2011 Chevy Silverado 1500 MPG
The 2011 Chevy Silverado 1500 gets 12–15 mpg in the city and 18–22 on the highway (14–18 combined), across the 9 gasoline versions the EPA rated.
The most efficient pairs the 5.3-liter 8-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive, at 18 mpg combined. The thirstiest version uses the 6.2-liter 8-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive and is rated 14 mpg combined. The EPA also rated a hybrid version, the best at 21 mpg combined. That matches the best gasoline version of the 2010 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 | 20 | 23 | 21 | Regular · 423 g CO₂/mi |
| Silverado 15 Hybrid 4WD | 6.0 L 8-cyl hybrid | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4-Wheel Drive | 20 | 23 | 21 | Regular · 423 g CO₂/mi |
| Silverado C15 XFE 2WD | 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 22 | 18 | Gasoline or E85 · 494 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 2WD | 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 21 | 17 | Gasoline or E85 · 523 g CO₂/mi |
| Silverado K15 4WD | 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 15 | 21 | 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 | Gasoline or E85 · 555 g CO₂/mi |
| Silverado K15 4WD | 4.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 14 | 18 | 16 | Regular · 555 g CO₂/mi |
| Silverado K15 4WD | 4.8 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 13 | 18 | 15 | Gasoline or E85 · 592 g CO₂/mi |
| Silverado C15 2WD | 6.2 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 12 | 18 | 14 | Gasoline or E85 · 635 g CO₂/mi |
| Silverado K15 4WD | 6.2 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 12 | 18 | 14 | Gasoline or E85 · 635 g CO₂/mi |
2011 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 2011 Chevy Silverado 1500 costs about $3,630 a year to fuel in its most efficient form (18 mpg combined), or roughly 24 cents a mile.
The thirstiest priced version (14 mpg combined) comes to about $4,670 a year, $1,040 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.
2011 Chevy Silverado 1500 specs
2011 Chevy Silverado 1500 buyers could choose between 5 engines, according to EPA records: 5.3 L 8-cyl, 4.3 L 6-cyl, 4.8 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 four-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 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive; 4-Wheel Drive | 3 |
| 4.3 L | 6 | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive; 4-Wheel Drive | 2 |
| 4.8 L | 8 | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive; 4-Wheel Drive | 2 |
| 6.0 L hybrid | 8 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Rear-Wheel Drive; 4-Wheel Drive | 2 |
| 6.2 L | 8 | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive; 4-Wheel Drive | 2 |
2011 Chevy Silverado 1500 problems
Owners have filed 563 complaints about the 2011 Chevy Silverado 1500 with NHTSA, the U.S. vehicle-safety agency, as of October 2026.
Air bags are the most-reported area (44% of component mentions), followed by structure (10%) and engine (6%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 35 complaints a year: more than the 2010 (21 a year) and the 2012 (14 a year).
That ranks 13th of 17 Chevy Silverado 1500 model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 563, 22 mention a crash, 4 a fire and 6 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 307 | 44% |
| Unknown or other | 115 | 16% |
| Structure | 72 | 10% |
| Engine | 40 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 26 | 4% |
| Suspension | 19 | 3% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 18 | 3% |
| Power train | 17 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 13 | 2% |
| Vehicle speed control | 11 | 2% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 10 | 1% |
| Seat belts | 8 | 1% |
| Steering | 8 | 1% |
| Exterior lighting | 7 | 1% |
| Visibility | 4 | <1% |
| Wheels | 4 | <1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | <1% |
| Hydraulic service brakes | 3 | <1% |
| Tires | 3 | <1% |
| Traction control system | 3 | <1% |
| Back over prevention | 1 | <1% |
| Gasoline fuel system | 1 | <1% |
| Lane departure | 1 | <1% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | <1% |
| Seats | 1 | <1% |
| Air service brakes | 1 | <1% |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, unoccupied, and turned off, the front passenger's side air bag deployed. Prior to the failure, the air bag warning light had intermittently illuminated. …
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that there was rust on the frame of the vehicle. …
AFM/DOD lifter failed while driving which causes multiple systems to go offline including Traction Control, stability control, ABS just to name a few. …
2011 Chevy Silverado 1500 recalls
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2011 Chevy Silverado 1500.
The most recent, campaign 21V050000 from February 2021, concerns air bags.
Air bags account for 2 of the 4 campaigns, more than any other area.
11V007000 · January 6, 2011 · Suspension
Problem: THE REAR AXLE CROSS PINS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND COULD FRACTURE AND BECOME DISPLACED WITHIN THE REAR AXLE. SHOULD THE PIN SHIFT OUT OF POSITION, IT COULD CREATE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION AND CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO LOCK.
Risk: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REAR AXLE CROSS PIN FREE OF CHARGE.
10V643000 · December 17, 2010 · Suspension
Problem: THE REAR AXLE CROSS PINS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND COULD FRACTURE AND BECOME DISPLACED WITHIN THE REAR AXLE. SHOULD THE PIN SHIFT OUT OF POSITION, IT COULD CREATE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION AND CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO LOCK.
Risk: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REAR AXLE CROSS PIN FREE OF CHARGE.
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Silverado 1500 years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21V050000 | February 5, 2021 | Air bags | 2008–2011 |
| 21V054000 | February 5, 2021 | Air bags | 2010–2013 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 8 versions of the 2011 Chevy Silverado 1500; the best overall score is 4 out of 5 stars.
| Version tested | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PU/CC RWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| PU/EC RWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| PU/RC RWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Hybrid PU/CC RWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| PU/CC 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| PU/EC 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| PU/RC 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Hybrid PU/CC 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
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 2011 models in the EPA's standard pickup trucks class, the 2011 Ford F-150 (19 mpg) and 2011 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 |
| 2013 | 21 | 301 | 21 | 2 |
| 2014 | 20 | 1,436 | 110 | 6 |
Every Chevy Silverado 1500 model year compared →
Similar 2011 models
FAQ
Is the 2011 Silverado 1500 a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2011 Chevy Silverado 1500 has 35 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (13th most of 17 model years), 4 recall campaigns, a best overall crash rating of 4 stars and up to 21 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2011 Silverado 1500 problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are air bags (307), structure (72) and engine (40). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2011 Silverado 1500 have?
NHTSA lists 4 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 2011 Silverado 1500 get?
The EPA rates the gasoline versions at 14–18 mpg combined (12–15 city, 18–22 highway). The hybrid versions reach up to 21 mpg combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2011 Silverado 1500 per year?
About $3,630 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).