2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Safety Review [ 2008 ]

• Overall
• Performance
• Exterior
• Interior
• Safety
• Reliability
• Specs

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Safety Review

Safety - NA

Four Wheeler magazine says the "new GM trucks are loaded with class-leading safety features," and other reviewers agree. Though side and side-curtain air bags are optional, and not available on the base Work Truck model, the Silverado does well in government crash tests.

The 2007 Silverado earned 5 out of 5 stars for driver and front passenger protection in front impact crashes in government crash tests. The Silverado also earned a 4 out of 5 star rollover rating from the government. Its performance in insurance industry crash tests, however, is mixed. In tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Silverado earned a rating of "Marginal" in frontal offset tests. Neither the government nor the IIHS has tested the Silverado in side impact crashes.

Accident Avoidance

All Silverados come standard with four-wheel disc anti-lock brakes. StabiliTrak, GM's stability control system, which monitors driver inputs and vehicle response to help the driver retain control of the truck, is standard on all Crew Cab models and an option on some Extended Cab models. StabiliTrack also reacts when it detects that the truck is out of control by applying brake pressure on individual wheels or reducing the engine's torque to get the truck back under control.

Crash Protection

The 2007 Silverado offers crash protection features that are similar to other vehicles in its class. The New York Times says that a "safety disappointment is that inflatable air curtains, which cover the side windows and are designed to provide head protection in a side-impact crash, are not available on the base ('Work Truck') models. Buyers must make a big leap to at least an LT, at which point the safety device is a $395 option." Still, the availability of side curtain air bags is noteworthy because not every truck in the class has them, even as an option. All Silverados come standard with front driver and passenger air bags, and with occupant sensing.