Head-to-head reliability
AUDI A5 vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the AUDI A5 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
AUDI A5 vs Chevrolet Silverado: The Audi A5 averages 10.7 complaints per year, mostly infotainment reboots that can disable the backup camera. The Silverado averages 510.5 complaints per year, with serious engine, transmission, and brake failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the AUDI A5 or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
AUDI A5
The Audi A5 is a compact luxury coupe or convertible that owners enjoy for its style and driving dynamics, but the complaint record shows a persistent electronic gremlin: the MMI infotainment system randomly shuts down and reboots. This isn't just a radio annoyance—it can blank the backup camera mid-reverse and kill navigation on the highway, which owners describe as a safety distraction. The car also has a smaller number of complaints about the SOS emergency call system and brake-hold behavior, but the electronics dominate the picture. With about 11 complaints per year, it's a low-volume but consistent pattern of tech-related frustrations.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup known for capability, but the complaint data reveals a much heavier reliability burden: over 5,100 complaints in 10 years, or about 510 per year. The biggest issues cluster in the engine and powertrain, with owners reporting sudden loss of motive power, transmission failures, and diesel particulate filter problems. Electrical and brake complaints also stand out, including scary reports of braking power loss and simultaneous steering and brake failure at highway speed. This is a vehicle where major mechanical and safety-related failures are not rare events, and the recall list touches steering, brakes, and tailgate latches.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | AUDI A5 | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 107 Better | 5,105 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 24 Better | 100 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 2 Better | 117 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 10.7 Better | 510.5 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 104 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 1 |
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.
AUDI A5
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM55
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER30
- 03BACK OVER PREVENTION17
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE8
- 05ENGINE7
The MMI infotainment system randomly shuts down and reboots, sometimes every few minutes. This can blank the backup camera while reversing and cut navigation on the highway, which owners call a dangerous distraction.
Many complaints are about the same MMI rebooting issue, but also include the SOS emergency call system malfunctioning with loud beeps that stay on, which is distracting and annoying.
The backup camera can go dark when the MMI reboots, and some owners report the camera becoming inoperable along with an 'SOS System Deactivated' message, increasing the risk of backing into something.
Some owners report unexpected and forceful brake hold events in stop-and-go traffic, and others mention auto start/stop and cruise control malfunctions that cut off while driving, which can be startling and unsafe.
“The vehicle's Multi-Media Interface (MMI) system is reportedly shutting down randomly while the vehicle is in operation. This issue occurs without warning and is intermittent, making it unpredictable. Observed Symptoms/Events: Complete Loss of MMI Functionali…”
“The car has a very loud sequence of high pitched beeps accompanying a “SOS EMERGENCY CALL FUNCTION MALFUNCTION” warning light that comes on and stays on. It is a major driving distraction when the warning beeps suddenly come on (up to six sustained times in a…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE1,698
- 02POWER TRAIN1,453
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM982
- 04SERVICE BRAKES691
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER542
Owners report sudden loss of motive power, often with loud pinging sounds, and diesel models have repeated diesel particulate filter soot accumulation events requiring dealer service. Some engines fail completely, leaving families stranded far from home.
Transmission issues are common, including sudden shifts into neutral while driving uphill and loss of drive power. These can happen with very low mileage, sometimes under 300 miles.
Electrical problems can cause severe braking loss, with the brake pedal firm but ineffective, and in some cases the vehicle loses motive power, brakes, and steering simultaneously at highway speed.
Brake failures are reported as sudden and severe, making it hard to stop at stop signs. Some incidents occur right after starting the vehicle, and others are linked to electrical faults that disable the brakes.
“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.
AUDI A5 — 24 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2018 S5 Cabriolet, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, S4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, and 2017-2018 A4 Sedan and A4 Allroad vehicles. Oxidation on the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) connecti…
The risk: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will install cable ties to the harness, free of charge. The recall began September 9, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi's number for this recall is 74D9.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Sportback and 2017-2018 Audi A4 Allroad vehicles. A passenger air bag module mounting screw may not have been sufficiently tightened, possibly affecting the deployment of the air bag in the event of a crash.
The risk: If the air bag does not deploy correctly in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of an injury.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bag mounting screw, tightening or replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 19, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Vo…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of North America (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Sportback vehicles. The front suspension fasteners may not have been sufficiently tightened during vehicle production, possibly resulting in a front wheel becoming loose.
The risk: A loose front wheel may increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the front suspension fasteners, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 23, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswag…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Coupe vehicles. The affected vehicles were built with head curtain air bag assemblies that may not unfold properly. As such, these vehicle fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the head curtain air bag, if the air bag does not deploy properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will modify the head curtain air bags so that they deploy properly, free of charge. The recall began on January 18, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 11-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number…
Chevrolet Silverado — 100 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with power-unlatching tailgates. The tailgate's electronic gate-release switch may short circuit due to water intrusion, which can result in the tailgate inadvertently…
The risk: An unlatched tailgate may open while driving and result in a loss of unsecured cargo, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised to check that the tailgate is closed and latched before driving. Dealers will replace the exterior touchpad switch assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2024. Owners may contact Chevr…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 vehicles. The steering gear shaft may fracture and disconnect from the steering arm.
The risk: A steering arm that disconnects may result in a total loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the steering gear, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 22, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-4…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra HD 2500, 3500 vehicles equipped with power-unlatching tailgates. The tailgate's electronic gate-release switch may short circuit due to water intrusion, which can result in the tailgate inadvertentl…
The risk: An unlatched tailgate may open and result in a loss of unsecured cargo, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised to check that the tailgate is closed and latched before driving. Dealers will replace the exterior touchpad switch assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 17, 2024. Owners may contact…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023-2024 GMC Hummer EV pick up, 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV, and 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV vehicles. The left or right front seat belt buckle attachment bolts may not be tightened properly.
The risk: An improperly tightened seat belt buckle may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will tighten the left and right front seat belt buckle attachment bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 21, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-833-EVCHEVY (1-833-382-4389) (TTY 711 /…
Buyer analysis
AUDI A5 or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Audi A5 has far fewer complaints per year (about 11) compared to the Chevrolet Silverado (about 510), meaning the A5 is less likely to leave you with a major mechanical failure. However, the A5's issues are still annoying and can affect safety systems like the backup camera. The Silverado's problems are more frequent and more severe, involving loss of power, brakes, and steering, which is a much bigger concern for a family vehicle.
Key differences
- The Audi A5's main issue is the MMI system rebooting, which can disable the backup camera and navigation, but it's not a mechanical failure.
- The Silverado has a much higher rate of engine and transmission failures, including sudden loss of power, which can be dangerous on the road.
- Silverado owners report brake failures that can lead to crashes, while A5 owners report brake-hold and start/stop malfunctions that are less severe.
- The Silverado has over 100 recalls, including steering and brake-related recalls, while the A5 has 24 recalls, mostly for airbags and suspension.
- Test the MMI system thoroughly: drive for at least 15 minutes and try navigation, radio, and the backup camera to see if it reboots or goes dark.
- Check for any warning messages about the SOS emergency call system, as that can be a sign of an electrical issue that may also affect the camera.
- Listen for unusual engine noises like pinging or knocking, and ask for service records related to engine or transmission replacements.
- Test the brakes at low speed and check for any warning lights; also ask if the brake fluid low warning sensor has been replaced, as that's a recall item.
Before you buy
- For the Audi A5: run a full cycle of the infotainment system, including CarPlay, and watch for any screen freezes or reboots.
- For the Audi A5: verify all recalls have been performed, especially the airbag inflator and suspension recalls.
- For the Silverado: get a pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic, focusing on the engine, transmission, and brakes.
- For the Silverado: check the vehicle's recall status and ensure any outstanding recalls, like the tailgate latch or brake fluid sensor, are fixed.
- For both: ask for complete service history and consider a warranty that covers major components.
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 | AUDI A5 | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 98 |
| 2025 | 9 | 150 |
| 2024 | 8 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 | 1340 |
| 2021 | 7 | 934 |
| 2020 | 60 | 0 |
| 2019 | 12 | 1992 |
| 2018 | 8 | 591 |
| 2017 | 2 | 0 |
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 AUDI A5 or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- AUDI A5 vs Chevrolet Silverado
- AUDI A5 total complaints
- 107
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 5,105
- AUDI A5 total recalls
- 24
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 100
- AUDI A5 avg complaints/year
- 10.7
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 510.5
- More reliable overall
- AUDI A5
- AUDI A5 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE