Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet Silverado vs FORD F 150
How the Chevrolet Silverado 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 vs FORD F 150: Over 10 years, the Silverado had 8,227 complaints (823/year) and 101 recalls, while the F-150 had 11,621 complaints (1,162/year) and 151 recalls. Both show serious power train and electrical issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet Silverado or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup that owners rely on for work and family hauling. Over the past decade, NHTSA logged 8,227 complaints, averaging about 823 per year, with 101 recalls. The most common trouble spots are engine and power train, but electrical and brake complaints also appear frequently. Sample reports describe sudden engine shutdowns, loss of braking, and transmission failures, which can leave drivers stranded or in dangerous situations.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is another popular full-size pickup, but it has a higher complaint rate: 11,621 complaints over 10 years, or about 1,162 per year, plus 151 recalls. Power train and electrical issues dominate, with many owners reporting transmission limp mode, lead frame failures, and electrical glitches. Some complaints involve rear window defroster shorts causing windows to shatter. These patterns suggest a higher frequency of serious drivability and electrical problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet Silverado | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 8,227 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 101 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 233 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 822.7 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 160 Better | 297 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 3 | 1 Better |
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
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Owners report engine shutdowns while driving, sometimes with a 'Return to Neutral' message, and diesel particulate filter soot accumulation requiring dealer service. These can cause sudden loss of power, increasing crash risk.
Complaints include transmissions suddenly shifting into neutral and failing to accelerate, as well as rough running or stalling. Such failures can happen at low speeds or in traffic, leaving the driver unable to move.
Reports describe sudden loss of normal braking with a firm pedal, and engine shut-off while driving. Electrical faults can disable critical safety systems without warning.
Owners describe brake pedal firmness but ineffective braking, and instances where the truck shuts off and screens go blank during low-speed maneuvers. Brake problems directly affect the ability to stop safely.
“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…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Frequent complaints about transmission limp mode, stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that can cause sudden downshifts or loss of power. These issues often recur and may require costly repairs.
Lead frame problems also affect electrical signals, and owners report output speed sensor failures triggering limp mode. Electrical gremlins can strand drivers or cause erratic behavior.
A notable complaint describes a rear window defroster short causing the back window to shatter outward. This is a safety hazard that can happen without warning.
With 1,224 complaints, lighting issues are common, though sample texts do not detail specific failures. Buyers should check all lights for proper function.
“This lead frame issue is never ending. Well over a decade without a proper remedy. I’m very familiar with it. but this one nearly ended my life. After the near collision I called my mechanic and bought a new ford lead frame from a dealership. It’s doing fine…”
“My 2017 Ford F-150 V8 with the 6-speed automatic transmission has been experiencing a serious and recurring transmission malfunction. The truck has consistently, almost on a daily basis, gone into limp mode and become stuck in 5th gear. It also frequently fai…”
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 — 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…
FORD F 150 — 151 recalls
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 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 and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block he…
The risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.
The risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks. The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable or the door latches may freeze after water gets into the latch. Either condition can result in the do…
The risk: A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door latch actuation cables and repair if necessary, and install water shields over the door latches, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer…
Buyer analysis
Chevrolet Silverado or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet Silverado has fewer complaints per year (about 823) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,162), and fewer total complaints over the decade. However, both have serious reported issues: the Silverado with engine shutdowns and brake loss, the F-150 with transmission limp mode and electrical faults. In practice, the Silverado may have a lower overall complaint rate, but neither is free from potentially dangerous problems.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has about 41% more complaints per year than the Chevrolet Silverado (1,162 vs. 823), indicating a higher frequency of owner-reported problems.
- Power train complaints are the top category for the F-150 (3,648), often involving transmission limp mode and lead frame failures, while the Silverado's top category is engine (2,521) with reports of sudden shutdowns.
- The Silverado has more crash-related complaints (233) and injuries (160) than the F-150 (330 crashes, 297 injuries), but the F-150 has more total complaints and recalls (151 vs. 101).
- Specific safety issues differ: Silverado owners report loss of braking and engine shut-off, while F-150 owners report rear window shattering and transmission failures that can cause near-collisions.
- During a test drive, check for any hesitation, stalling, or warning messages like 'Return to Neutral' or 'Press Start' that could indicate engine shutdown issues.
- Test the brakes at low speeds and on inclines; a firm pedal with poor stopping power may signal the reported brake loss problem.
- Listen for transmission clunking or delayed engagement, and watch for the truck entering limp mode or getting stuck in a gear during a test drive.
- Inspect the rear window and defroster operation; a short in the defroster has been reported to cause the window to shatter.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models, especially the F-150's 26S28 recall for output speed sensor software.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on transmission (F-150) and engine/brake systems (Silverado).
- During the test drive, pay attention to any warning lights, unusual noises, or shifting problems, and test all electrical components including lights and defroster.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, particularly for transmission fluid changes (F-150) and diesel particulate filter service (Silverado diesel).
- Verify that any recall repairs have been completed by checking with a dealership using the VIN.
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 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 120 | 35 |
| 2025 | 157 | 345 |
| 2024 | 527 | 638 |
| 2023 | 450 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 1390 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 961 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 868 | 44 |
| 2019 | 2003 | 52 |
| 2018 | 597 | 79 |
| 2017 | 1154 | 59 |
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 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Silverado vs FORD F 150
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet Silverado
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN