YearToAvoid

2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 21 transmission & powertrain complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 3% of the 638 total complaints for the year, with a median failure mileage of 23,000. No related recall is listed for this problem area.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
21
3% of 638
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
23,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the transmission clunks or bangs when shifting, especially decelerating into the 10-20 mph range and then accelerating again.
  • Some describe the truck lurching or rolling backward briefly when moving from brake to gas pedal, particularly on inclines, before the transmission engages.
  • Others report the transmission whines, growls, or produces a runaway shifting and slipping sensation, sometimes noticed shortly after purchase.
  • Several describe the vehicle downshifting hard into passing gear on highway on-ramps, with the engine revving toward redline without the transmission finding a gear.
  • One owner reported the transmission shifted unexpectedly seconds after coming to a complete stop, causing the truck to move forward abruptly into traffic.

When 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 18, 2011, latest Dec 18, 2024.

2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month2Feb 2011Apr 2012Jul 2012Oct 2013Dec 2016Jan 2019Dec 2024
21 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2011 to Dec 2024; peak Feb 2011 (2).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Silverado 1500 model year

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

  1. 201031 (7%)
  2. 201121 (3%)
  3. 201221 (7%)
  4. 201324 (7%)
  5. 2014191 (12%)
  6. 2015147 (12%)
  7. 2016193 (24%)
  8. 2017224 (27%)
  9. 2018171 (33%)
  10. 2019326 (30%)
  11. 2020225 (31%)
  12. 2021236 (29%)
  13. 2022182 (29%)
  14. 2023106 (28%)
  15. 202494 (30%)
  16. 202520 (20%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission complaints does NHTSA have for the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
NHTSA lists 21 transmission & powertrain complaints for the 2011 Silverado 1500, which is 3% of the 638 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2011 Silverado 1500 transmission?
No related recall is listed in the data for the transmission & powertrain problem area on the 2011 Silverado 1500.
At what mileage do transmission problems typically show up on the 2011 Silverado 1500?
The median mileage at failure for transmission & powertrain complaints on the 2011 Silverado 1500 is 23,000 miles.
Did the transmission issue cause any crashes?
NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 0 fires or injuries linked to transmission & powertrain complaints for the 2011 Silverado 1500.

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.