Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vs FORD F 150
How the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vs FORD F 150: The Silverado averages 540.8 complaints per year, with engine failures like thrust bearing issues, while the F-150 averages 1131.1, mainly transmission hard shifts. The Silverado has 55 recalls, F-150 has 145. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 shows a serious engine reliability concern, with owners reporting catastrophic internal failures like a failed thrust bearing requiring full engine replacement, even on low-mileage 2025 models. Electrical system issues also surface, including warning light clusters and water intrusion, which can lead to sudden loss of power steering and braking assist. While the truck has a high complaint volume, the pattern points to major powertrain and electrical vulnerabilities that could leave owners stranded or facing costly repairs.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150's complaint profile is dominated by transmission problems, particularly hard shifting and jerking in the 10-speed automatic, which can escalate to sudden power loss. Electrical gremlins are also common, with owners reporting persistent camera and pre-collision warnings. While the F-150 has more total complaints, the issues are less catastrophic than the Silverado's engine failures, but still indicate a need for careful inspection and potential transmission software updates.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 5,408 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 55 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 145 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 540.8 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 102 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 1 |
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.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500
- 01ENGINE1,823
- 02POWER TRAIN1,565
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM907
- 04SERVICE BRAKES768
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER541
Owners report catastrophic internal failures, such as a failed thrust bearing in the crankshaft, leading to complete engine replacement. This can happen at low mileage (e.g., 16,500 miles) and poses a sudden stall risk.
Sudden engine lock-up while driving at highway speeds has been reported, causing the vehicle to stop abruptly and creating a serious crash hazard. This is often linked to the same internal engine failures.
Multiple electrical failures include water leaking from the dashboard, abnormal odors, and a cascade of warning lights. These can lead to loss of power steering and braking assist, making the vehicle difficult to control.
Brake system failures are reported, where the brake pedal becomes hard and the vehicle cannot decelerate properly, often accompanied by a dashboard full of warning lights. This is a critical safety concern.
“My 2025 Chevy Silverado 1500 6.2L V8 experienced an internal engine failure at approximately 16,500 miles, requiring replacement of the entire long block under the factory powertrain warranty. The authorized Chevrolet dealership diagnosed internal cylinder wa…”
“What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine in my 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 experienced a catastrophic internal failure caused by a failed thrust bearing in the crankshaft assembly. The fai…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10-speed automatic transmission is a major trouble spot, with owners experiencing hard, delayed shifts, jerking, and clunking between gears. In some cases, the vehicle loses all power and shuts off, then restarts with a violent jerk.
Persistent warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available appear on startup, indicating sensor or software issues that may affect driver-assist features.
Headlight problems are common enough to be a top complaint area, though specific symptoms aren't detailed in the sample. This could range from flickering to complete failure, affecting visibility.
While less frequent than transmission issues, engine problems do occur, but the sample doesn't provide specifics. Owners should still watch for unusual noises or performance issues.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
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.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 — 55 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 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 is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, 3500, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles that may have been repaired incorrectly under recall 24V797. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to…
The risk: Rear wheel lock up increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the vehicles and update the transmission control software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 6, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service a…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yuko…
The risk: Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2026. Owners may contac…
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has fewer complaints per year (540.8) than the Ford F-150 (1131.1), but its issues are more severe, involving catastrophic engine failures. The F-150's higher volume is largely due to transmission annoyances that, while not always dangerous, can be costly to fix. In practice, the Silverado may pose a higher risk of sudden breakdowns, while the F-150 may require more frequent trips to the dealer for transmission recalibration.
Key differences
- Silverado owners report engine failures that can require full long-block replacement, while F-150 owners more often face transmission shift quality issues.
- The F-150 has a much higher complaint rate per year, but many are electrical sensor warnings, whereas Silverado complaints include sudden loss of braking and steering assist.
- Both have recalls, but Silverado's include brake fluid warning and transfer case issues, while F-150's include headlights and battery cables.
- The Silverado's engine failures can happen at low mileage (e.g., 16,500 miles), making it a potential safety hazard, while F-150 transmission issues are more predictable.
- Check for any engine knocking or unusual noises, and review maintenance records for any prior engine work or warranty claims.
- Test the brakes and steering at low speed to ensure no warning lights appear and that power assist is consistent.
- Test drive through various speeds to feel for hard shifts or jerks, especially between 4th-6th gears.
- Check if the dashboard shows any persistent warning messages for camera or pre-collision systems.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to check for any engine or transmission replacements.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the engine and transmission.
- Test drive both vehicles on the highway and in stop-and-go traffic to assess shifting and braking.
- Check for any open recalls and ensure they have been addressed.
- Ask for service records, especially for transmission fluid changes or software updates.
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 | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 87 | 24 |
| 2025 | 96 | 329 |
| 2024 | 298 | 617 |
| 2023 | 368 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 610 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 807 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 719 | 33 |
| 2019 | 1073 | 36 |
| 2018 | 514 | 56 |
| 2017 | 836 | 43 |
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 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vs FORD F 150
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500 total complaints
- 5,408
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500 total recalls
- 55
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500 avg complaints/year
- 540.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500 top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN