Head-to-head reliability
Cadillac CT5 vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Cadillac CT5 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
Cadillac CT5 vs Chevrolet Silverado: The CT5 averages 16.9 complaints per year with 12 recalls, while the Silverado averages 822.7 complaints per year with 101 recalls. Silverado owners report more engine and brake failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Cadillac CT5 or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Cadillac CT5
The Cadillac CT5 is a luxury sedan with an average of 16.9 complaints per year over seven years, which is relatively low. Owners frequently report electrical issues with door handles and power train problems like transmission shudder and failure. There are also concerns about forward collision avoidance and structural integrity. Overall, the CT5 has fewer complaints per year than the Silverado, but the issues reported can be serious and safety-related.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint rate: 822.7 per year over ten years. The most common problems involve the engine, power train, electrical system, and service brakes. Many complaints describe sudden engine shutdowns, transmission failures, and braking loss, which can be dangerous. With 101 recalls and numerous crash-related reports, the Silverado demands careful inspection before purchase.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Cadillac CT5 | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 118 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 12 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 14 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 16.9 Better | 822.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 9 Better | 160 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 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.
Cadillac CT5
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM27
- 02POWER TRAIN27
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER22
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE19
- 05STRUCTURE16
Owners report intermittent rear door failures and exterior door handles that stop working, sometimes trapping children inside. These electrical glitches can prevent normal entry and exit, posing a safety risk.
Complaints include transmission shuddering, jerking, and shaking while driving at speeds like 42-66 MPH. Some vehicles are under recall for transmission control valve failure, which can cause loss of power.
Owners say the automatic emergency braking may not stop the car before hitting obstacles, and some report incorrect speed limit displays. This could reduce confidence in the system's ability to prevent crashes.
While fewer complaints mention structure, any issues with body integrity can affect crash protection. Buyers should check for unusual noises or misaligned panels that might indicate structural problems.
“We own a 2021 Cadillac CT5 that we bought used in 2024 from Sewell Cadillac in Houston, Texas. During our first year of ownership, and while still under warranty, we started having intermittent issues with the rear doors. At times, one or the other rear doors…”
“I have experienced a serious and recurring safety issue with the door handles on my Cadillac CT5 vehicles. The exterior door handles have stopped working, preventing the doors from being opened normally. On one occasion, I was trying to get my child out of th…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Owners report severe engine problems, including sudden shutdowns while driving and excessive diesel particulate filter soot accumulation requiring dealer service. These can leave drivers stranded and create dangerous situations.
Complaints describe transmissions suddenly shifting into neutral and engines shutting off, with messages like 'Return to Neutral' appearing. Such failures can cause loss of control, especially at low speeds.
Electrical issues include sudden loss of braking assistance and engine shut-offs while driving. These problems can disable critical safety features and are often unpredictable.
Owners report a severe loss of normal braking, where the pedal remains firm but braking is ineffective. This can lead to crashes if the vehicle cannot stop as expected.
“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.
Cadillac CT5 — 12 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Cadillac CT6, 2020-2021 CT4, CT5, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles equipped with a 10-speed transmission. The transmission may become damaged internally and cause the wheels to lock-up.
The risk: Wheel lock-up while driving increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install transmission control module monitoring software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-8…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Cadillac CT6, 2020-2021 CT4, CT5, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles equipped with a 10-speed transmission. The transmission may become damaged internally and cause the wheels to lock-up.
The risk: Wheel lock-up while driving increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install transmission control module monitoring software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-8…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate wh…
The risk: DRLs that do not deactivate as intended may result in a glare, reducing visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chev…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate wh…
The risk: DRLs that do not deactivate as intended may result in a glare, reducing visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chev…
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
Cadillac CT5 or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Cadillac CT5 has far fewer complaints per year (16.9) compared to the Chevrolet Silverado (822.7). In practice, this means a used CT5 is likely to have fewer reported problems, but buyers should still watch for electrical and transmission issues. The Silverado's high complaint volume suggests a higher risk of encountering serious engine, brake, or transmission faults.
Key differences
- The Cadillac CT5 averages 16.9 complaints per year, while the Chevrolet Silverado averages 822.7, a massive difference in reported problem frequency.
- Silverado owners frequently report sudden engine shutdowns and brake loss, whereas CT5 complaints often involve door handles and transmission shudder.
- The Silverado has 101 recalls and 233 crash-related complaints; the CT5 has 12 recalls and 14 crash-related complaints.
- Both vehicles have power train issues, but the Silverado's are more often linked to stalling or shifting into neutral, while the CT5's are tied to transmission shudder and a specific recall.
- Test all exterior door handles, especially rear doors, for intermittent failure or sticking, as owners report they can stop working entirely.
- During a test drive, accelerate through 40-60 MPH and feel for shuddering or jerking that could indicate transmission problems.
- Check for any signs of engine stalling or messages like 'Return to Neutral' by scanning for stored codes and test-driving at various speeds.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, including emergency stops, to ensure they engage properly and the pedal doesn't feel firm without braking effect.
Before you buy
- Verify that all open recalls for the specific vehicle have been repaired, especially the transmission recall on the CT5 and fuel pump or brake recalls on the Silverado.
- Obtain a pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic, focusing on the engine, transmission, brakes, and electrical systems.
- Request a complete vehicle history report to check for repeated repairs or lemon law buybacks related to the reported issues.
- Test-drive the vehicle for at least 30 minutes, including highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic, to replicate conditions where problems occur.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and confirm that any software updates for forward collision avoidance or lighting have been applied.
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 | Cadillac CT5 | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 15 | 120 |
| 2025 | 9 | 157 |
| 2024 | 2 | 527 |
| 2023 | 13 | 450 |
| 2022 | 11 | 1390 |
| 2021 | 29 | 961 |
| 2020 | 39 | 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 Cadillac CT5 or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Cadillac CT5 vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Cadillac CT5 total complaints
- 118
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- Cadillac CT5 total recalls
- 12
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- Cadillac CT5 avg complaints/year
- 16.9
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- Cadillac CT5
- Cadillac CT5 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE