RoadVitals

2008 Chevrolet Silverado Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest May 13, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 162 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming powertrain

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Powertrain (other)
Filed May 13, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY, IT WAS FOUND THAT THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKAGE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED OVER A FOUR MONTH PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION LEAK BUT A REMEDY COULD NOT BE PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

NHTSA ID
10716182
Incident
Dec 30, 2014
Mileage
158,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 31, 2015
1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE INDEPENDENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL AWAY AND RAN OVER THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED LEFT SIDE COLLAR BONE AND SHOULDER AND STOMACH BRUISES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE POLICE WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 6/4/15*CN

NHTSA ID
10702823
Incident
Mar 19, 2015
Mileage
60,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 26, 2015

DESIGN FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES. SET OF THREE COOLING LINES FAILING AT CRIMPED JOINT BETWEEN SOLID LINE AND FLEXIBLE LINE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE DUE TO DESIGN, LOW TO MEDIUM PRESSURE LINES BEING USED IN A HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM. FAILURE DURING OPERATION COULD RESULT IN SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER OR ENGINE BRAKING WHICH MAY RESULT IN VEHICLE CONTROL DIFFICULTIES ESPECIALLY ON SLIPPERY ROADS. THIS IS A HIGH FAILURE RATE ITEM ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE TECH/ADVISOR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10679017
Incident
Jan 26, 2015
Mileage
39,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 30, 2014
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD START TO JERK AND HESITATE TO ACCELERATE. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED EXTREME AMOUNT OF SMOKE TROUGH THE EXHAUST EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE MANUFACTURER OR DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILES WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID
10651342
Incident
Jul 15, 2011
Mileage
170,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 18, 2014

WITHIN TWO MONTHS OF PURCHASING MY BRAND NEW SILVERADO, I NOTICED THIS ISSUE AND IT HAS PERSISTED. MY VEHICLE NOW HAS 73,000 MILES ON IT, AND IT HAPPENS EVEN MORE FREQUENTLY. I'VE BROUGH THIS PROBLEM UP TO CHEVY ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, AND THEY HAVE ALWAYS TOLD ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT'S DOING THIS, BUT WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE WARNING LIGHTS GO OFF. MANY TIMES WHEN I START MY VEHICLE, THE "STABILITRACK", AND "ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM" WARNING LIGHTS COME ON. THERE'S NORMALLY A CLICK/THUD WHEN I START THE VEHICLE, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY THE WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON. WHEN IT DOES THIS, A LOT OF TIMES THE VEHICLE WON'T EVEN SHIFT INTO GEAR FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. IT'S MY BELIEF THAT WHEN THESE LIGHTS ARE ON, THESE ITEMS AREN'T WORKING. I'VE DRIVEN UP TO 45 MINUTES WITH BOTH LIGHTS BEING ON. THEY WILL USUALLY STAY ON UNTIL I'VE OPERATED THE VEHICLE FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES, AND THEN TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. AFTER I'VE DONE SO, AND THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE LIGHTS WILL USUALLY GO OFF. THESE ARE BOTH VERY IMPOTANT SAFETY FEATURES. I'VE GONE ON NUMEROUS GM THREADS AND FOUND THAT HUNDREDS OF SILVERADO OWNERS FROM 2007 UP UNTIL TODAY CONTINUE TO HAVE THE ISSUE AND NOBODY EVER DOES ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE OWNERS WHO DID GET GM TO ACTUALLY TURN A WRENCH IN EFFORTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM ALL SAY IT ULTIMATELY RETURNED. THE VEHICLE NOT GOING INTO GEAR IS SOMETHING THAT RECENTLY STARTED HAPPENING WITH THE PROBLEM. IF I START THE TRUCK AND THE WARNING LIGHTS AREN'T ON, THE VEHICLE OPERATES FINE, HOWEVER, IF I START THE VEHICLE AND THE WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON, IT USUALLY TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES TO GET THE VEHICLE IN GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10626127
Incident
Feb 2, 2009
Mileage
1,200 mi
AirbagsElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 15, 2013

MY TRUCK STAYED PARKED FOR 10 DAYS WHILE ON VACATION. IT WAS RUNNING FINE WHEN I PARKED IT. UPON RETURNING FROM VACATION I TRIED TO START IT AND NOTHING! IT WONT EVEN TRY TO TURN OVER. AFTER HAVING A PRIVATE MECHANIC LOOK AT IT HE SAID THE FUSE BLOCK UNDER THE HOOD HAS A SHORT IN IT. HOW CAN IT SHORT OUT JUST SITTING THERE? THIS COULD BE A FIRE HAZARD & A SAFETY ISSUE!! I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN & IF I WERE DRIVING & IT CAUGHT ON FIRE WE ALL COULD BE INJURED!!!!!! THIS SHOULD OPEN GM'S EYES TO HAVE A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10547913
Incident
Sep 30, 2013
Mileage
72,125 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 13, 2013

WHILE TOWING A 5TH WHEEL TRAILER IN 98 DEGREE HEAT, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO REDUCED POWER MODE. THE VEHICLE TURBO WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE PROBLEMS WITH THE VARIABLE VANES LOCKING IN POSITION. I BELIEVE THIS IS A KNOWN CONDITION WITH THE DURAMAX LMM ENGINE. ON THE OPEN HIGHWAY PULLING A TRAILER THIS CREATES A HAZARD FOR THE DRIVER AND OTHER TRAFFIC AS THE SUDDEN LOSS OF SPEED IS UNEXPECTED. WARRANTY WAS DENIED ALTHOUGH THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING SIMILAR SYMPTOMS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10547747
Incident
Aug 31, 2012
Mileage
69,097 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 25, 2013

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LINES 2008 CHEVY SILVERADO WITH ALLISON TRANSMISSION. FACTORY TRANSMISSION LINES LEAK AND MUST BE REPLACED. WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS COLD, THE LINES/CRIMPS HOLDING THE RUBBER HOSE TO THE PIPES FAIL AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID IS LOST, SOMETIMES IN CATASTROPHIC MANNER, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE PROPULSION. REPORTS OF FAILURE ARE EXTREMELY COMMON, AND IT IS NOT UNUSUAL, THAT THE LINES MAY HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES WITHIN THE 1ST 50,000 MILES. GM HAS ISSUED 'NEW, UPDATED' PARTS, BUT THEY ARE NO BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL PARTS. THE NEW PART NUMBERS ARE 20759971, 20759972, 20759973. WILE REPAIR IS COVERED ON THE 36K BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY, THERE IS NO COVERAGE ON THE 100K WARRANTY. GM SHOULD REPLACE THE LINES FREE OF CHARGE FOR THE 1ST 100K MILES WITH A HOSE THAT WILL NOT FAIL. CONSUMERS CAN TAKE THE ORIGINAL GM LINE TO A HYDRAULIC SHOP, HAVE THE RUBBER PORTION OF THE LINES REPLACED WITH STANDARD HYDRAULIC HOSE SUITABLE FOR ATF FLUID AND THERE ARE NO FURTHER FAILURES. IF CONSUMERS CAN FIX THE LINES, PERHAPS GM CAN FIND A SOLUTION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10504373
Incident
Mar 23, 2013
Mileage
58,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 24, 2012

BOTH (UPPER AND LOWER) TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES LEAKING. DEALER ADVISED BOTH LINES NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT COST OF $988.88, AND NOT COVERED BY THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. APPEARS TO BE LEAKING FROM CRIMP AREA ON BOTH LINES. INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP ADVISED STOCK (GM) COOLER LINES CANNOT HANDLE THE PRESSURE OF THE ALLISON TRANSMISSION. RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT WITH AFTERMARKET BRAIDED LINES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10449246
Incident
Feb 2, 2012
Mileage
32,120 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 22, 2010

2008 SILVERADO LTZ-44.000 MI. UPON STOPPING VEH. ENGINE WOULDN'T STOP WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, PLACING ENGINE IN NEUTRAL RPM,S WENT TO 3X100, PLACE BACK IN DRIVE IT DROP INTO NORMAL ZONE. I NEARLY COLLIDED WITH A VEH. IN FRONT OF ME ALSO RAN A RED LIGHT AT ANOTHER TIME AS ENGINE GOT A LIFE OF ITS OWN. CHEVY DLR INSPD SAME SAID A PIP HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR FAULTY THROTTLE CARBON BUILD UP. REPAIR SAME TO NO AVAIL. THIS HAPPENS NOT ALL THE TIME. SO FAR CHEVY IS UNRESPONSIVE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10312896
Incident
Feb 15, 2010
Mileage
44 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 24, 2009

I HAVE A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO CREW CAB THAT MAKES CLANKING SOUND WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS INTO THIRD GEAR. I WENT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS "NORMAL FOR THIS TRUCK". THE TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 16,000 MILES ON IT. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE WAS "SURPRISED THAT IT HAD NOT STARTED MAKING THIS NOISE SOONER". IT HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER AND CAN BE HEARD WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. COINCIDENTALLY, THIS IS THE SAME SOUND THE TRUCK STARTED MAKING A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN I WOULD TAKE OFF AT A STOPLIGHT/STOP SIGN. I COULD FEEL A PAUSE AND THEN IT WOULD CLANK AND START TO MOVE. AGAIN THIS CAN BE HEARD WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AT THAT TIME AND WAS TOLD "THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION". NOW THE TRUCK CLANKS WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP AND WHEN IT SHIFTS INTO THIRD GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10293367
Incident
Nov 24, 2008
Mileage
15,731 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .