RoadVitals

2009 Chevrolet Silverado Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
10
Latest Oct 31, 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.
13%
of 76 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.
2
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

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 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 engine

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

Engine
Filed Oct 31, 2015

WHILE DRIVING MY 2009 SILVERADO AT 33,000 MILES I NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND IT WAS RUNNING ROUGH. AFTER TAKING TO THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS DETERMINED THE #7 CYLINDER WAS NOT WORKING. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC THE AFM FOR THE 5.3 LITER ENGINES HAS AN OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE. HALF OF THE ENGINE WAS REBUILT DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF CARBON BUILT UP INSIDE THE ENGINE. AGAIN AT 78,000 MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN. THIS TIME THE DEALERSHIP HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 2 WEEKS TO AND DETERMINED THE ENGINE HAD EXCESSIVE CARBON BUILD UP AND A ENGINE SOAK WAS PERFORMED ALONG WITH SPLASH GUARDS ADDED TO THE VALVE COVERS TO KEEP THE ENGINE OIL FROM ESCAPING AS THE AFM WAS OPEARTIONAL. AT 98,000 MILES THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR AND THE VALVE COVER GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOW, AT 140,000 MILES THE WATER PUMP, CRANK SHAFT AND BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT REBUILD THE ENGINE DUE TO THE MILEAGE. I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES AND STARTED USING FULL SYNTHETIC MOTOR OIL SINCE MY ENGINE ISSUES AT 33,000 MILES. GM IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE WITH THE AFM AND CONTINUES TO DO NOTHING. I CONTACT GM CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY STATED THAT MY TRUCK HASN'T BEEN SEEN AT A DEALERSHIP IN OVER A YEAR, THEY WILL NOT ASSIST IN THE COST OF REPLACING THE ENGINE. BUT, THEY WILL GIVE ME A $1,000 CREDIT TOWARDS A NEW VEHILCE. INSTEAD OF FIXING THE PROBLEM, GM JUST TURNS THERE HEADS ON THE ENGINE PROBLEMS AND EXPECTS YOU TO PAY FOR A NEW GM VEHICLE. GM STAND BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT!!!!

NHTSA ID
10787475
Incident
Oct 26, 2015
Mileage
142,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 23, 2015

THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE DASH READOUT GAVE A LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID IT WAS A BAD OIL PRESSURE SENSOR AND REPLACED IT AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $450.00. FIVE MONTHS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY TOWING A HORSE TRAILER. I AGAIN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED INTO THE DEALER. THEY SAID THE OIL WAS LOW AND DID AN OIL CHANGE. THE WARNING LIGHT WAS OFF WHEN WE GOT THE TRUCK BACK. THE LATEST INCIDENT HAPPENED ON 4/18/2015. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE WHERE THEY READ THE FAULT CODE. THE CODE IS P0521 - OIL PRESSURE SENSOR OR OIL LOW. I CHECKED THE OIL IT WAS NEARLY FULL BUT I ADDED A LITTLE ANYWAY. THE LIGHT STAYED ON. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALER. THE LIGHT WENT OFF THE DAY BEFORE OUR APPOINTMENT. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THE TRUCK PROBABLY NEEDS AN OIL PUMP AND A VALVE COVER AND IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $1075.00 TO FIX. I HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OWNER COMPLAINTS ON VARIOUS WEBSITES DOCUMENTING THE SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING. THERE APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE OIL SYSTEM IN THESE VEHICLES. MY TRUCK JUST WENT OUT OF WARRANTY IN DECEMBER 2014. THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR EVEN THOUGH I HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR REPAIRS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THIS APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS PRODUCT DEFECT AND GM SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10712435
Incident
Feb 14, 2014
Mileage
65,000 mi
ElectricalEngineVisibility
Filed Nov 2, 2014
Fire reported

WENT OUT TO TRUCK TO MOVE IT AND NOTICED WIPERS UP ON WINDSHIELD, TRIED TO START IT AND ONLY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON , LOOKED UNDER HOOD TO FIND AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL COMING FROM FUSE BOX. DISASSEMBLED FUSE BOX TO FIND IT WAS MELTED AND FOUND EVIDENCE OF COMBUSTION, WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR X2 PIN N5 WAS MELTED AND CONNECTOR X5 PINS G1 H1,2,3,4 K 4,5,6 AND J 2,3,4 HAD MELTED THIS IS ALL THE DAMAGE THAT I FOUND. *TR

NHTSA ID
10651897
Incident
Oct 13, 2014
Mileage
73,500 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 6, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE AIR CONDITIONER TURNED OFF WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE THERMOSTAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

NHTSA ID
10641785
Incident
Oct 4, 2014
Mileage
54,000 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Mar 12, 2014

DRIVING ON I10 HEADING TO HOUSTON, THE ENTIRE TRUCK COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, AND THEN TURNED BACK ON, THIS AGAIN HAPPENED 02/2014....THE WHOLE TRUCK SHUT DOWN , THANK GOD THE WHEELS DID NOT LOCK UP OR WE WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BOTH TIMES. IT IS AT THE DEALERS ...FREEDOM CHEVY SAN ANTONIO TX....SOMETHING IS BAD ON THE TRUCK...LIKE PLAYING WITH A LIGHT SWITCH...THE DASH, EVERY INSTRUMENT SHUT OFF BOTH TIMES, NOW I AM WORRIED THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN, AND I CAN NOT AFFORD ANOTHER TRUCK. I THOUGHT THAT THE 1ST TIME WAS JUST A FLUKE, BUT WHEN IT DID IT AGAIN, I KNOW NOW SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT AND IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME AND MY LITTLE GIRL...PLEASE REPLY IF A HUMAN REALLY READS THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10568800
Incident
Nov 16, 2013
Mileage
27,860 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceEngine
Filed Feb 6, 2014

DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT POPS UP, TRACTIONS CONTROL INDICATOR LIGHT, ALONG WITH DIGITAL DISPLAY SAYING SEVERAL THINGS. SUCH AS, ENGINE REDUCED POWER, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL SOON..........PULLED OVER, HAD A VERY ROUGH IDLE. MADE IT TO PARTS STORE AND HAVE THE TRUCK SCANNED. TURNS OUT IT NEED THE THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR NEEDS REPLACED. HAD THEM CLEAR THE CODE, DROVE FEW MORE MILES AND ALL HAPPENS AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10563232
Incident
Feb 6, 2014
Mileage
71,288 mi
AirbagsBody & structureEngine+1 more
Filed Feb 3, 2013
Crash reported1 injury reported

2009 CHEVY SILVERADO LOST TRACTION ON HIGHWAY DURING SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS, VEHICLE SPUN OUT AND HIT A METAL ROPED FENCE HEAD ON AND ALSO WENT ACROSS THE MEDIAN AND SLAMMED THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE INTO A GUARD RAIL STOPPING IT INSTANTLY FROM GOING INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLES DAMAGE WAS ON THE FRONT END DIRECTLY IN THE CENTER CAUSING A WEDGE INTO THE RADIATOR, ENGINE AND BENT THE FRONT OF THE FRAME. THE IMPACT WAS VERY LOUD AND SOLID. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE TRUCK TO STAND ON THE FRONT OF VEHICLE, SLAMMING THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE ON THE GROUND WITH GREAT FORCE. THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY WHICH AT THE SPEED OF AROUND 60 MPH AND THE PLACE THE VEHICLE WAS HIT IN, MAKES ME VERY CONCERNED ON THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE. MY 5 YEAR OLD SON SAID HIS RIGHT ARM WAS HURTING AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND WITH IN THE HOUR OF HAVING THE ACCIDENT MYSELF ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL WITH A STIFF NECK AND A VERY SOAR AND BRUISED BACK, I WAS RELEASED WITH MINOR INJURIES AND I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS SITUATION AND THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND MY SON. *TR

NHTSA ID
10496236
Incident
Feb 1, 2013
Mileage
38,500 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 3, 2012

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AT OR ABOVE 1 QUART OF OIL PER 1,000 MILES. ALL PLUGS FOULED OUT AT 39,000 MILES AND ONE PLUG CRACKED. I CHANGE OIL EVERY 3,500 MILES AND REGULARLY TOP OFF OIL. THERE IS NO LEAKING OIL BUT IT IS SOMEHOW VAPORIZING RAPIDLY. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE VEHICLE TO FAIL LIKE THIS AT THIS STAGE IN ITS LIFE. CHEVY HAS COME TO STATE IN A BULLETIN CONCERNING A TWEAK TO THE VALVE COVERS TO KEEP THE OIL FROM VAPORIZING. CHEVY HAS EVEN MORE RECENTLY COME OUT WITH A RECALL AS OF 1/17/2012 TO ANNOUNCE THERE IS A LEGITIMATE ISSUE WITH THE OIL CONSUMPTION ON THIS MODEL CHEVY. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND GM SHOULD PAY FOR ANY CURRENT DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK, WORN PARTS AND ALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10453942
Incident
Mar 31, 2012
Mileage
39,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 29, 2011

AT 46,487 MILES HAD TO SPEND $415.75 TO CORRECT ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. NOW DOOR CHIME COMES ON AT RANDOM TIMES WHEN KEY IS NOT IN IGNITION. *KB

NHTSA ID
10437644
Incident
Nov 2, 2011
ElectricalEngine
Filed May 8, 2010

ENGINE JUST SHUTS DOWN. NO POWER. HAVE TO PULL OVER AND WAIT 5 MINUTES OR SO AND THEN IT WILL RESTART. NO PATTERN. HAS HAPPENED TRAVELING ON HWY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10329367
Incident
Jan 15, 2010
Mileage
1,000 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 .