Head-to-head reliability
BMW 840I vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the BMW 840I 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 840I vs Chevrolet Silverado: The 840I has 0 complaints over 7 years and 19 recalls, while the Silverado has 8,227 complaints over 10 years, 101 recalls, and 233 crash-related reports. Silverado owners report engine shutoffs, transmission neutral dropouts, and brake loss. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW 840I or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW 840I
The BMW 840I is a low-volume luxury coupe that, over the seven years covered by this data, has no owner complaints on file with NHTSA. That clean complaint record suggests owners have not reported recurring breakdowns or safety defects, but it does not mean the car is problem-free. Instead, the 840I shows 19 recalls covering items like the starter, driveshaft, battery, backup camera, and brakes. For a buyer, this points to a car that may need recall work done, but with no pattern of repeated owner-reported failures.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a high-volume pickup with 8,227 complaints over ten years, averaging about 823 per year. The most common complaint areas are the engine (2,521), power train (2,347), electrical system (1,513), and service brakes (1,222). Owners describe serious symptoms: engines shutting off while driving, sudden loss of braking, transmissions going into neutral, and diesel particulate filter soot accumulation. There are also 233 crash-related reports, 160 injuries, and 3 deaths in the data, making this a vehicle with a much more active and severe complaint history.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW 840I | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 19 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.
BMW 840I
No component data available.
Recalls cover the starter assembly and the 12V/24V/48V battery. A starter or battery failure can leave you stranded, and these are the kind of repairs a buyer should confirm were completed under recall.
A recall exists for the driveshaft. A failing driveshaft can cause vibration, noise, or loss of power to the wheels, so a pre-purchase inspection should check for any related recall or repair history.
The backup camera sensing system is under recall. If the camera or sensors fail, it can reduce rear visibility and increase the risk of a low-speed backing accident.
A recall covers hydraulic service brakes. Brake-related recalls are important because they affect stopping ability, and buyers should verify the fix was performed.
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Owners report engines shutting off while driving, with messages like 'Return to Neutral' and 'Press Start.' Some diesel models also suffer repeated diesel particulate filter soot accumulation events that require dealer service. An engine that stalls in traffic is a serious safety concern.
Complaints describe the vehicle suddenly going into neutral, including while driving slowly uphill in a parking garage. A transmission that drops out of gear can leave you without power when you need it most.
Owners report sudden, severe loss of normal braking, with a firm brake pedal but poor stopping effect. Others report the engine shutting off and screens going blank. Electrical faults that affect braking or engine operation are high-risk.
Complaints include the truck completely shutting off in a parking lot with no ability to accelerate, and braking problems where the pedal stays firm but the truck will not stop normally. Brake and stall issues together make low-speed maneuvering risky.
“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.
BMW 840I — 19 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 340I, X6, 2020-2025 840I, 2020-2022 740LI, 2019-2020 X7, and X5 vehicles. After repeated attempts, the starter motor may overheat from an electrical overload.
The risk: An overheated starter motor can ignite nearby combustible material in the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge. This recall includes vehicles repaired under recall 24V576 and those owners will need to have their vehicle repaired again. Owner notification letters were mailed February 9, 2026. O…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022-2026 840i, 840i xDrive, 2021-2023 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, and 2024-2026 750e xDrive vehicles. The connection between the driveshaft and the rear differential may become damaged, possibly resulting in a loss of power to the rear whee…
The risk: An unexpected loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. In addition, a damaged driveshaft can result in a vehicle rollaway if the parking brake is not applied, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the connection between the driveshaft and rear axle differential, and apply adhesive or replace the driveshaft and rear axle differential, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mai…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, M550i, X4M, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5M, X5 M50i, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, Alpina XB7, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, and 8 Series C…
The risk: If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the missing or reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rearview camera software and update it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 X3 xDrive30e, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, X4M, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, 840i Gran Coupe, 840i xDrive Gran Coupe, M850i xDrive Gran Coupe, M8 Gran Coupe, X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, and 840i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The sensors…
The risk: If the air bag and/or seat belt pretensioners deploy improperly in the event of a crash, there is an increased risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the front seat belt buckles, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 18, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
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
BMW 840I or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The BMW 840I has far fewer issues per year: 0 complaints per year versus about 823 per year for the Chevrolet Silverado. In practice, that means the 840I has no owner-reported failure pattern in this data, while the Silverado has thousands of complaints, including crashes, injuries, and deaths. The difference is not just volume; the Silverado complaints describe stalling, loss of braking, and transmission dropouts that can happen while driving.
Key differences
- The BMW 840I has 0 owner complaints over 7 years, while the Chevrolet Silverado has 8,227 complaints over 10 years, including 233 crash-related reports, 160 injuries, and 3 deaths.
- Silverado owners report engines shutting off while driving and transmissions suddenly going into neutral; the 840I has no such owner complaint text on record.
- The 840I has 19 recalls covering starter, driveshaft, battery, backup camera, and brakes; the Silverado has 101 recalls, including fuel pump control and forward collision warning issues.
- Silverado complaints frequently mention sudden loss of braking and blank screens, while the 840I's brake issue appears only as a recall subject, not as a repeated owner complaint.
- Check for any open recalls on the starter assembly and battery, since a failed starter or battery can leave you stranded.
- Ask for proof that the driveshaft and brake hydraulic recalls were completed, as these affect power delivery and stopping.
- Test drive at low speeds and in parking lots to check for sudden engine shutoff, transmission neutral dropouts, or blank screens.
- Check for diesel particulate filter soot accumulation history on diesel models, and verify any fuel pump or brake-related recalls were performed.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to see all open recalls for the specific BMW 840I or Chevrolet Silverado you are considering.
- For the Silverado, ask the seller for service records related to engine stalling, transmission repairs, and brake or electrical fixes.
- For the BMW 840I, confirm the starter, battery, driveshaft, backup camera, and brake recalls were completed by a dealer.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the Silverado's engine, transmission, brakes, and electrical system.
- During the test drive, specifically check for stalling, delayed or lost braking, transmission slipping into neutral, and any warning messages.
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 | BMW 840I | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 120 |
| 2025 | 0 | 157 |
| 2024 | 0 | 527 |
| 2023 | 0 | 450 |
| 2022 | 0 | 1390 |
| 2021 | 0 | 961 |
| 2020 | 0 | 868 |
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 840I or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW 840I vs Chevrolet Silverado
- BMW 840I total complaints
- 0
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- BMW 840I total recalls
- 19
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- BMW 840I avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- BMW 840I
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE