Head-to-head reliability
BMW 335xi vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the BMW 335xi 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
BMW 335xi vs Chevrolet Silverado: The BMW 335xi has 0 complaints over 2 years, while the Silverado has 4261 complaints over 10 years. Silverado owners report engine and transmission failures, while BMW has 7 recalls but no complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW 335xi or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW 335xi
The BMW 335xi is a performance-oriented sedan that, based on NHTSA data, has a very low complaint rate over two years, with zero owner complaints on record. This suggests that in the short term, owners have not reported significant mechanical or electrical issues. However, the vehicle has seven recalls, all related to airbags and electrical wiring, indicating potential safety-related defects that have been addressed through recalls. For a buyer, this means the car may be relatively trouble-free in the first few years, but it's crucial to ensure all recalls are completed.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup truck with a high volume of owner complaints over ten years, averaging over 426 complaints per year. The most common issues are in the engine, powertrain, electrical system, and service brakes, with owners reporting serious failures like engine knocking, transmission fluid leaks, and brake system warnings. With 99 recalls and 104 crash-related incidents, the Silverado shows a pattern of significant reliability and safety concerns that could affect ownership experience, especially for those who rely on the truck for work or towing.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW 335xi | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 4,261 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 Better | 99 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 104 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 Better | 426.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 74 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 2 |
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.
BMW 335xi
No component data available.
Multiple recalls for driver-side frontal airbag inflator modules and occupant classification sensor indicate a risk of airbag malfunction, which could fail to deploy or deploy improperly in a crash.
A recall for electrical system wiring suggests potential issues with electrical connections that could lead to various malfunctions, though no specific owner complaints are on record.
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE1,384
- 02POWER TRAIN1,244
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM754
- 04SERVICE BRAKES642
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER438
Owners report diesel particulate filter excessive soot accumulation requiring dealer service, and in some cases, loud knocking noises leading to complete engine replacement, indicating serious engine durability issues.
Transmission fluid line failures cause rapid fluid leaks, leading to loss of drive power, especially while towing, which is a critical safety concern.
Multiple visits to dealerships for ongoing electrical issues, including warning messages for traction control and brake system failure, suggest persistent electrical gremlins that are hard to resolve.
Brake system failure warnings and traction control messages appear on the instrument panel, indicating potential brake system malfunctions that could compromise stopping ability.
“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…”
“At approximately 3,000 miles, the engine began making a loud knocking noise that became progressively worse while driving. The truck was diagnosed as needing a complete engine replacement. No warning lights, no check engine light, nothing. For someone inexper…”
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.
BMW 335xi — 7 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi,…
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: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi and M3, 2007-2011 328i xDrive, 335i xDrive and 335is and 2009-2011 335d vehicles. The wiring and electrical connectors for the system that controls air flow for the heating and ai…
The risk: Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiring and electrical connectors, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Owners may cont…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (324i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi), 2006-2012 3 Series Sportswagon (325xi, 328i, 328xi), and 2009-2011 3 Series Sedan (335d) vehicles. The original steering wheel may have been replaced with a spor…
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: Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 30, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (324i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi), 2006-2012 3 Series Sportswagon (325xi, 328i, 328xi), and 2009-2011 3 Series Sedan (335d) vehicles. The original steering wheel may have been replaced with a spor…
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: Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 30, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Chevrolet Silverado — 99 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025 Chevrolet Silverado EV work trucks. The pedestrian alert sound system may not produce sound at a sufficient volume. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 141, "Minimum So…
The risk: A vehicle that fails to make sufficient sound may result in pedestrians being unaware of an approaching vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the software in the body control module (BCM), free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 22, 2025. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N24…
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 (GM) has decided that certain 2022 model year Chevrolet Silverado, and GMC Sierra vehicles equipped with an accessory sport bar. The accessory sport bar contains a high-mounted brake light that may not function. In addition, it may block the vehicle's existing high-mounted brake ligh…
The risk: An inoperative high-mounted brake light can reduce visibility to other drivers and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the installation of the accessory bar and provide the correct vehicle wiring, if necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters advising owners of the safety risk were mailed on August 10, 2022. Owner no…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vehicles. The sensing diagnostic module (SDM) was left in manufacturing mode and not activated at the assembly plant prior to shipment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle S…
The risk: An SDM in manufacturing mode will not deploy the vehicle's air bags in a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
The fix: Dealers returned the vehicles to the GM assembly plant and the sensing diagnostic modules were activated. The vehicles had not been sold from dealer inventory and therefore no owner letters will be mailed. Owners may contact Chevrolet cust…
Buyer analysis
BMW 335xi or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The BMW 335xi has far fewer reported issues per year (0.0 complaints/yr) compared to the Chevrolet Silverado (426.1 complaints/yr). In practice, this means the BMW is likely to be more reliable in the short term, but the Silverado's high complaint volume points to a higher risk of costly repairs and safety-related failures.
Key differences
- The BMW 335xi has zero owner complaints, while the Silverado has thousands, indicating a stark difference in reported reliability.
- Silverado owners report serious engine failures like knocking and DPF issues, while BMW has no such reports.
- Transmission fluid leaks in the Silverado can lead to sudden loss of power, a critical safety risk not seen in the BMW.
- The Silverado has 99 recalls and 104 crash-related incidents, whereas the BMW has 7 recalls and no crash-related incidents.
- Check that all airbag recalls have been performed, especially the driver-side inflator module and occupant classification sensor.
- Inspect the electrical wiring for any signs of wear or previous repairs, given the recall on wiring.
- Listen for engine knocking or check for DPF-related warning lights, as these could indicate serious engine problems.
- Inspect transmission fluid lines for leaks or damage, and check for any signs of fluid loss under the vehicle.
Before you buy
- Verify all open recalls are completed for both vehicles, especially airbag and electrical recalls on the BMW and brake/engine recalls on the Silverado.
- For the Silverado, request a diagnostic scan for engine and transmission codes, and check service history for DPF or transmission repairs.
- For the BMW, have a mechanic inspect the airbag system and electrical wiring for any signs of tampering or damage.
- Test drive both vehicles, paying attention to transmission shifting, brake response, and any warning lights.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a certified mechanic, focusing on the specific problem areas mentioned.
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 BMW 335xi or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW 335xi vs Chevrolet Silverado
- BMW 335xi total complaints
- 0
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 4,261
- BMW 335xi total recalls
- 7
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 99
- BMW 335xi avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 426.1
- More reliable overall
- BMW 335xi
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE