. The engine light was flashing which resulted in a code p0304.

Filed Aug 15, 2014 · Engine · 52,000 miles · WI

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 chevrolet silverado 1500. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, a loud ticking noise emitted from the engine compartment intermittently. In addition, the engine consumed a significant amount of oil. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnosis and they recommended that the engine be rebuilt. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 52,000.

Filed Jun 27, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · AL

Motor knocks and is using oil a lot of oil and the dash light flicker with the switch.

Filed Jan 31, 2009 · Electrical, Fuel system · 8,400 miles · SC

Intermediate flickering/dimming of interior/exterior lights- 3 times radio stations lost pre-set-twice battery dead-no crank -2 possible fuel pump issues-on going possible lifter noise/knock when starts-intermittent-on going I have taken truck to 2 dealerships, complained to gm and bbb. Problems still on-going. Possibly fix of the radio problem with a software fic. All other electrical problems and engine noise still an issue.

Questions about the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 knocking

Is engine knocking or ticking a common problem on the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?

11 of 914 owner complaints about the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (1%) mention engine knocking or ticking. The model year with the most reports is 2021.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?

There are 0 recalls and 186 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

Other symptoms on the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Airbag light 58Door locks 48Check engine light 25No deployment 20Stalling 18Fuel pump 17Fire or smoke 11Won't start 8ABS 7Adaptive cruise 7Headlights 7Key fob 7Loss of power 7Misfire 7Seat belt 6Oil consumption 5

All model years of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history