Head-to-head reliability
Acura TLX vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Acura TLX 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 TLX vs Chevrolet Silverado: The TLX averages 54.6 complaints per year with 33 recalls, while the Silverado averages 822.7 complaints per year with 101 recalls. Silverado owners report more engine shutdowns and brake loss; TLX owners report misfires and electrical glitches. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Acura TLX or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Acura TLX
The Acura TLX is a luxury sedan with a relatively low complaint volume: 546 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 55 per year. Owners report engine misfires and sudden power loss, transmission fluid leaks, and electrical glitches like blank instrument clusters. With 33 recalls and 24 crash-related complaints, it's not trouble-free, but the issues are less frequent than the Silverado's.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint rate: 8,227 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 823 per year. Owners describe serious engine and transmission failures, brake problems, and electrical shutdowns that can cause loss of power or braking. With 101 recalls and 3 deaths reported, the volume and severity of issues are greater.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Acura TLX | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 546 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 33 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 24 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 54.6 Better | 822.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 16 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 TLX
- 01ENGINE140
- 02POWER TRAIN103
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM94
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER75
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM61
Owners report sudden loss of acceleration in humid or rainy conditions, often with a flashing check engine light, and some hear loud knocking before power drops. These can leave you stranded or unable to accelerate safely.
Complaints include transmission or transfer case fluid leaks and dashboard warnings that disable drive modes. A leak can lead to transmission damage if not caught early.
The digital instrument cluster can go completely black while driving, and adaptive damper errors appear due to wiring issues. A blank cluster means you lose speed and warning displays.
There are 61 complaints about fuel system issues, though specific symptoms aren't detailed in the sample. Recalls include fuel tank assembly, so buyers should check for open recalls.
“While driving in humid, rainy conditions for over five hours, I experienced a sudden and dangerous loss of acceleration. Moisture appears to have built up, resulting in a misfire and a flashing MIL/Check Engine light. This occurred while I was overtaking anot…”
“- The engine system failed and it is available for inspection -While driving on the highway at normal traffic speed, my vehicle suddenly developed a loud knocking noise and the check engine light lit up. Within moments, the engine lost power and became inoper…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Owners of newer Silverados report engine shutdowns while driving, requiring a restart, and diesel models face repeated excessive soot accumulation in the particulate filter. An engine that quits in traffic is a serious safety risk.
Complaints describe the truck suddenly shifting into neutral and losing power, even at low speeds. This can happen in parking lots or on the road, leaving you unable to move.
Reports include sudden loss of normal braking with a firm pedal, and engines shutting off with messages like 'Return to Neutral'. These electrical faults can disable critical safety systems.
Owners describe brake pedal firmness but reduced stopping power, and some say the truck shut off entirely during braking attempts. Brake failure is among the most dangerous defects.
“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 TLX — 33 recalls
The defect: Acura (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021-2023 TLX vehicles. The fuel filler neck and fuel tank may have been improperly welded, which can result in a fuel leak.
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel tank assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is JKX.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Acura TLX, 2023-2025 Acura MDX, and 2023-2025 Honda Pilot vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin was not secured properly, which can cause the pedal to shift out of position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehic…
The risk: A brake pedal that shifts out of position can prevent the driver from applying the brakes as intended, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake pedal assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall ar…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022…
The risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH,…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Acura TLX, 2023-2025 Acura MDX, and 2023-2025 Honda Pilot vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin was not secured properly, which can cause the pedal to shift out of position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehic…
The risk: A brake pedal that shifts out of position can prevent the driver from applying the brakes as intended, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake pedal assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall ar…
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 TLX or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Acura TLX has far fewer complaints per year (about 55 vs. 823 for the Silverado) and fewer recalls (33 vs. 101). In practice, the TLX owner is less likely to face frequent repair visits, while the Silverado's higher rate of engine, transmission, and brake complaints means a higher chance of serious, safety-related breakdowns.
Key differences
- The Silverado has about 15 times more complaints per year than the TLX, with engine and power train issues dominating both.
- Silverado owners report sudden engine shutdowns and brake loss, while TLX owners more often report misfires, fluid leaks, and electrical glitches.
- The Silverado has 101 recalls versus 33 for the TLX, including fuel pump and forward collision warning defects.
- The TLX's electrical complaints center on blank instrument clusters; the Silverado's include braking and engine shutdown, which are more immediately dangerous.
- Check for transmission or transfer case fluid leaks, especially around the mating area—owners report visible fluid running down the drivetrain.
- Test the digital instrument cluster for any flickering or blanking, and scan for adaptive damper error codes, as wiring issues are reported.
- Ask about any history of engine shutdowns or 'Return to Neutral' messages, and test drive at low speeds to feel for sudden neutral engagement.
- Inspect brake function carefully; owners report a firm pedal with reduced stopping power, so have a mechanic check the brake system.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to see all open recalls for the specific vehicle and confirm they were fixed.
- For the TLX, test drive in humid or rainy conditions if possible and listen for engine knocking or misfire symptoms.
- For the Silverado, test drive at parking-lot speeds and on hills to check for sudden neutral shifts or engine stalling.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the model, focusing on transmission leaks (TLX) and brake/electrical systems (Silverado).
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially any transmission fluid changes or engine repairs.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Acura TLX | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 157 |
| 2024 | 5 | 527 |
| 2023 | 11 | 450 |
| 2022 | 26 | 1390 |
| 2021 | 70 | 961 |
| 2020 | 63 | 868 |
| 2019 | 92 | 2003 |
| 2018 | 94 | 597 |
| 2017 | 71 | 1154 |
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 TLX or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Acura TLX vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Acura TLX total complaints
- 546
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- Acura TLX total recalls
- 33
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- Acura TLX avg complaints/year
- 54.6
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- Acura TLX
- Acura TLX top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE