2009–2013 Chevy Silverado 1500 / GMC Sierra 1500 common problems and fixes

The GMT900 Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 (2007–2013) are mechanically the same, so these notes cover both. Most have the 5.3L V8 (many with cylinder deactivation, called Active Fuel Management), with a 4.8L V8, 6.2L V8 or 4.3L V6 in others, and a rare 6.0L Hybrid. (2007–2008 trucks aren't covered here because NHTSA files their complaints together with heavy-duty trucks.)

We counted 2,744 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for 2009–2013 Silverado 1500s and Sierra 1500s (retrieved October 5, 2026; each complaint counted once): 1,877 from 5.3L V8s, 385 from 4.8L V8s, 158 from 4.3L V6s, 101 from 6.2L V8s and 13 from the 6.0L Hybrid, identified by VIN; the rest (210) couldn't be matched to an engine. We left out 49 whose VIN belongs to another vehicle (mostly Silverado and Sierra 2500/3500 heavy-duty trucks). We left out about 620 complaints that NHTSA labels only "Silverado" or "Sierra", because the same complaints also appear under the heavy-duty trucks and we can't tell which truck they're about. Complaint counts show what owners report most often, not how many trucks have a problem.

At a glance

• Cracked dashboards are the single biggest complaint (about a quarter of all complaints).
• Rust on rockers, cab corners and frames, especially in salt states.
• 5.3L V8s with cylinder deactivation can burn oil.
• Takata passenger air bag recalls cover certain trucks from every year, split by model year and by the state the truck was sold or registered in.

Cracked dashboards

About 670 complaints describe a cracked or split dashboard, and about 540 of those also mention an air bag, where the crack often forms. Owners worry the crack could affect how the air bag deploys. GM didn't issue a recall, and a federal appeals court upheld the dismissal of a class action over it in 2021.

Rust

About 270 complaints mention rust or corrosion, from rocker panels and cab corners to frames rusted badly enough to fail inspection, plus rusted fuel and brake lines.

Oil consumption

On V8s with cylinder deactivation (Active Fuel Management), GM's bulletin 10-06-01-008 says oil spray from the deactivation system's relief valve, or oil pulled through the PCV system, can build deposits in the piston ring grooves and make the engine burn oil, sometimes fouling spark plugs. The bulletin adds an oil deflector, a new valve cover on early trucks and a piston cleaning; if that doesn't work, new pistons and rings. Only 32 NHTSA complaints from 5.3L trucks mention using, burning or adding oil, so most of what owners say about this is on forums.

Recalls to check

• Takata passenger air bag inflators (non-desiccated inflators that can rupture). GM split these into five campaigns by model year and by where the truck was originally sold or ever registered (GM's "Zone A" hot, humid states and territories, "Zone B" and "Zone C"). For 2009–2013 Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500:

  • 2009: Zone A 21V050000, Zone B 21V052000, Zone C 21V053000
  • 2010: Zone A 21V050000, Zone B 21V053000, Zone C 21V054000
  • 2011: Zone A 21V050000, Zones B and C 21V054000
  • 2012: Zone A 21V051000, Zones B and C 21V054000
  • 2013: Zone A 21V053000, Zones B and C 21V054000

  Each campaign covers "certain" trucks, so only a VIN check at nhtsa.gov/recalls shows whether a particular truck is included and whether the repair was done.

• Rear axle cross pins that weren't heat treated on certain 2011 trucks (10V643000, 11V007000)

Before you buy

• Check open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls with the VIN.
• Get under the truck and check the frame, rockers, cab corners and brake and fuel lines for rust.
• Ask how much oil it uses between changes.
• Bring our used truck inspection checklist.