2008 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 has a complaint index of 55, ranking 10th out of 21 model years, with a Caution verdict. Airbags are the top problem area (45% of complaints), backed by 4 recalls, and the median failure mileage across problems was 74,629.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 55/100
- #10 of 21 Silverado 3500 years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 31
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 4
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 2
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 2
- Top issue
- Airbags
Top 2008 Chevy Silverado 3500 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags14 (45%)
- Electrical System6 (19%)
- Engine4 (13%)
- Other4 (13%)
- Fuel System2 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (6%)
- Brakes1 (3%)
- Structure & Body1 (3%)
- Visibility & Wipers1 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Passenger frontal airbags failed to deploy in a crash, in one case totaling the vehicle after a head-on collision.
- Electrical system faults triggered limp mode on the highway, in one case tied to rodent damage to wiring.
- A separate electrical failure caused the charging system warning to appear followed by smoke and an engine-bay fire at 248,000 miles.
- Fuel system issues appeared after refueling, with rough running and a sharp drop in fuel economy reported at 113,873 miles.
- Engine bay exhaust or carbon monoxide odor entered the cab, causing headaches and dizziness for occupants at low mileage.
- Tire tread separated at highway speed on Goodyear Wrangler tires, tearing off the bumper cap and damaging the fender at 125,000 miles.
2008 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 20V011000Jan 10, 2020Airbags699 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with non-desiccated, passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-866-522-9559. GM's number for this recall is N192290990.
- NHTSA 15V324000May 28, 2015Airbags330,198 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD trucks manufactured November 28, 2006, to August 29, 2008, and 2007-2008 GMC Sierra 2500HD and 3500HD trucks manufactured November 27, 2006, to August 29, 2008. The affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's numbers for this recall are 15438 and 15817.
- NHTSA 14V407000Jul 2, 2014Electrical System9,371 vehicles
Electrical system
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD 2500/3500 trucks manufactured January 18, 2007, to June 22, 2011, and GMC Sierra HD 2500/3500 trucks manufactured January 22, 2007, to June 21, 2011, and equipped with an auxiliary battery. Owners may unknowingly draw too much current through the vehicle's trailer harness resulting in the melting of fusible link for the auxiliary battery.
Risk: If the fusible link melts it may come into contact with adjacent components, damage the electrical center cover, the nearby wiring harness conduit and other vehicle components, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners and dealers will replace the jumper harness with one that includes a 40 amp inline fuse, and provide the owner with supplemental Owner Manual information, free of charge. The recall began on August 29, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 14260.
2008 compared with other Silverado 3500 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2008 Silverado 3500 a complaint index of 55, ranking it 10th of 21 model years, with a Caution verdict relative to other Silverado 3500 years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2008 Silverado 3500?
- Airbags are the top problem area, making up 45% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 66,558.
- Does the 2008 Silverado 3500 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2008 Silverado 3500, two covering airbag inflators and two covering electrical system issues, none marked do-not-drive.
- Is the 2008 Silverado 3500 worse than other Silverado 3500 years?
- It ranks 10th of 21 years with a complaint index of 55, worse than years like 2014 (index 5, Best) but better than 2006 and 2016, both rated Avoid.