YearToAvoid

2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 64 engine complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, about 10% of all complaints that year, with a median failure mileage of 82,750. No related recall is listed for this engine issue.

Engine complaints
64
10% of 638
Crashes reported
5
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
10
Median mileage
82,750 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report unintended acceleration at low speeds, with the vehicle surging forward even when the brake is applied.
  • Several drivers describe the throttle sticking or the engine RPMs jumping abnormally (2000 or more) without input from the accelerator pedal.
  • Some report cruise control failing to hold set speed on downhill grades, with the truck gaining significant speed before manual braking.
  • Owners describe hesitation or delayed response when accelerating, followed by a sudden jerk forward once the pedal is fully depressed.
  • One case describes a vehicle fire following a frontal collision, and a separate case describes overheating electrical components tied to a stuck relay circuit.

When 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 engine complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 2, 2011, latest Jul 13, 2026.

2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter52011 Q12012 Q32015 Q22016 Q42018 Q42020 Q22022 Q42026 Q2
64 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2021 Q1 (5).

Engine recalls for the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Silverado 1500 model year

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

  1. 200577 (9%)
  2. 200638 (7%)
  3. 2007108 (10%)
  4. 200882 (8%)
  5. 200968 (13%)
  6. 201059 (14%)
  7. 201164 (10%)
  8. 201236 (13%)
  9. 201350 (14%)
  10. 2014239 (15%)
  11. 2015169 (14%)
  12. 201683 (10%)
  13. 2017151 (18%)
  14. 2018127 (24%)
  15. 2019417 (39%)
  16. 2020281 (38%)
  17. 2021433 (52%)
  18. 2022277 (44%)
  19. 2023185 (48%)
  20. 2024176 (57%)
  21. 202555 (55%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have?
NHTSA lists 64 engine complaints for the 2011 Silverado 1500, which is about 10% of the 638 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2011 Silverado 1500 engine problems?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this engine complaint category.
At what mileage do engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for engine-related complaints on this model year is 82,750 miles.
Did the engine problems cause any crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data tied to this problem area for the 2011 Silverado 1500 lists 5 crashes, 2 fires, and 10 injuries.
What kind of engine issues do owners describe most often?
Owners most often describe unintended acceleration, throttle sticking, cruise control failing to hold speed downhill, and hesitation followed by sudden jerking during acceleration.

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.