10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 1
Average Mileage:
58,768 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #12

Jun 232022

Silverado 2500

  • 173,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, he poured oil into the oil reservoir, and then placed the key into the ignition switch to turn on the vehicle when the air bags unexpectedly deployed without warning. The steering wheel air bag hit the contact's face and knocked him to the ground. The contact suffered cuts to his cheek, below his eye, and neck, as well as soreness to his neck, face, and back. The contact stated his left ear was ringing and he could not hear; however, 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 failure mileage was 173,000.

- Clanton, AL, USA

problem #11

Jun 252015

Silverado 2500

  • 78,000 miles
Air bag warning light occasionally started coming on. Took truck to several independent svc places. They said do not have computer reader for airbags. Light started staying on constantly. Took truck to dealers and they said because of liability, the diagnostics are $900 and could run another $1500 or more to fix problem. And, they wanted to keep truck. Truck is used daily for short runs and has a bunch of equipment on it that would have to be removed in order to leave it somewhere. Because of the staggering cost, and the inconvenience of having to off load the truck and not have its use and the lack of places to work on it at all, we have left it alone. I have driven vehicles without airbags over 3 continents and through jungles & all types of terrain over the last 40 years with out ever needing airbags. Now takata makes a safety device that can shoot and kill you -- do I need this" if so, who pays the repair bill"

- Santa Monica, CA, USA

problem #10

Jun 172015

Silverado 2500

  • 79,099 miles
On May 29th my service air bags light came on. In talking with other Chevy silver owners of the same year and around that year it seems this is common. I paid $521.18 to get these air bag sensors replaced on 17 jun15 at a dealer in harrisburg pa., because I was told without the sensors the air bags would not go off. This is a safety issue I am being told B Y other drivers they are just driving around with the service air bag sensor light on. Thats up to them. Also on 21 Jan 14 I had to have all the brake lines replaced because they had rusted and would not be safe to drive the truck costing $720. I was told it was because of northeastern winters and road salts, which I find to be a unexceptable answer to the problem. On 23 Dec 03 I paid $356.96 to replace dash cluster which also is a safety problem. I these safety problems with the Silverado are be ignored. My question is how many people had be affected or injured by these problems?

- Enola, PA, USA

problem #9

Aug 302014

Silverado 2500 8-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
Fatal crash. Entire left side of vehicle ripped off including driver door. Truck flipped also. Hit 4 trees. Speed limit was 65 in the area they believe the vehicle to be moving a little over the speed limit. Air bags never deployed none of them. The impact totaled the vehicle.

- Eunice, LA, USA

problem #8

Jun 032014

Silverado 2500 8-cyl

  • 105,800 miles
The airbag warning light has come on for no apparent reason. The GMC dealership has stated that there is no recall associated with this defect, but shouldn't a safety item like your airbag warning light coming on be covered under a lifetime warranty" just doesn't make sense that this critical safety feature on all newer vehicles should be covered. So does it mean the airbags will not deploy if I'm in an accident, or is it just a malfunctioning dashboard warning light that has come on" I know my model truck is older (2004) but something like this I should think would be covered. Have there been many complaints with this happening in Chevy trucks?

- China, MI, USA

problem #7

Jun 192005

Silverado 2500

  • 30,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that the service air bag light illuminated intermittently. The dealer replaced the modular twice, the air bag, plugs, air bag string and several other components more than 15 times. The contact had the modular underneath the dashboard replaced again and the vehicle will not start. The headlight are working; however, the vehicle will not start. The contact was concerned, and felt that it was a safety issue that the air bag could deploy on its own.the failure mileage was 30000 and the current mileage was 65300.

- Basser, MI, USA

problem #6

Feb 082006

Silverado 2500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 63,000 miles
I was driving up tp a stop light when the light turned red there was a car in front of me that had stopped, I realized I didn't have a lot of room but thought it would be enough to stop. I put the pedal to the floor and still hit them two people were injured. Then on 9/8/07 and a deer ran out iin front of me, again my foot to the floor I hit the deer. 1st I was suprised that my air bags didn't deploy (really tore up the front of the truck) and 2nd I should of been able to slow down in time. After reading all of the issues with the brakes on Chevy and no one is doing anything about it, I think its time to look for a different car company.

- San Andreas, CA, USA

problem #5

Sep 042004

Silverado 2500 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 964 miles
: the contact stated while at stop sign, a van hit the contact's vehicle on the front driver's side. Upon impact, the airbag did not deploy.

- Fayetteville, GA, USA

problem #4

Feb 192006

Silverado 2500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,600 miles
I had an accident in my 2004 Chevy truck at a speed of approx 80 mph head on impact. The truck was totaled but my air bags didn't work. I made a complaint to gmac, they had an investigation and according to them there was nothing wrong with the air bags. I find that hard to believe with that kind of impact, this is a safety issue and I have 2001 Chevy Suburban that my wife drives with my children. Can you please look into this because I would like to know gmac is not taken responsibility for the air bag failure. Thank god I was wearing my seat belt, because it was the only thing that saved my life.

- Morgan Hill, CA, USA

problem #3

Jan 102006

Silverado 2500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 27,149 miles
On Jan. 10 of 2006 I lost control of my 2004 Chevy Silverado while I was driving on icy road. I hit a concrete divider head on. My concern is that the air bag never deployed even though the damage to the truck was quite big. I was given a estimate of $9820 of damage because they have to replace the body frame. Even with all this damage my airbag never deployed.

- Kansas City, KS, USA

problem #2

Jun 132004

Silverado 2500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 11,400 miles
While driving 30-35 mph I took notice to vehicle slowing down in front of me. I applied my brakes and pedal went to floor causing me to rear end vehicle. Upon impact air bags did not deploy. Truck was taken to dealership of purchase, still sits there today. Third occasion of brakes going to floor, first occasion of air bags not deploying.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #1

Mar 232004

Silverado 2500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,208 miles
Recently while trying to start my truck there was a drivability issues with the powertrain, I had the lock light for the theft deterrent system on the instrument panel come on. The check engine light was also lit. The airbag light for the passenger side wouldn't come on.it read "airbag off" even though there was a passenger seated. The red warning light for the drivers side did not appear to work either. This issue only happened one time.cw

- Springs, PA, USA