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2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems

The most common problem on the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is airbags, typically around 90,000 miles. It has fewer complaints than a typical Silverado 1500 model year.

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Year score
84/100
Owner complaints
363
Recalls
3
Service bulletins
1,653
Worst area
Airbags
Fuel economy
15-22mpg

The worst 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

Specific symptoms reported on the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Airbag light 23Check engine light 10Loss of power 9Door locks 8No deployment 6Stalling 6Adaptive cruise 5Engine failure 5

Trouble codes owners of the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 mention

B0085 2

Recalls 3

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported February 5, 2021 · 2,641,272 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020; Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006; and GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328760.

Recall number 21V050000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported February 5, 2021 · 692,526 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C."
Risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 24, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 11, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006; Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020; and GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328790.

Recall number 21V053000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported February 5, 2021 · 1,778,128 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is recalling certain 2011-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL and 2011-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL and 2010-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed to 40 VIN owners on May 11, 2021. A second owner notification letter was mailed to all other owners on January 24, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020; Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006; and GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328800.

Recall number 21V054000 · Recall details

See all 3 recalls for the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Defect investigations

Pedestrian alert soundsOpened January 27, 2023, closed August 7, 2023

the federal safety agency received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, the federal safety agency opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified the federal safety agency he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by the federal safety agency regarding the subject matter of the petition.

DP22005

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpened September 17, 2021, still open

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

EA21002

Technical service bulletins for the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 1,653

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 1,653 bulletins for the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
6.0L 8‑cyl HybridRWD212222
6.0L 8‑cyl Hybrid4WD212221
5.3L 8‑cylRWD1521-2217-18
4.3L 6‑cylRWD152017
5.3L 8‑cyl4WD152117
4.8L 8‑cylRWD141916
4.3L 6‑cyl4WD141815
6.2L 8‑cylRWD131915

What 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Sep 23, 2026 · Engine · NJ

Driving home south on [XXX] from New Brunswick. The motor started acting weird. It gave me a low power message and then shut off and I coasted to the shoulder. After finally getting it, restarted the engine started and make noise from the bottom end I had went to Chevy again and I asked him to do a pico test and they refused. They said my truck is too old. Remind you. I only have a little over 100,000 miles on this motor that’s been replaced from Chevrolet back in 2011. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Sep 7, 2026 · Engine · NJ

As noted in my last report that I sent to you now my truck needs an engine because of a road knock. This is the second engine. It was changed in 2011 and I’ve been complaining about this and I wanted Chevy to do a pico test they refused to do it because they’re telling me it’s too old but the truck only 111842 miles on it As prior complaint coming back from Cape May, the truck stalled I toasted to the side and it took a long time for it to start back up and when it did, it started knocking real loud Now Chevy refuses to do anything about this. Maybe I could get some response out of you. Thank you for your help.

Filed Aug 27, 2026 · Engine · NJ

Driving down the road returning from Cape May on my way back home before I got off the exit at [XXX] the truck shook shimmied and shut off. It took a long time before I could get it to start and when it did start, the motor knocked clanked real loud. And shook real bad. I stopped at the Chevy dealer [XXX] there [XXX] and they said there was nothing wrong with my truck mileage on my truck is111547 I need to remind you that the engine was changed at 10,000 miles INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jun 25, 2026 · Airbags, Electrical · MI

Air bag code and light on dash code B0085-00 . Code is set when the key is in on position and the door is opened. Left front side impact sensor. I am a master technician and determined wiring problem between the driver door and cab . Performed search on line common problem. This is a safety issue and should be addressed. Thank you

Filed Feb 18, 2026 · Airbags · NJ

As a safety recall, I did take the truck in for the airbag recall upon completion. I ran the codes and I have an airbag code. They’re saying that the dashboard was broken before they started. It was not. They broke it on installation of the new airbag.

Filed Feb 18, 2026 · Engine · NJ

For the last couple years, I have been talking to Chevrolet GM. My engine has been replaced at 9000 miles. This motor now does not even have 100,000 miles on it. The second engine left me stranded twice coming back from a long trip. The motor shook stalled and I could not get it. Restarted once I did get it restarted the engine made a loud banging noise my truck looks practically brand new. It just sits in the driveway and looks pretty. I’m afraid to drive it because it’s gonna leave me stranded again and I have been talking with Chevrolet and he seemed to keep pushing me away and I don’t know what else to do

Filed Feb 13, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · 80,000 miles · MO

The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, the ignition switch failed to turn over, and the catalytic converter failed and was replaced. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was repaired. The catalytic converter was replaced; however, the ignition was not repaired. Most recently, the engine displayed several fault codes. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure; however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

Filed Jan 6, 2026 · Tires · CA

My truck tires were bought at Costco in 2015 and had 70k Warranty or 6yrs WCF. My added truck mileage since then is 12k miles. I discovered my driver rear passenger tire go flat . I put the spare and took it to Costco for repair. Costco informed me that this is a tire defect as the tire had a side wall perforation. Tire cannot be repaired and a new replacement is required. I looked up Michelin tire recalls and found one issued in 2013 about Michelin X-Radial tires discussing this same defect but it did not include my tire size ( P245/70R17 ) . Fortunately this incident did not occur while driving at high speed.

Filed Jan 3, 2026 · Body · ME

The rust damage to the frame is damaged beyond anything form just regular wear and tear and driver fault. To not be remedied is a real issue. The salt used in the roads and the material used by the car companies isn’t anything myself as a consumer could prepare for.

Filed Jul 28, 2025 · Airbags · 100,000 miles · ME · crash · 2 injuries

The contact owned a 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while her son was driving at 40 MPH, when the vehicle in front stopped suddenly, the contact's vehicle rear-ended the vehicle. The contact's vehicle came to a stop from the impact. No warning lights were illuminated. The driver’s and passenger’s side air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The paramedics were not called. Both the contact's son and the passenger sustained injuries. The contact's son was taken to an emergency care center by the girlfriend. The doctor diagnosed that the contact's son had a bruise on the right side of the ribs. And the passenger had a bruise on the back, his leg, bruised ribs, and a seat belt burned by the neck. The vehicle was towed to Auto Mill LLC. The insurance company was contacted, and pending results. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

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Compare the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

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Questions about the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Is the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 reliable?

Owners have filed 363 complaints about the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, fewer than a typical Silverado 1500 model year.

What is the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 year score?

The 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 scores 84 out of 100 (good). The score compares it with the other model years of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.

What is the most common problem with the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?

Airbags, with 197 complaints, typically around 90,000 miles. Next is body (38).

How many recalls does the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have?

3 recalls, covering air bags.

Was there a recall on the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 airbags?

Yes, 3 recalls: 21V050000, 21V053000, 21V054000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have bad airbags?

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 model years with the most airbags complaints are 2008 (594 complaints), 2007 (479 complaints) and 2011 (306 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 get?

Official estimates for the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 range from 15 to 22 mpg combined. The most efficient version (6.0L 8-cyl hybrid, RWD) gets 21 city and 22 highway.

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