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2008 Chevrolet Silverado

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Silverado years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado are substantially higher than the model-year median of 76.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

118 reports with mileage · 44 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 62 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports5 fire reports13 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

48 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2022
Electrical SystemFire

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…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11481787

66,000 miles · Apr 8, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE DOORS UNLOCKED AND LOCKED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLUCTUATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE DOORS UNLOCKED AND LOCKED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLUCTUATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000.

NHTSA ODI #10854364

131,000 miles · Feb 23, 2016
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO PARK AND RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 10 MPH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS CAM SENSOR FAILED …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO PARK AND RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 10 MPH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS CAM SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE SEVERAL REPAIRS WERE MADE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

NHTSA ODI #10837740

68,875 miles · Feb 5, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO WIGGLE THE KEY SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE THE IGNITION STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO WIGGLE THE KEY SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE THE IGNITION STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,875.

NHTSA ODI #10824388

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2016
Air BagsElectrical System

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER SILVERADO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V324000 (AIR BAGS) AND 10V240000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL RE…

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TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER SILVERADO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V324000 (AIR BAGS) AND 10V240000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUES. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI #10822653

119,000 miles · Jan 20, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE INDICATORS AND GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000. UPDATE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE INDICATORS AND GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000. UPDATED 03/16/16*LJ *CN

NHTSA ODI #10821246

148,000 miles · Oct 29, 2015
Electrical System

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN DRIVER WINDOWS SWITCH. VEHICLE WAS PARKED. SWITCH AND CIRCUIT BOARD MELTED. SAME AS RECALL GM 12180. DEFECTIVE SWITCH PART # 15906881 BOSCH BP688144801602K0

NHTSA ODI #10786971

115 miles · Sep 26, 2015
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN IT JUST STOPPED NO NOTICE. THE NEXT WEEK THE WINDOWS IN THE BACK SEAT WILL GO DOWN BUT NOT UP DRIVER SIDE HAS TO ROLL UP. THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK WON'T WORK DRIVER HAS TO UNLOCK.

NHTSA ODI #10777847

84,000 miles · Sep 3, 2015
Air BagsElectrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTARTED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTARTED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

NHTSA ODI #10761259

4,205 miles · Aug 5, 2015
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V324000 (AIR BAGS). WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE DOOR LATCH ACTUATOR FAILED AND THE DOOR OPENED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V324000 (AIR BAGS). WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE DOOR LATCH ACTUATOR FAILED AND THE DOOR OPENED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,205. UPDATED 09/14/15*LJ *CN

NHTSA ODI #10746481

Official recalls

1

08V441000 · Electrical System

Aug 28, 2008

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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 <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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