25 complaints reported

2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Engine

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
25
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jan 2022

This truck has the 5.3L engine with the Active Fuel Management system. I took the truck in for the 55,000 service on 02/04/2020. A month later with 56,000 miles, I had to take the truck in for something. At that time, I found out the truck had used up 2 1/2 qts of oil in 1,000 miles. Never had a problem using oil between the 5,000 mile service intervals before. Their are no leaks anywhere. The dealer had me bring the truck in every 1,000 miles for oil consumption checks for 4 times. The last time it showed a 1/2 qt usage. I had the 60,000 mile service. Then at 62,390 on 01/26/2022 I had some lifter noise. Checked the oil and found it had used 4 qts in 2,390. I had been told that the 2009-2011 Chevy 5.3L engines with the AFM had problems using oil starting around 60,000 miles. 4 qts of oil usage in 2,390 miles is not right.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 2020
Oct 2021

the warning lights occur frequently when the truck is idling and then disappears and reappears while driving. The “Service Stabilitrak” light will usually appear first and then the car will turn traction control off. Once traction control is turned off, the transmission beings to shift very hard and rough. Additionally, Loss of engine power and or limp mode are also symptoms in addition to very hard shifting.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2021
Mar 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SULLIVAN MOTORS (3114 US 49 #3843, COLLINS, MS 39428) WHERE THE VEHICLE RECEIVED AN UNKNOWN REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2021
Aug 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND MADE AN ABNORMAL TICKING NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE STABILITRAK AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BREDEMANN CHEVROLET (1401 W DEMPSTER ST, PARK RIDGE, IL 60068, (847) 698-1234) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A CODE WAS FOUND ON CYLINDER 7. THE SPARK PLUG WIRE WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,500.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2009
May 2018

MY SILVERADO IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY RECALL, I WAS DRIVING MY TWO CHILDREN BACK HOME FROM SCHOOL, ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOST POWER IN THE PEDAL, THE CHECK ENGINE CAME ON, AND FLASHED REDUCED ENGINE POWER CAME ON, AT THIS TIME I HAD A LOG TRUCK BEHIND ME, I HAD NO PLACE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, SINCE THE SNOW BANKS HERE IN MAINE ARE HUGE, THIS WAS EXTREMELY UNSAFE, THE TRUCK ALMOST REAR ENDED ME, THERE SHOULD ME A RECALL ON MY TYPE OF PICKUP, WITH MY BOB NUMBER. I ASK A GM DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT SIMILAR MODELS ARE COVERED BUT NOT MINE. I HAD THE DEALER CHECK THE CODE AND IT CAME BACK AS A P2135 CODE, TSP SENSOR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2018
Sep 2017

ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION WITHOUT WARNING DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY TRUCK STARTS DINGING FOR MY ENGINE OIL PRESSURE IS LOW AND TO SHUT OFF ENGINE IMMEDIATELY. I PULL OVER AND CHECK OIL AND IT IS NOT EVEN ON THE DIPSTICK. I AM 1600 MILES INTO MY OIL CHANGE SO AS RECOMMENDED BY CHEVY I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO CHANGE MY OIL BUT EVERY 5000 MILES, BUT I HAVE ALWAYS CHANGED IT EVERY 3000. SO I SHOULD HAVE ANOTHER 1400 MILES TO GO BEFORE CHANGING BUT INSTEAD IN ABOUT 3 QUARTS LOW. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME BUT I WATCH IT VERY CAREFULLY SINCE THE LAST TIME. NOW I AM WORRIED IT WILL TOTAL MY ENGINE AFTER SEEING HOW MUCH OIL IS BEING BURNED. NEVER A DROP ON THE GROUND JUST GOING SOMEWHERE IN THE ENGINE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2017
Jun 2017

IT IS A 5.3 ENG. IT USE 2 AT OF OIL A WEEK IF YOU IDLE THE ENG. IT HAS DONE THAT EVER SENSE I GOT THE TRUCK IT HAD 40,000 WHEN I GOT IT

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2015
Mar 2017

THE ENGINE IS MAKING A TICKING NOISE AND IN SOUNDS LIKE ITS COMING OUT OF THE LOWER RIGHT PART OF THE ENGINE SOUND LIME THE CAMSHAFT

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2017
Nov 2016

THE AFM (LIFTERS) AND CAMSHAFT ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUES. THE TRUCK STARTED TO MAKE A KNOCKING SOUND SO I STOPPED AND CHECKED THE OIL AND DIDN'T HAVE ANY SHOWING ON DIP STICK. CHANGED OIL THAT DAY AND TWO WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLE WENT INTO REDUCE POWER MODE. I TOOK TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AND THEY TOLD BE IT WAS LIFTERS AND CAMSHAFT. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON INTERNET IT SEEMS THAT FROM 2007-2013 5.3 ENGINES ARE HAVING OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUES DUE TO AFM ACTIVE FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ON TRUCK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2016
Aug 2016 Fire

TRUCK HAD BEEN SITTING OVERNIGHT. WOKE UP TO 3RD BRAKE LIGHT ON. OPENED CAB DOOR, SMELLED LIKE SMOKE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, WOULD NOT TURN OVER. POP HOOD AND THE FUSE BOX AND WIRING HARNESS HAD BEEN ON FIRE, WERE COMPLETELY MELTED. INSURANCE COMPANY WON'T COVER BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT SUBSTANTIAL PROOF OF FIRE, AND COULD NOT FIND SOURCE. FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH GM AFTER THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US THE WIRING HARNESS HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED (ON A 7 YEAR OLD TRUCK). GM WON'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY CANNOT FIND THE SOURCE, AND THEY HAVE YET TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY DISCONTINUED A PART. WE HAVE NO WAY OF FIXING THIS TRUCK.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2016
May 2016

OIL RELIEVE VALVE STUCK SHUT NOT LETTING PRESSURE CRANK VALVE TO OPERATE AND FOULING NUMBER ONE CYLINDER IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET CAUSING STABILITY TRAC AND THE TRAC CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON CEL IS FLASHING AND VEHICLE IS RUNNING ROUGH. HAPPENED ALL AT ONCE. ONLY 61181 MILES ON VEHICLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2016
Apr 2016

HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 2016
Apr 2016

ENGINE TICK, ROUGH IDLE & MISFIRE, BURNING OIL, ENGINE TROUBLE LIGHT ON, OBD CODE P0300 & P0302

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2015
Mar 2016

USING EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL: 3 QTS. BETWEEN OIL CHANGES, DEALERSHIP SAYS ITS THE ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2013
Jan 2016

I HAVE COMPLAINTED OF EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NUMEROUS TIMES TO MY DEALERSHIP SINCE DAY 1. 50K MILES THEY REPLACE THE OIL PUMP AND REBUILT THE LOWER PART OF THE MOTOR. 97K MILES I HAVE P0300 CODE WHICH IS A RAPID MISFIRE. THE TRUCK IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER AND BEGAN VIBRATING. THE #4 CYLINDER HAS NO COMPRESSION. NO WARRANTY, NOT SURE WHAT'S NEXT. NOT SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2016
Dec 2015

THERE IS GRADUAL COOLANT LOSS OVER TIME WITH NO EVIDENCE OF LEAK FOUND. ON COLD START, THERE'S ALSO LIFTER OR PISTON TAPPING. WE SUSPECT DEFECTIVE CASTECH CYLINDER HEAD THAT MAY BE CRACKED. GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS DEFECT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2015
Oct 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!!!!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2015
Apr 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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2014
Jun 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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 2014
Mar 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY JERKED AS THE STABILITY LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AND SHUT OFF AND ON AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO IDLE AT A HIGH SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT SHOWED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,475. UPDATED 05/08/13*LJ UPDATED 05/23/2013 *JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2013
Mar 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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2012
Nov 2011

2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE BURNS OIL AT A RAPID RATE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, HE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO STOP THE ENGINE FROM BURNING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE RINGS OR PISTON WALLS WERE DEFECTIVE AND BELIEVED THE ENGINE SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2011
Mar 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING 40 MPH AND ABOVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS ALWAYS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED VIA EMAIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2010
Mar 2011

2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE AT LESS THAN 20,000 MILES DUE TO A BURNT BEARING ON CAM SHAFT. DEFECTIVE ENGINE REPLACED WITH NEW REPLACEMENT ENGINE WHICH ALSO SUFFERED COMPLETE FAILURE WITH LESS THAN 150 MILES. THIS SECOND FAILURE WAS IN THE COOLANT PORT DUE TO A CASTING DEFECT-EXCESSIVE FLASH IN WATER PORT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2011
Dec 2010

I HEAR A HIGH PITCHED WHINING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. VARIES WITH ENGINE RPM, VEHICLE CAN BE PARKED AND YOU'LL STILL HEAR IT. ONLY HAPPENS IN EXTREME COLD SITUATIONS, USUALLY SUB ZERO. I LIVE IN FAIRBANKS. OTHER THAN THE NOISE, VEHICLE OPERATES JUST FINE. IT CAN BE QUITE LOUD. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHILE IT'S HAPPENING. DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED CHANGING THE HEAT SETTING FROM FLOOR/DASH TO JUST FLOOR. THAT FIXES IT. APPARENTLY THIS ISN'T ENOUGH INFO FOR THEM AS THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO FIX. I WANTED THIS ON RECORD IN THE EVENT SOMETHING BROKE JUST AFTER IT WENT OUT OF WARRANTY. CURRENTLY APPROACHING 25K MILES ON THE TRUCK. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2009

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Quick Summary

The 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has 25 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.