2008 Chevy Silverado 1500 MPG
EPA ratings for the 2008 Chevy Silverado 1500 run from 13–15 mpg in town to 17–20 on the highway, or 14–17 combined, depending on which of its 10 versions you look at.
The most efficient pairs the 4.3-liter 6-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive, at 17 mpg combined. The thirstiest version uses the 6.0-liter 8-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and all-wheel drive and is rated 14 mpg combined.
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silverado C15 2WD | 4.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 20 | 17 | Regular · 523 g CO₂/mi |
| Silverado C15 2WD | 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 20 | 17 | Regular · 523 g CO₂/mi |
| Silverado C15 2WD | 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 20 | 17 | Gasoline or E85 · 523 g CO₂/mi |
| Silverado C15 2WD | 4.8 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 16 | Regular · 555 g CO₂/mi |
| Silverado K15 4WD | 4.8 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 | 18 | 16 | Regular · 555 g CO₂/mi |
| Silverado K15 4WD | 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 16 | Regular · 555 g CO₂/mi |
| Silverado K15 4WD | 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 16 | Gasoline or E85 · 555 g CO₂/mi |
| Silverado C15 2WD | 6.0 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 | 18 | 15 | Regular · 592 g CO₂/mi |
| Silverado K15 4WD | 4.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 | 18 | 15 | Regular · 592 g CO₂/mi |
| Silverado K15 4WD | 6.0 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 13 | 17 | 14 | Regular · 635 g CO₂/mi |
2008 Chevy Silverado 1500 fuel cost per year
Driving 15,000 miles a year on regular gasoline at the September 2026 U.S. average of $4.36 a gallon, the 2008 Chevy Silverado 1500 costs about $3,840 a year to fuel in its most efficient form (17 mpg combined), or roughly 26 cents a mile.
The thirstiest priced version (14 mpg combined) comes to about $4,670 a year, $820 more.
This is an estimate from EPA combined mpg and the EIA national average price; your cost depends on how and where you drive and on local prices.
2008 Chevy Silverado 1500 specs
2008 Chevy Silverado 1500 buyers could choose between 4 engines, according to EPA records: 5.3 L 8-cyl, 4.3 L 6-cyl, 4.8 L 8-cyl and 6.0 L 8-cyl. It came with an automatic transmission, in all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive versions. The EPA classes it as a standard pickup truck.
| Engine size (L) | Cylinders | Transmissions | Drive | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3 L | 8 | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive; 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 4 |
| 4.3 L | 6 | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive; 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 2 |
| 4.8 L | 8 | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive; 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 2 |
| 6.0 L | 8 | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive; 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 2 |
2008 Chevy Silverado 1500 problems
Owners have filed 914 complaints about the 2008 Chevy Silverado 1500 with NHTSA, the U.S. vehicle-safety agency, as of October 2026.
Air bags are the most-reported area (54% of component mentions), followed by electrical system (8%) and structure (5%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 48 complaints a year: more than the 2009 (25 a year).
That ranks 12th of 17 Chevy Silverado 1500 model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 914, 33 mention a crash, 9 a fire and 38 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 594 | 54% |
| Electrical system | 91 | 8% |
| Unknown or other | 86 | 8% |
| Structure | 60 | 5% |
| Engine | 44 | 4% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 37 | 3% |
| Power train | 25 | 2% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 19 | 2% |
| Suspension | 18 | 2% |
| Hydraulic service brakes | 14 | 1% |
| Service brakes | 13 | 1% |
| Vehicle speed control | 12 | 1% |
| Seat belts | 11 | 1% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 10 | <1% |
| Steering | 9 | <1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | <1% |
| Visibility | 7 | <1% |
| Wheels | 7 | <1% |
| Exterior lighting | 6 | <1% |
| Equipment | 5 | <1% |
| Gasoline fuel system | 5 | <1% |
| Tires | 5 | <1% |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | <1% |
| Back over prevention | 1 | <1% |
| Equipment adaptive/mobility | 1 | <1% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | <1% |
| Parking brake | 1 | <1% |
| Seats | 1 | <1% |
| Electric service brakes | 1 | <1% |
| Traction control system | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
The truck was parked in the driveway not running. My husband took his lunch box out of the front seat,closed the door and the airbag deployed. …
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed white smoke coming from the exhaust with several unknown warning lights illuminated. …
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that shortly after purchasing the vehicle, the contact discovered that the driver’s side of the vehicle was lowered and was leaning to the side. …
2008 Chevy Silverado 1500 recalls
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2008 Chevy Silverado 1500.
The most recent, campaign 21V050000 from February 2021, concerns air bags.
Air bags account for 2 of the 3 campaigns, more than any other area.
09V325000 · August 3, 2009 · Equipment adaptive/mobility
Problem: THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, "PLATFORM LIFT INSTALLATIONS IN MOTOR VEHICLES." THE THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEM MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER IN A CERTAIN SPOT WITHIN THE DEFINED THRESHOLD AREA.
Risk: THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE UNINTENTIONALLY.
Remedy: QUALITY VANS IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E095).
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Silverado 1500 years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21V050000 | February 5, 2021 | Air bags | 2008–2011 |
| 21V052000 | February 5, 2021 | Air bags | 2008–2009 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA has not published 5-star crash ratings for the 2008 Chevy Silverado 1500.
Compared with other years
Complaints per year on sale divide each model year's NHTSA complaints by the years since it went on sale, so older and newer Chevy Silverado 1500s can be compared fairly. Among other 2008 models in the EPA's standard pickup trucks class, the 2008 Ram 1500 (17 mpg) and 2008 Ford F-150 (16 mpg) come closest on combined fuel economy.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 17 | 914 | 48 | 3 |
| 2009 | 21 | 444 | 25 | 3 |
| 2010 | 22 | 363 | 21 | 3 |
| 2011 | 21 | 563 | 35 | 4 |
Every Chevy Silverado 1500 model year compared →
Similar 2008 models
FAQ
Is the 2008 Silverado 1500 a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2008 Chevy Silverado 1500 has 48 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (12th most of 17 model years), 3 recall campaigns and up to 17 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2008 Silverado 1500 problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are air bags (594), electrical system (91) and structure (60). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2008 Silverado 1500 have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns. To see whether a recall is still open on a specific car, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2008 Silverado 1500 get?
The EPA rates the versions at 14–17 mpg combined (13–15 city, 17–20 highway).
How much does it cost to fuel a 2008 Silverado 1500 per year?
About $3,840 a year for 15,000 miles in its most efficient form, up to about $4,670 for the thirstiest version, using EPA mpg and the September 2026 U.S. average regular gasoline price of $4.36 a gallon (EIA).