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2008 Chevrolet Silverado problems

The most common problem on the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado is airbags, typically around 84,000 miles. It has 1.3 times the complaints of a typical Silverado model year.

Fewer complaintsAmong the best years of this model
Year score
64/100
Owner complaints
162
Recalls
1
Service bulletins
249
Worst area
Airbags
Fuel economy
14-17mpg

The worst 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 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 2008 Chevrolet Silverado

Door locks 22Airbag light 8No deployment 7Fire or smoke 6Stalling 5

Recalls 1

Electrical systemReported August 28, 2008 · 857,735 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Gm is recalling 857,735 my 2006-2008 buick lucerne; cadillac dts; hummer h2; my 2007-2008 cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade ext; chevrolet avalanche, silverado, suburban, tahoe; gmc acadia, sierra, yukon, yukon xl, saturn outlook; and my 2008 buick enclave vehicles equipped with a heated wiper washer fluid system. A short circuit on the printed circuit board for the washer fluid heater may overheat the control-circuit ground wire.
Risk
This may cause other electrical features to malfunction, create an odor, or cause smoke increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will install a wire harness with an in-line fuse free of charge. The recall began on september 12, 2008. Owners may contact buick at 1‑866‑608‑8080; cadillac at 1‑800‑982‑2339 or http://www.cadillac.com; chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438; saturn at 1‑800‑972‑8876 or http://www.saturn.com, gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9436; or hummer at 1‑800‑732‑5493; or through their website at http://www.gmownercenter.com .

Recall number 08V441000 · Recall details

See all 1 recalls for the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado

Technical service bulletins for the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 249

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

See all 249 bulletins for the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado

2008 Chevrolet Silverado fuel economy

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

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
4.3L 6‑cylRWD152017
5.3L 8‑cylRWD152017
4.8L 8‑cylRWD141916
4.8L 8‑cyl4WD141816
5.3L 8‑cyl4WD141916
6.0L 8‑cylRWD131815
4.3L 6‑cyl4WD141815
6.0L 8‑cyl4WD131714

What 2008 Chevrolet Silverado owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Mar 8, 2023 · Airbags, Body · KY

2008 chevrolet 1500. Consumer writes in regard to passenger side airbag inflation issue and severe rusting to the entire frame. The consumer is requesting the truck to be repaired/replaced or providing a truck where this problem does not exist.

Filed Aug 29, 2022 · Electrical · MO · fire

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated that while the husband was driving, a warning message indicating the hood was unlatched had been displayed and the front headlights were not operable. Smoke was seen coming from under the hood and after lifting the hood to inspect the engine compartment flames and smoke were present. The husband extinguished the flames with water and the vehicle was pushed to a work sight. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the battery cable and electrical wiring harness were melted. The cause of the failure was not determined. The fire department was not called to the scene. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed May 31, 2022 · Airbags · 240,000 miles · LA · 1 injury

Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver's and passenger's air bags deployed without warning, causing the front windshield to explode and damage the passenger's side dashboard. There was no impact to the vehicle that could have caused the air bags to deploy. The contact was not injured; however, his fiancée, who was a passenger, had bruises on her knees, legs, and arms, as well as burns and cuts on her legs. No medical attention was received. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 16V746000 (Air Bags) associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 240,000.

Filed May 2, 2022 · Airbags · 108,000 miles · MN · crash · 1 injury

The contact owned a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated her son was driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle went off the roadway and hit a tree on the front end on the passenger side. The driver's side airbag deployed, however, the passenger side air bag did not. The contact recently received a recall letter from the manufacturer for the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V052000 (Air Bags). The contact stated that her son did not remember any warning lights being illuminated. The contact's son sustained back injuries and neck injuries as well as lacerations to his brows and forehead and eyes. The police arrived on the scene and wrote an incident report. The contact's son was driven to seek medical attention. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot and declared a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.

Filed Dec 27, 2021 · 260,000 miles · MI · fire

The contact owned a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, it caught fire from the dashboard. The fire department was able to put out the fire. A fire department report was filed. The vehicle was not towed and remained in the parking space. The insurance company was not made aware of the failure to deem the vehicle totaled. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but the manufacturer disconnected the call. The failure mileage was approximately 260,000.

Filed Oct 5, 2021 · Airbags · MN · crash

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an unknown rate, he fell asleep behind the wheel and hit a tree. The passenger-side air bag did not deploy upon impact; the contact stated that was uncertain if any other airbags were deployed in the crash. The police were called and a police report was filed. The contact's son was not injured and did not receive medical attention. The vehicle was towed from the scene by her insurance provider to an independent mechanic. The contact recently received a recall notice for the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V052000 (AIRBAGS) which she linked to the failure. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had been destroyed. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Jul 2, 2021 · Airbags · 150 miles · MI

2008 chevrolet silverado c1500. Consumer writes in regards to airbag sfety recall. The consumer stated the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time completing the recall repair.

Filed Jun 21, 2021 · Airbags · 89,000 miles · MA

Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V052000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the service air bag light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that the service air bag warning light was not related to the recall and the dealer informed the contact that he would need to pay for the air bag repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 89,000. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

Filed May 25, 2021 · Airbags · 200,000 miles · TX · crash · 1 injury

The contact owned a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated while driving 60 mph, when he fell asleep and crashed into a pillar. The contact stated the air bag did not deploy. The contact sustained neck injuries but did not seek medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repairs. A dealer was not contacted. The VIN was associated to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V050000 (AIR BAG). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

Filed Apr 15, 2016 · Airbags · TX

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 chevrolet silverado. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v324000 (air bags); however, the part needed to perform the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

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Questions about the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado

Is the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado reliable?

Owners have filed 162 complaints about the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado, 1.3 times a typical Silverado model year.

What is the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado year score?

The 2008 Chevrolet Silverado scores 64 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Chevrolet Silverado: 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 2008 Chevrolet Silverado?

Airbags, with 62 complaints, typically around 84,000 miles. Next is electrical (48).

How many recalls does the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado have?

1 recall, covering electrical system.

What year does the Chevrolet Silverado have bad airbags?

The Chevrolet Silverado model years with the most airbags complaints are 2008 (62 complaints), 2000 (53 complaints) and 2001 (48 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado get?

Official estimates for the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado range from 14 to 17 mpg combined. The most efficient version (4.3L 6-cyl, RWD) gets 15 city and 20 highway.

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