Head-to-head reliability
Aston Martin DBS vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Aston Martin DBS 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
Aston Martin DBS vs Chevrolet Silverado: The DBS has 0 complaints and 18 recalls over 10 years, while the Silverado has 8,227 complaints, 101 recalls, and 233 crash-related reports. The Silverado's higher volume and reported engine, transmission, and brake failures make it a higher-risk used buy. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Aston Martin DBS or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Aston Martin DBS
The Aston Martin DBS is a low-volume exotic car, so it has no owner complaints on file over the past decade. That silence does not mean it is trouble-free; it means very few are on the road and owners may not report issues to NHTSA. Instead, it has 18 recalls covering latches, transmission control, seat heaters, and accelerator pedals. For a buyer, the main reliability story is about recall fixes and expensive specialist maintenance, not a stream of reported breakdowns.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a high-volume full-size truck with 8,227 complaints over 10 years, about 823 per year. Owners report serious issues like engine shutdowns, transmission failures, and brake problems, and the data includes 233 crash-related complaints, 160 injuries, and 3 deaths. Recalls are also frequent, with 101 over the same period. This is a truck with many reported problems, though the sheer number sold means some issues are more common simply because there are so many on the road.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Aston Martin DBS | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 18 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 Better | 822.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Aston Martin DBS
No component data available.
Recalls exist for latch and lock problems, which could mean doors or latches may not secure properly. A buyer should confirm all recall work was done, as a faulty latch could affect safety.
A recall covers the transmission control module, which can affect shifting or cause the car to behave unexpectedly. This is a known electronic weak point that should be checked for completed recall service.
The seat heater or cooler has been recalled, meaning it could overheat or fail. While not a driving issue, it is a comfort and fire-risk concern that a buyer should verify has been fixed.
A recall on the accelerator pedal suggests a risk of unintended acceleration or poor pedal response. This is a critical safety item, so any used DBS should have this recall closed.
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Owners report engine problems like excessive soot buildup in the diesel particulate filter on the 6.6L Duramax, requiring dealer service. There are also reports of the engine shutting off while driving, which can be very dangerous.
Complaints include the transmission suddenly going into neutral and the engine shutting off, leaving the driver unable to accelerate. These failures can happen at low speeds or in traffic, increasing crash risk.
Owners describe sudden loss of normal braking, with a firm pedal but poor stopping power, as well as screens going blank and the truck shutting off. These electrical glitches can disable critical safety features.
Reports of severe braking loss, where the pedal feels firm but the truck does not stop normally, are especially alarming. This pattern suggests a brake system defect that could lead to a crash.
“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.
Aston Martin DBS — 18 recalls
The defect: Aston Martin Lagonda of North America (Aston Martin) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 DB9, 2010-2012 DBS, 2010-2016 V8 Vantage, 2012 Virage, 2010-2016 Rapide, 2014-2016 Vanquish, 2011-2016 V12 Vantage, and 2012-2013 V12 Zagato vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with interior door…
The risk: If the doors cannot be opened by an occupant from inside the vehicle, they may be trapped inside, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will disable the double locking feature by reprogramming the software, free of charge. The recall began August 10, 2016. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service at 1-888-923-9988. Aston…
The defect: Aston Martin The Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2009-2016 DB9, 2009-2012 DBS, 2010-2015 Rapide, 2012 Virage, and 2014 Vanquish vehicles equipped with a 6-Speed Touchtronic II Automatic Transmission. A communication error between the Engine Control Module (ECM) and the Transmission Con…
The risk: If the park pawl does not engage and the vehicle is stopped on a slope and exited without the parking brake being applied, the vehicle may unexpectedly roll, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will update the TCM software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 1, 2018. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service at 1-888-923-9988. Aston Martin's number for this…
The defect: Aston Martin Lagonda of North America (Aston Martin) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 DB9, V12 Vantage, V8 Vantage, DBS, and Virage vehicles manufactured July 3, 2006, to November 5, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the electronic control module for the driver and front passenger seat heate…
The risk: If the electronic control module fails, the seat heater could get hot enough that areas of the seat may overheat and smolder, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.
The fix: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional module to the circuit that can interrupt the power to the seat heaters in case the electronic control module for the seat heaters fails, free of charge. The recall beg…
The defect: Aston Martin Lagonda of North America (Aston Martin) is recalling certain model year 2008-2014 DB9 and V8 Vantage, 2009-2012 DBS, 2010-2012 Rapide, 2014 Rapide S, 2011-2012 V12 Vantage, 2011-2014 V8 Vantage S and 2012 Virage vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the accelerator pedal arm may brea…
The risk: If the accelerator pedal arm breaks, the engine will return to idle and the driver will be unable to maintain or increase engine speed, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will replace the accelerator pedal assemblies. The recall began on February 11, 2014. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service by calling 1-888-923-9988. Aston Martin's recall number is…
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
Aston Martin DBS or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Aston Martin DBS has 0 complaints per year on average, while the Chevrolet Silverado has about 823 per year. In practice, the DBS shows far fewer reported problems, but that is partly because so few are sold and owners may not file complaints. The Silverado's much higher complaint rate, including 233 crash-related reports, means a used Silverado buyer faces a much greater chance of encountering a serious safety issue.
Key differences
- The Aston Martin DBS has 0 owner complaints and 18 recalls, while the Chevrolet Silverado has 8,227 complaints and 101 recalls over 10 years.
- Silverado complaints include engine shutdowns, transmission failures, and brake loss, with 233 crash-related reports, 160 injuries, and 3 deaths; the DBS has no complaint text and no reported crashes or injuries.
- DBS recalls cover latches, transmission control, seat heaters, and accelerator pedals; Silverado recalls include fuel pump control, tire pressure monitoring, and forward collision warnings.
- The DBS is a low-production exotic with little owner feedback, while the Silverado is a mass-market truck with a large volume of detailed failure reports.
- Check that all 18 recalls, especially the accelerator pedal and transmission control module, have been completed by a dealer.
- Inspect door latches and locks for proper operation, since recalls exist for latch and lock failures.
- Test drive at low speeds and in parking lots to check for sudden transmission shifts into neutral or engine shutdowns.
- Have a mechanic inspect the brake system and electrical components for signs of the reported braking loss and screen blackouts.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full NHTSA recall history for the specific vehicle and confirm all open recalls are fixed.
- For the Silverado, ask for service records related to engine, transmission, and brake repairs, and consider a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic.
- For the DBS, verify that the transmission control module, accelerator pedal, and seat heater recalls have been addressed.
- Test drive the Silverado in stop-and-go traffic and at highway speeds to check for hesitation, stalling, or braking issues.
- Check the Silverado's diesel particulate filter service history if equipped with the Duramax, as soot buildup is a reported problem.
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 | Aston Martin DBS | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0 | 527 |
| 2023 | 0 | 450 |
| 2022 | 0 | 1390 |
| 2021 | 0 | 961 |
| 2020 | 0 | 868 |
| 2019 | 0 | 2003 |
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 Aston Martin DBS or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Aston Martin DBS vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Aston Martin DBS total complaints
- 0
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- Aston Martin DBS total recalls
- 18
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- Aston Martin DBS avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- Aston Martin DBS
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE