YearToAvoid

2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 47 brake complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, about 7% of its 638 total complaints for the year. Owners reported brake failure to stop, pulsation, rotor shake, and rear drum brake noise, at a median mileage of 75,300. No related recalls are listed for this issue.

Brakes complaints
47
7% of 638
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
75,300 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Some owners report the brake pedal stayed firm but the truck failed to stop in time, forcing evasive steering to avoid a collision.
  • Others describe pressing the brake pedal with maximum force at highway speed and having the vehicle fail to slow down immediately, sometimes repeating the failure multiple times.
  • Several complaints describe violent shaking or pulsation in the steering wheel and front end when braking, traced by dealers to rotors that were out of round.
  • Rear drum brakes are described as squeaking or chattering, with dealers finding excessive brake dust or wheel cylinders leaking and contaminating the shoes.
  • One owner reported the anti-lock brakes activating on their own above 20 mph and decelerating the truck without driver input.
  • A brake fluid leak at the left front, tied to line corrosion, was linked to a reported failure to stop at 55-60 mph that resulted in a crash.

When 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 brake complaints were filed

First complaint May 3, 2011, latest Feb 14, 2023.

2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 brakes complaints: complaints filed per month3May 2011Mar 2013Dec 2014Feb 2016Mar 2018Jun 2019Apr 2020Oct 2022
47 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2011 to Feb 2023; peak Sep 2015 (3).

Brakes recalls for the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Brakes complaints by Silverado 1500 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201034 (8%)
  2. 201147 (7%)
  3. 201227 (10%)
  4. 20139 (2%)
  5. 2014447 (29%)
  6. 2015400 (34%)
  7. 2016280 (35%)
  8. 2017226 (27%)
  9. 2018111 (21%)
  10. 2019210 (19%)
  11. 2020119 (16%)
  12. 202146 (6%)
  13. 202259 (9%)
  14. 202325 (7%)
  15. 202411 (4%)
  16. 20255 (5%)

Frequently asked questions

How many brake complaints does NHTSA have for the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
NHTSA lists 47 brake complaints for the 2011 Silverado 1500, which is about 7% of the 638 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a brake recall for the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
No related recalls are listed in the data for the brake complaints on this model year.
At what mileage do brake problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for brake complaints on the 2011 Silverado 1500 is 75,300 miles.
Did the 2011 Silverado's brake issues cause any crashes?
NHTSA data shows 3 crashes and 0 injuries or fires linked to brake complaints on the 2011 Silverado 1500.
How does the 2011 Silverado compare to other years for brake complaints?
The 2011 model's 47 brake complaints (7% share) are lower than 2014-2017, which saw shares between 27% and 35%, making 2011 relatively less affected for this issue.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.