Head-to-head reliability
BMW M440i vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the BMW M440i 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 M440i vs Chevrolet Silverado: The BMW M440i has 5 complaints over 6 years (0.8/year) and 9 recalls, while the Silverado has 8,227 complaints over 10 years (822.7/year) and 101 recalls. Silverado reports include 233 crashes and 3 deaths. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW M440i or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW M440i
The BMW M440i is a low-volume performance coupe with only 5 complaints over 6 years, averaging 0.8 per year. Recalls are more common than complaints, with 9 recalls covering seat belts, electrical battery, backup camera, and air bags. Owner reports focus on steering clunks, seat belt pretensioner and wiring concerns, and forward collision avoidance issues. For a buyer, this suggests a car with few reported problems but potential for expensive recall-related repairs.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a high-volume full-size truck with 8,227 complaints over 10 years, averaging 822.7 per year. It has 101 recalls and reports of 233 crashes, 160 injuries, and 3 deaths. Common complaint areas are engine, power train, electrical system, and service brakes. Owners describe serious issues like engine shutdowns, brake loss, and transmission problems, often at low mileage.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW M440i | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 5 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 9 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.8 Better | 822.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 2 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 M440i
- 01STEERING1
- 02SEAT BELTS1
- 03SEATS1
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE1
- 05ENGINE1
One owner reported an abnormal clunking sound from the steering column at speeds under 20 MPH, which was traced to a steering component. This could indicate premature wear in the steering system, so a test drive should include low-speed turns to listen for noises.
Owners report concerns with seatbelt extenders, buckle pretensioners, and wiring harnesses under the driver's seat that can catch or wear. These issues may affect airbag and seat belt operation, so inspect the seat wiring and belt function carefully.
The same complaint about seat wiring harnesses and yellow connectors under the driver's seat appears under seats. Damaged wiring could lead to airbag system faults, so check for any warning lights and inspect under-seat wiring for pinching.
A complaint mentions concerns with seat wiring and connectors that may relate to forward collision avoidance. This system relies on sensors and wiring, so any fault could disable automatic braking, making it important to verify all driver-assist features work.
“The contact owns a 2025 BMW M440I. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at speeds under 20 MPH, there was an abnormal clunking sound coming from the steering column. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was determined that the ti…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Owners of 2026 Silverado with the 6.2L engine report sudden engine failure while driving, and the 6.6L Duramax diesel has repeated diesel particulate filter soot accumulation events requiring dealer service. These can leave you stranded and lead to costly repairs.
Complaints include a 2026 Silverado with the 6.2L engine losing power, and another with less than 300 miles suddenly shifting into neutral and losing engine power. Such failures can happen at low mileage and create dangerous driving situations.
Owners report sudden loss of normal braking with a firm pedal but reduced braking effect, and engine shutdown while driving with messages like 'Return to Neutral' and 'Press Start'. These electrical glitches can disable critical safety functions.
Complaints describe severe loss of braking shortly after starting a trip, and a truck shutting off completely in a parking lot with no acceleration. Brake and power loss are serious safety concerns that require immediate attention.
“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 M440i — 9 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 2 Series (230i, 230i xDrive, M240i, M240i xDrive), 330e, 330e Xdrive, 4 Series Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive) M4 Coupe, M4 Competition Coupe, BMW 4 Series Convertible (430i, M440i), BMW X1 sDrive28i, xDrive28i, 2 Series Gran Coupe (…
The risk: During a crash, a seat belt retractor that does not function as intended increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the seat belt retractors (including the seat belts) and, if necessary, replace the retractors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-8…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 M340i xDrive, M440i xDrive Coupe, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 840i Gran Coupe, 840i xDrive Gran Coupe, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, and X7 xDrive40i vehicles. The connection between t…
The risk: Increased electrical resistance can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the connection between the 48-Volt battery and the starter-generator assembly, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 12, 2021. Owners may contact B…
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 2021 430i and M440i 4 Series Convertible vehicles. In certain side-impact crashes, the head-thorax air bag may not deploy as intended.
The risk: An air bag that deploys incorrectly can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the software, at no charge. All affected vehicles are still in dealer inventory, and therefore no owner letters will be mailed. The recall began March 9, 2021. 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 M440i or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The BMW M440i has far fewer issues per year (0.8 complaints/year) compared to the Chevrolet Silverado (822.7 complaints/year). In practice, the BMW owner is much less likely to report a problem, but the Silverado's high volume means many owners experience engine, transmission, electrical, and brake failures. The difference means the BMW may be less risky for frequent breakdowns, while the Silverado has widespread reports of serious safety defects.
Key differences
- The BMW M440i has 5 complaints over 6 years, while the Chevrolet Silverado has 8,227 complaints over 10 years, showing a massive difference in reported problem frequency.
- Silverado owners report engine shutdowns, transmission failures, and brake loss, whereas BMW complaints focus on steering clunks and seat belt wiring concerns.
- The Silverado has 101 recalls and 233 crash-related reports, compared to 9 recalls and 1 crash-related report for the BMW.
- BMW issues often involve seat belt pretensioners and forward collision avoidance wiring, while Silverado issues include diesel particulate filter soot accumulation and electrical shutdowns.
- Listen for clunking noises from the steering column at low speeds, as one owner reported this and it may indicate a steering defect.
- Inspect under the driver's seat for pinched or worn wiring harnesses and yellow connectors, and verify seat belt pretensioners and airbag function.
- Check for any signs of engine misfire, rough running, or diesel particulate filter warning lights, especially on 6.2L and 6.6L Duramax models.
- Test the brakes thoroughly for firmness and stopping power, and look for any electrical glitches like random shutdowns or 'Return to Neutral' messages.
Before you buy
- Verify all open recalls are completed by checking the NHTSA website with the VIN for both vehicles.
- During a test drive, listen for steering clunks in the BMW and test all driver-assist features like forward collision warning.
- For the Silverado, test the brakes at low and high speeds, and check for any engine hesitation or transmission slipping.
- Inspect under the driver's seat of the BMW for wiring damage, and check the Silverado's electrical system for signs of water intrusion or loose connections.
- Ask for a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the specific model to check for known issues like diesel particulate filter soot or seat belt pretensioner wear.
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 M440i | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 120 |
| 2025 | 1 | 157 |
| 2024 | 0 | 527 |
| 2023 | 0 | 450 |
| 2022 | 0 | 1390 |
| 2021 | 4 | 961 |
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 M440i or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW M440i vs Chevrolet Silverado
- BMW M440i total complaints
- 5
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- BMW M440i total recalls
- 9
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- BMW M440i avg complaints/year
- 0.8
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- BMW M440i
- BMW M440i top complaint area
- STEERING
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE