MotorDeets

2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: Recalls, Problems & MPG

Here are the deets on the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: 3 recalls, 914 owner complaints.

3vehicle recalls
914owner complaints
33mention a crash
–best combined mpg
2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Photo: SsmIntrigue · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Representative photo of this generation; trim may differ.

Recalls

3 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.

Equipment Adaptive/Mobility Vehicle recall #09V325000 · 2009 · 14 vehicles

What's wrong: These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 404, "platform lift installations in motor vehicles." the threshold warning system May not detect the presence of a wheelchair or mobility aid user in a certain spot within the defined threshold area.

Why it matters: The user of the lift could be injured should the lift move unintentionally.

The fix: Quality vans is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (please see 07e095).

Airbags Vehicle recall #21V052000 · 2021 · 557,023 vehicles

What's wrong: " additionally, gm is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac escalade, escalade esv, and escalade ext, Chevrolet avalanche, silverado 1500, suburban, tahoe, GMC sierra 1500, 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…

Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

The fix: 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 23, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner…

Airbags Vehicle recall #21V050000 · 2021 · 2,641,272 vehicles

What's wrong: 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…

Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

The fix: 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…

Most-reported problems

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 9 mention a fire, 46 injuries and 1 deaths were reported.

Airbags594
Electrical91
Other / unknown86
Body & structure60
Engine44
Latches & locks37
Transmission & drivetrain25
Fuel & propulsion19

What owners describe

The 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has 914 owner complaints, ranking #4 of 33 Silverado 1500 model years for complaints (1.7× the average Silverado 1500 year). Complaints peaked in 2017 (236 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 8 years old, at a median of 70,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2007 (849 complaints, 2 recalls), 2009 (444 complaints, 3 recalls).

Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.

Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500.

eManualOnline Download (PDF), keep forever

Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.

Most $25–$78, one-time
Check 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 manual
Mitchell 1 DIY Online access, factory-level data

Pro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.

From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yr
Check 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 manual
ALLDATAdiy Online access, factory OEM info

OEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.

From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yr
Check 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 manual
Haynes Print book or AllAccess online

Step-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.

Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/mo
Check 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 manual

Heads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure

FAQ

Does the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 3 vehicle recalls for the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What are the most common 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems?

Owners have filed 914 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (594), electrical (91), other / unknown (86).

Where can I get a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 repair manual?

eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.

Other Silverado 1500 years

199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026