Head-to-head reliability
Buick Verano vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Buick Verano 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
Buick Verano vs Chevrolet Silverado: The Verano averages 73 complaints per year with 15 recalls, while the Silverado averages 823 complaints per year with 101 recalls. Both have injury reports, but the Silverado also has 3 deaths. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Buick Verano or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Buick Verano
The Buick Verano is a compact sedan that averages about 73 complaints per year over six years, with 15 recalls and 17 injuries reported. Owners frequently describe electrical and engine issues that cause sudden power loss, hard shifting, and stalling, which can be alarming. Air bag and power train complaints also appear, including transmission failures and sensor problems. Overall, it's a car that demands attention to electrical and drivetrain health.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup that generates roughly 823 complaints per year over ten years, with 101 recalls and 160 injuries. Owners report serious engine and power train failures, sometimes at very low mileage, including sudden shutdowns and transmission problems. Brake and electrical issues also recur, with some complaints describing loss of braking and engine stalling. This is a high-volume vehicle with a wide range of reported problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Buick Verano | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 440 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 15 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 19 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 73.3 Better | 822.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 17 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.
Buick Verano
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM122
- 02ENGINE109
- 03AIR BAGS93
- 04POWER TRAIN52
- 05STEERING50
Owners report random acceleration declines, near-stalls, and loss of power steering, often with warning lights that appear only during the issue. These symptoms can make the car unpredictable to drive.
Complaints include stalling, hard shifts from first gear, and major transmission failure around 112,000 miles. Such failures can leave a driver stranded or cause costly repairs.
Multiple owners mention a passenger airbag sensor problem that they believe should have been recalled, with some receiving a special coverage notice. A faulty sensor may prevent the airbag from deploying correctly.
Reports describe transmission control module failures and loss of power while driving, sometimes with the car going into neutral. This can lead to dangerous situations on the road.
“BEGINNING IN MAY, I STARTED NOTICING ODD DECLINES IN ACCELERATIONS, RANDOMLY, EVEN WHEN USING CRUISE CONTROL. THEN, I ALMOST STALLED OUT ON THE ROAD & LOST POWER STEERING. THIS IS DANGEROUS & SCARY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP & REPORTED A HARD SHIFT FROM 1ST…”
“While driving home from work, my car, lost power a few times. Though, the maintenance malfunction light did come on, it was while the issue was occurring. I mention this because, in the car’s manual, it states that the light will come on BEFORE the malfunctio…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Owners of newer Silverados report engine shutdowns while driving, sometimes with messages like 'Return to Neutral' or 'Press Start'. Diesel models have experienced repeated excessive soot accumulation in the particulate filter, requiring dealer service.
Complaints include sudden shifting into neutral and transmission failures at very low mileage, such as under 300 miles. These issues can cause loss of motive power and increase crash risk.
Owners describe severe loss of braking despite a firm pedal, as well as engine shut-offs and blank screens. These electrical glitches can affect critical safety systems.
Reports include sudden loss of normal braking and the vehicle shutting off completely in parking lots. Brake failure is a serious safety concern that demands 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.
Buick Verano — 15 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Buick Verano vehicles manufactured February 16, 2016, to May 12, 2016, equipped with a 2.0 liter turbocharged engine. The engine fuel line assembly may be misrouted, allowing the fuel line to contact the surface of the engine.
The risk: If the fuel line contacts the engine, the fuel line may wear, resulting in a fuel leak and increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel line assembly, free of charge. The recall began on August 19, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 54180.
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011…
The risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011…
The risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011…
The risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-…
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
Buick Verano or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Buick Verano has far fewer complaints per year (about 73) compared to the Chevrolet Silverado (about 823), but both have notable safety-related issues. In practice, the Verano may be easier to live with in terms of frequency, yet its electrical and transmission problems can still be costly. The Silverado's higher volume means more reported problems, but also more data to identify patterns.
Key differences
- The Verano averages about 73 complaints per year, while the Silverado averages about 823 per year, a tenfold difference in reported issue frequency.
- Verano owners frequently report electrical power loss and transmission failure, whereas Silverado owners report engine shutdowns and brake loss.
- The Silverado has 101 recalls versus 15 for the Verano, indicating a broader range of potential safety fixes.
- Both vehicles have injury reports (17 for Verano, 160 for Silverado), but the Silverado also has 3 deaths, highlighting higher stakes in its complaint data.
- Check for any history of random stalling, loss of power steering, or hard shifting, as these are common electrical and transmission complaints.
- Inspect the passenger airbag sensor and ask if the special coverage adjustment for the sensor was performed, since owners report failures.
- Test drive for sudden engine shutdowns or messages like 'Return to Neutral' and 'Press Start', which owners report even at low mileage.
- Check brake function carefully for any loss of braking power or firm pedal with reduced stopping ability, as several complaints describe this.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models using the NHTSA VIN lookup.
- Have a mechanic inspect the transmission and electrical system on the Verano, and the engine, transmission, and brakes on the Silverado.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any hesitation, stalling, or warning lights, especially under acceleration and braking.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, particularly for transmission fluid changes and any software updates related to the reported issues.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a dealership or independent shop familiar with the specific model's common problems.
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 | Buick Verano | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 9 | 1154 |
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 Buick Verano or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Buick Verano vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Buick Verano total complaints
- 440
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- Buick Verano total recalls
- 15
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- Buick Verano avg complaints/year
- 73.3
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- Buick Verano
- Buick Verano top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE