Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet Silverado vs RAM 1500
How the Chevrolet Silverado and RAM 1500 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 RAM 1500: Over 10 years, the Silverado has 8,227 complaints (about 823 per year) and 101 recalls, while the RAM 1500 has 8,644 complaints (about 864 per year) and 129 recalls. The RAM also shows 400 crash-related complaints and 15 deaths versus 233 and 3 for the Silverado. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet Silverado or RAM 1500 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 with 8,227 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 823 per year. The most common trouble spots are the engine and power train, with owners describing sudden engine shutdowns, transmission slips into neutral, and brake assist loss. Recalls cover fuel pump control and driver alert systems, so living with one means staying on top of open recalls and being alert to stalling or braking symptoms.
RAM 1500
The RAM 1500 is a full-size pickup with 8,644 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 864 per year. Electrical system complaints are nearly as common as engine complaints, and owners report instrument clusters cutting out, random electrical activations, and engines shutting off while driving. Recalls include instrument cluster and brake light issues, so a buyer should verify recall work and test all electronics.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet Silverado | RAM 1500 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 8,227 Better | 8,644 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 101 Better | 129 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 233 Better | 400 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 822.7 Better | 864.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 160 Better | 272 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 3 Better | 15 |
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 engines shutting off while driving, including a 6.2L model losing power on a family trip and a 6.6L Duramax diesel repeatedly clogging its particulate filter at low mileage. These failures can leave you stranded and require dealer repair.
Complaints describe the truck suddenly shifting into neutral at low speed and transmission problems that may be linked to engine stalls. A loss of drive power in traffic is a serious safety concern.
Owners report sudden, severe loss of normal braking with a firm pedal, and engines shutting off with a 'Return to Neutral' message. These electrical faults can affect stopping and steering control.
Complaints include braking effectiveness dropping sharply and the truck shutting off completely in a parking lot, requiring a restart. Brake-related failures are especially dangerous for a daily-driven truck.
“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…”
RAM 1500
- 01ENGINE2,539
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,369
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,297
- 04POWER TRAIN1,213
- 05STEERING1,055
Owners report dash lights cutting out at highway speed and the 3.0L EcoDiesel engine stalling due to a delaminating tone wheel. An engine that quits at speed or a dash that goes dark reduces driver awareness and control.
Complaints include ABS and brake warning lights staying on, cruise control failing, and the instrument cluster randomly enabling seat adjustments or making 9-1-1 calls. These glitches can distract the driver and mask real brake problems.
Owners describe the engine completely shutting off while driving or idling, requiring a shift to park to restart. This pattern of random stalls is hard to diagnose and can happen in traffic.
Complaints include sudden slowing while towing and EcoDiesel failures during acceleration with multiple fault codes. Power train faults that appear under load can be costly and leave you without warranty coverage.
“As we were driving along the freeway at highway speeds, the dash lights completely cut out on my ram 1500 2019. At first, this seemed to simply affect the visibility of the central console, speed controls, light indicators, etc. But then as we continued on an…”
“I have a 2018 Ram 1500 ecodiesel with the 2nd gen 3.0L V6 diesel engine. This engine has a well known defect causing the tone wheel to delaminate and stall the engine. This is what happened to me and the dealership is telling me I need my tone wheel and posit…”
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…
RAM 1500 — 129 recalls
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2025 Ram 1500 vehicles. The front wheel hub encoder rings may be damaged, which can disable the electronic stability control system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electro…
The risk: Driving with a disabled electronic stability control system can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the front wheel bearing hub assembly, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2025 Ram 1500 pickup trucks. Incorrect headlight module software may cause the headlights to become inoperative. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective D…
The risk: Inoperative headlights can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the headlight module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 6, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is D4B.
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Cab Chassis, Ram 4500 Cab Chassis, and Ram 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. A software error may cause the instrument panel display to fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the re…
The risk: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as gear selection and warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 5, 2026. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 35D. Vehicle Identification N…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Cab Chassis, Ram 4500 Cab Chassis, and Ram 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. A software error may cause the instrument panel display to fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the re…
The risk: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as gear selection and warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 5, 2026. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 35D. Vehicle Identification N…
Buyer analysis
Chevrolet Silverado or RAM 1500: which should you buy?
The Silverado has slightly fewer complaints per year (about 823 vs. 864) and fewer recalls (101 vs. 129), but the RAM 1500 shows more crash-related complaints (400 vs. 233) and more deaths (15 vs. 3). In practice, the Silverado's complaint pattern centers on stalling and braking, while the RAM's includes more electrical glitches and higher reported crash involvement.
Key differences
- Silverado has 233 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths; RAM 1500 has 400 crash-related complaints and 15 deaths.
- Silverado's top issues are engine and power train, with reports of sudden neutral shifts and brake assist loss; RAM's top issues include electrical system problems like instrument cluster cutouts and random 9-1-1 calls.
- RAM 1500 has more recalls (129 vs. 101), including instrument cluster and brake light subjects, while Silverado recalls include fuel pump control and pedestrian alert warnings.
- Both average over 800 complaints per year, but the Silverado's engine complaints often involve stalling and diesel particulate filter clogging, while the RAM's include EcoDiesel tone wheel failures and random engine shutoffs.
- Check for any open recalls on the fuel pump control module and forward collision warning, and confirm the brake pedal feels firm with normal stopping power during a test drive.
- Listen for engine stalling or hesitation and verify the transmission does not slip into neutral at low speeds; scan for stored codes related to the diesel particulate filter if considering a Duramax.
- Test every electrical function: instrument cluster lights, ABS and brake warning lights, cruise control, and infotainment; watch for random seat or mirror movements.
- On EcoDiesel models, ask for service records on the tone wheel and check for stalling or rough running during acceleration; also verify the engine does not shut off while idling.
Before you buy
- Run a VIN check for open recalls on both models and confirm all recall repairs were completed.
- During a test drive, accelerate to highway speed and watch for dash light cutouts, engine stalls, or sudden loss of power.
- Test braking from low speed in a safe area to feel for firm pedal with reduced stopping effect, especially on the Silverado.
- For the RAM 1500, operate all electronics including cruise control, ABS warning lights, and the instrument cluster; note any random activations.
- Ask for a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with these trucks, focusing on transmission behavior and diesel emissions systems if equipped.
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 | RAM 1500 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 120 | 0 |
| 2025 | 157 | 0 |
| 2024 | 527 | 0 |
| 2023 | 450 | 603 |
| 2022 | 1390 | 3708 |
| 2021 | 961 | 679 |
| 2020 | 868 | 631 |
| 2019 | 2003 | 1481 |
| 2018 | 597 | 662 |
| 2017 | 1154 | 880 |
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 RAM 1500 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Silverado vs RAM 1500
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- RAM 1500 total complaints
- 8,644
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- RAM 1500 total recalls
- 129
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- RAM 1500 avg complaints/year
- 864.4
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet Silverado
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE
- RAM 1500 top complaint area
- ENGINE