2009 Chevy Silverado 1500 MPG
Across its 17 EPA-rated gasoline versions, the 2009 Chevy Silverado 1500 returns 12–15 mpg city, 18–21 highway and 14–17 combined.
The most efficient pairs the 4.3-liter 6-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive, at 17 mpg combined. At the other end, the 6.2-liter 8-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and all-wheel drive manages 14 mpg combined, 3 mpg less. The EPA also rated a hybrid version, the best at 21 mpg combined. That matches the best gasoline version of the 2008 model.
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silverado 15 Hybrid 2WD | 6.0 L 8-cyl hybrid | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 21 | 22 | 21 | Regular · 423 g CO₂/mi |
| Silverado 15 Hybrid 4WD | 6.0 L 8-cyl hybrid | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 20 | 20 | 20 | Regular · 444 g CO₂/mi |
| Silverado C15 2WD | 4.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 20 | 17 | Regular · 523 g CO₂/mi |
| Silverado C15 XFE 2WD | 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 21 | 17 | Gasoline or E85 · 523 g CO₂/mi |
| Silverado C15 2WD | 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 20 | 16 | Regular · 555 g CO₂/mi |
| Silverado C15 2WD | 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 20 | 16 | Regular · 555 g CO₂/mi |
| Silverado C15 2WD | 6.0 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-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 | Regular · 555 g CO₂/mi |
| Silverado K15 4WD | 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 | 20 | 16 | Regular · 555 g CO₂/mi |
| Silverado C15 2WD | 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 20 | 16 | Gasoline or E85 · 555 g CO₂/mi |
| Silverado C15 2WD | 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 20 | 16 | Gasoline or E85 · 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 K15 4WD | 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 | 20 | 16 | Gasoline or E85 · 555 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 | 6.0 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 13 | 18 | 15 | Regular · 592 g CO₂/mi |
| Silverado C15 2WD | 6.2 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 | 19 | 15 | Gasoline or E85 · 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 | 4.8 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 | 18 | 15 | Regular · 592 g CO₂/mi |
| Silverado K15 4WD | 6.2 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 12 | 19 | 14 | Gasoline or E85 · 635 g CO₂/mi |
2009 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 2009 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.
2009 Chevy Silverado 1500 specs
The EPA lists 6 engine choices for the 2009 Chevy Silverado 1500: 5.3 L 8-cyl, 4.3 L 6-cyl, 4.8 L 8-cyl, 6.0 L 8-cyl, 6.0 L 8-cyl hybrid and 6.2 L 8-cyl. It came with continuously variable (CVT) and automatic transmissions, in all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive versions. For fuel-economy purposes it sits in the EPA's "Standard Pickup Trucks" class.
| Engine size (L) | Cylinders | Transmissions | Drive | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3 L | 8 | Automatic 6-spd; Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive; 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 9 |
| 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 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive; 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 2 |
| 6.0 L hybrid | 8 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Rear-Wheel Drive; 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 2 |
| 6.2 L | 8 | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive; 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 2 |
2009 Chevy Silverado 1500 problems
As of October 2026, NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) holds 444 owner complaints about the 2009 Chevy Silverado 1500.
Air bags are the most-reported area (42% of component mentions), followed by structure (10%) and electrical system (8%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 25 complaints a year: fewer than the 2008 (48 a year) and more than the 2010 (21 a year).
That ranks 14th of 17 Chevy Silverado 1500 model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 444, 9 mention a crash, 6 a fire and 3 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 230 | 42% |
| Unknown or other | 56 | 10% |
| Structure | 55 | 10% |
| Electrical system | 43 | 8% |
| Engine | 36 | 7% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 13 | 2% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 12 | 2% |
| Power train | 12 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 11 | 2% |
| Vehicle speed control | 11 | 2% |
| Exterior lighting | 10 | 2% |
| Seat belts | 10 | 2% |
| Steering | 9 | 2% |
| Suspension | 8 | 1% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 6 | 1% |
| Hydraulic service brakes | 6 | 1% |
| Tires | 6 | 1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | <1% |
| Wheels | 5 | <1% |
| Gasoline fuel system | 3 | <1% |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | <1% |
| Equipment adaptive/mobility | 1 | <1% |
| Seats | 1 | <1% |
| Traction control system | 1 | <1% |
| Visibility | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V052000 (Air Bags) while having an inspection completed. …
Driver and passenger side extended cab doors metal is cracking horizontally near the front edge of the doors.
The TCM failed in rush hour traffic! In Minneapolis Minnesota, the stability control light came on, traction control light came on, no throttle, no power. …
2009 Chevy Silverado 1500 recalls
The 2009 Chevy Silverado 1500 has been the subject of 3 recall campaigns.
The most recent, campaign 21V050000 from February 2021, concerns air bags.
All 3 campaigns concern air bags.
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Silverado 1500 years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21V050000 | February 5, 2021 | Air bags | 2008–2011 |
| 21V053000 | February 5, 2021 | Air bags | 2009–2010, 2013 |
| 21V052000 | February 5, 2021 | Air bags | 2008–2009 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 7 versions of the 2009 Chevy Silverado 1500, without an overall score.
These ratings use NHTSA's pre-2011 test method, so they can't be compared with stars for 2011 and later models.
| Version tested | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Cab with side air bags | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | ★★★★☆ |
| Extended Cab | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | ★★★★☆ |
| Extended Cab with side air bags | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | ★★★★☆ |
| 4-door with side air bags | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | ★★★★☆ |
| 4-door | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | ★★★★☆ |
| 4-door Hybrid with side air bags | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | ★★★★☆ |
| Regular Cab | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | ★★★★☆ |
Crash-test photos: NHTSA (public domain). NHTSA can reuse a test for later model years of the same design.
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 2009 models in the EPA's standard pickup trucks class, the 2009 Ford F-150 (17 mpg) and 2009 Ram 1500 (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 |
| 2012 | 21 | 216 | 14 | 2 |
Every Chevy Silverado 1500 model year compared →
Similar 2009 models
FAQ
Is the 2009 Silverado 1500 a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2009 Chevy Silverado 1500 has 25 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (14th most of 17 model years), 3 recall campaigns and up to 21 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2009 Silverado 1500 problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are air bags (230), structure (55) and electrical system (43). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2009 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 2009 Silverado 1500 get?
The EPA rates the gasoline versions at 14–17 mpg combined (12–15 city, 18–21 highway). The hybrid versions reach up to 21 mpg combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2009 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).