Head-to-head reliability
Acura RL vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Acura RL and Chevrolet Silverado compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Acura RL vs Chevrolet Silverado: The RL averages 23.6 complaints per year with 58 recalls, while the Silverado averages 822.7 complaints per year with 101 recalls. Silverado owners report more engine and brake failures, while RL issues center on air bag recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Acura RL or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Acura RL
The Acura RL is a luxury sedan with a relatively low complaint volume: 236 complaints over 10 years, averaging 23.6 per year. Most owner complaints center on air bag inflator recalls, exterior lighting glare, and electrical glitches. While the annual complaint rate is low, the air bag issues are serious and often involve long waits for parts, as one owner reported being told to park the car for nine months.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup with a very high complaint volume: 8,227 complaints over 10 years, averaging 822.7 per year. Owners frequently report engine problems, transmission failures, electrical shutdowns, and brake issues. Many complaints describe sudden loss of power or braking, sometimes at low speeds, which can be dangerous.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Acura RL | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 236 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 58 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 14 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 23.6 Better | 822.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 12 Better | 160 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 3 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Acura RL
- 01AIR BAGS81
- 02EXTERIOR LIGHTING60
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM36
- 04SERVICE BRAKES16
- 05HYDRAULIC12
Owners report air bag inflator recalls that require parking the vehicle for months due to parts shortages. One complaint describes a crash where the air bags failed to deploy properly, and another mentions a class-action lawsuit over the recall handling.
Complaints focus on the high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights being blindingly bright to other drivers, especially on two-lane roads. Owners say the lights create a road hazard and retinal spots for oncoming traffic.
Owners describe random alarm triggers, key fob failures, and dashboard lights staying on after the car is off. In one case, the electrical system cycled on and off, leaving the car totally disabled and the door locks inoperable.
A complaint on a related Acura model notes a thud noise when braking, which the dealer dismissed as normal. Another owner of a 2009 RL reported the gas and brake pedals deploying simultaneously, causing an impact with a parked vehicle.
“I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN MARCH AND WAS TOLD TO PARK MY CAR. I DID FOR 9 MONTHS, FORCED TO BUY ANOTHER CAR. ACURA REFUSED TO PROVIDE A RENTAL. WE FILED A CLASS-ACTION SUIT. ACURA REQUIRED AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRBAGS/INFLATOR. I RECEIVED AN INVOICE I COUL…”
“MY WIFE WAS ENTERING A BEND IN THE ROAD AND CAME UPON A CAR STOPPED IN HER LANE, WITH NO BRAKES LIGHTS!!! SHE ATTEMPTED TO SWERVE TO THE SHOULDER BUT IT WAS TOO LATE. SHE IMPACTED THE CAR IN THE REAR, SLIGHTLY OFFSET TO THE RIGHT (PASSENGER) SIDE. THE FRONT O…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Owners of 2026 Silverado models report engine shutdowns while driving, sometimes with messages like 'Return to Neutral' and 'Press Start.' Others describe diesel particulate filter soot accumulation events requiring dealer service at low mileage.
Complaints include a vehicle suddenly going into neutral while driving slowly uphill, and a new truck with less than 300 miles losing power. These transmission issues can leave drivers stranded or unable to accelerate.
Owners report severe loss of braking effectiveness with a firm pedal, and engine shut-offs while driving that cause all screens to go blank. These electrical faults can disable critical safety systems without warning.
Complaints describe sudden loss of normal braking, where the brake pedal remains firm but the vehicle does not stop. Another owner reported the truck completely shutting off in a parking lot, requiring a restart to regain control.
“I purchased the 2026 Chevrolet Silverado with a 6.2L motor "new" from the dealer with 5700 miles on XXX. Roughly a month and 2500 miles later, my family and I were in the vehicle, 750 miles from home, returning from a vacation to [XXX] from the [XXX]/[XXX] ar…”
“My 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 with the 6.6L Duramax diesel has experienced three separate P2463 Diesel Particulate Filter excessive soot accumulation events at approximately 4,300, 5,500, and 10,280 miles. Each event required a Chevrolet dealer to perform…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Acura RL — 58 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Ridgeline vehicles nationwide. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2012 Acura RL, 2011 Honda Element and 2011-2013 Ridgeline vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mary…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. T…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are S5B…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2010-2012 Acura RL, 2010 Honda Element, and 2010-2013 Honda Ridgeline vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 16, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are…
Chevrolet Silverado — 101 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500 vehicles. These vehicles may not have received an owner's manual during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, “Child Re…
The risk: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will provide the owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 30, 2025. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252532020. Vehicle Identifi…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Chevrolet Silverado 3500, and GMC Sierra 3500 vehicles with gasoline engines and dual fuel tanks (RPOs L8T and N2N). The rear fuel pump may not transfer adequate fuel to the front tank, causing an engine stall.
The risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: The vehicle's engine control module (ECM) will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 8, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782…
The defect: General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Cou…
The risk: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-970…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and GMC Sierra 2500 vehicles equipped with the enhanced towing option and 20-inch accessory tire/wheel package. The tire information label may state the incorrect rear tire pressure, resulting in underinflated tires an…
The risk: Driving with underinflated tires can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect, update the engine control module (ECM) software, apply a tire label overlay, inflate tires to the correct pressure, and perform a tire pressure monitor system (TPMS) re-learn process as necessary, free of charge. Owne…
Buyer analysis
Acura RL or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Acura RL has far fewer complaints per year (23.6 vs. 822.7) and fewer recalls (58 vs. 101), suggesting a lower frequency of reported issues. However, the Silverado's much higher volume of complaints includes many serious safety-related failures like sudden engine shutdowns and brake loss. In practice, the RL may be less likely to leave you stranded, but its air bag recalls are a major concern.
Key differences
- The Acura RL averages 23.6 complaints per year, while the Chevrolet Silverado averages 822.7 per year, a 35-fold difference.
- Air bag inflator recalls dominate RL complaints, with owners reporting long waits and parking advisories; Silverado complaints are spread across engine, power train, electrical, and brake systems.
- Silverado owners report sudden engine shutdowns and brake loss while driving, which are immediate safety risks; RL owners more often report electrical glitches and lighting glare.
- The Silverado has 3 deaths and 160 injuries reported in crash-related complaints, compared to 0 deaths and 12 injuries for the RL, though these numbers depend on many factors.
- Check for open air bag inflator recalls and confirm the passenger and driver side inflators have been replaced; owners report being told to park the car for months due to parts shortages.
- Test all electrical functions, including door locks, alarm, and dashboard displays, for random cycling or failure to shut off, as owners report these symptoms.
- During a test drive, listen for transmission hesitation or sudden neutral engagement, especially at low speeds or uphill, as owners report this can happen without warning.
- Check for any signs of brake system faults, such as a firm pedal with reduced stopping power, and ask if the fuel pump control module recall has been addressed.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see if any open recalls exist, especially air bag inflators on the Acura RL and fuel pump or brake-related recalls on the Silverado.
- Ask for a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the specific model, focusing on the transmission and electrical system for the Silverado and the air bag and electrical systems for the RL.
- Test drive the vehicle in various conditions, including slow uphill driving and braking from different speeds, to check for the symptoms owners report.
- Request service records to see if recurring issues like diesel particulate filter soot accumulation (Silverado diesel) or electrical glitches (RL) have been addressed.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been completed and ask for documentation, as some owners report long waits for parts.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Acura RL or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Acura RL vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Acura RL total complaints
- 236
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- Acura RL total recalls
- 58
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- Acura RL avg complaints/year
- 23.6
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- Acura RL
- Acura RL top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE