The Lemon IndexAll cars · Chevrolet Silverado
2008 Chevrolet Silverado.
The 2008 Chevrolet Silverado is one of the most reliable years by owner complaints: 150 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 31, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 7 recalls, and it gets 14 to 17 mpg combined. The best Chevrolet Silverado year is 2012.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 1,298 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Chevrolet Silverado year. 2008 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 37K to 110K miles on the car (656 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- airbags complaints mostly came at 50K–121K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 35K–95K miles
- body structure complaints mostly came at 48K–108K miles
Recalls 7
- airbags 2021
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- airbags 2021
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- airbags 2020
These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Show all 7 recalls
- airbags 2015
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.
- electrical 2014
Owners may unknowingly draw too much current through the vehicle's trailer harness resulting in the melting of fusible link for the auxiliary battery.
- equipment 2009
THIS DEFECT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
- equipment adaptive/mobility 2009
QUALITY VANS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2008 VANS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN AUGUST 2005 AND NOVEMBER 2007, EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Chevy told dealers about
Chevy sent dealers 1637 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Various electrical concerns - intermittently functioning or inoperative component, ip warning…
- Cruise control inoperative - keywords abs b3894 brake cylinder ebcm inop master module…
- U0106 loss of communication with glow plug control module
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
- ClosedNon-crash engine compartment fires2008
- ClosedNon-crash engine compartment fires2008
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front — · side — · rollover —
Fuel cost and engines
About $3800–4600 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 4.3L 6-cyl, 4.8L 8-cyl, 5.3L 8-cyl, 6.0L 8-cyl.
In owners' words
Intermittently, and now more frequent 1, 2 or all gauges go haywire, reading other than normal, and digital readout goes out. Truck still works ok, but no accurate reading on gauges.
2008 Chevrolet Silverado owner · NHTSA complaint 10427124
More owner reports
Drivers door lock stopped working unexpectedly. The remote lock/unlock and power lock/unlock no longer work.
NHTSA complaint 10389779
Power door locks failed, someone can open the door when the truck is being driven and fall out of the truck, the locks are suppose to engage when the truck is put into drive.
NHTSA complaint 10416089
Quick answers
Is the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado reliable?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew 3.2× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 31; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Chevrolet Silverado year by this measure is 2012.
What are the most common 2008 Chevrolet Silverado problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (26%), doors, locks & latches (19%) and brakes (13%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado have?
7 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado get?
14 to 17 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2008 Chevrolet Silverado problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 37,000 and 110,000 miles. The middle report was at 66,000 miles, from 656 complaints.
Does the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 8% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado cost in fuel a year?
About $3800 to $4600 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado have?
4.3L 6-cyl, 4.8L 8-cyl, 5.3L 8-cyl, 6.0L 8-cyl.
What Chevrolet Silverado year is better than the 2008?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2012, 2010 and 2011.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works