Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet Silverado vs Toyota Tundra
How the Chevrolet Silverado and Toyota Tundra 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 Toyota Tundra: The Silverado averages 134 complaints per year with 100 recalls, while the Tundra averages 157 complaints per year with 74 recalls. Silverado owners report sudden transmission line failures and brake loss; Tundra owners report engine stalling and throttle delay. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet Silverado or Toyota Tundra more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado shows a high complaint rate of 134 per year, with major issues in the powertrain, brakes, engine, and electrical system. Owners report sudden transmission fluid line failures at highway speed, brake system faults causing loss of stopping power, engine knocking requiring full replacement, and electrical problems leading to loss of vehicle control. These patterns suggest the Silverado may be prone to unexpected breakdowns and safety-critical failures.
Toyota Tundra
The Toyota Tundra has a slightly higher complaint rate of 157 per year, dominated by engine and powertrain problems. Owners describe engine stalling without warning, severe jerking and shaking from new, and a dangerous throttle delay when cold that leaves the vehicle unresponsive from a stop. Fuel system issues and water leaks also appear. The Tundra's complaints center on drivability and reliability, with potential safety risks from sudden power loss.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet Silverado | Toyota Tundra |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,340 Better | 1,571 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 100 | 74 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 80 | 32 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 134.0 Better | 157.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 33 Better | 36 |
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
- 01POWER TRAIN339
- 02SERVICE BRAKES300
- 03ENGINE257
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM214
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER146
Transmission fluid lines fail without warning, causing rapid fluid loss and loss of drive while towing or at highway speed. This can leave you stranded or cause a crash.
Brake system faults, including loss of braking power and high-voltage battery faults in the EV model, have led to loss of vehicle control. Multiple dealer visits often don't resolve the issue.
Engines develop loud knocking noises as early as 3,000 miles, requiring complete replacement. Some trucks lose power at highway speed with no warning lights.
Electrical gremlins cause sudden loss of power steering, brake assist, and other critical systems, sometimes leading to complete loss of vehicle control.
“Vehicle: 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Incident Description: While driving at highway speed, the transmission fluid line failed and transmission fluid rapidly leaked from the vehicle. There were no warning lights, alerts, or messages before the failure occurr…”
“On XXX I was driving from [XXX] to my sister's house in [XXX]. I was relocating to [XXX] for a job. I was pulling a U-haul trailer (6x12) that contained significantly less weight than the truck can handle. About halfway there, on back roads, the truck suddenl…”
Toyota Tundra
- 01ENGINE516
- 02POWER TRAIN310
- 03FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM259
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER195
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM183
Engines stall without warning while driving, with no check engine light. New trucks also suffer from severe jerking and shaking that dealers often dismiss as 'break-in' but require multiple shop visits.
A dangerous throttle delay occurs when the vehicle is cold: pressing the accelerator from a stop yields no response for several seconds, risking accidents in traffic.
Fuel system issues contribute to the throttle delay and jerking, and some owners report the truck shutting off unexpectedly after short drives.
Water leaks during heavy rain from door handles, windshield areas, and the sunglasses compartment, causing interior damage and potential electrical issues.
“I bought the vehicle new in November 2025. 2026 Toyota Tubdra TRD SR5. In the first week I noticed a lot of jerking and shaking. I brought it to the dealer and was told it was a break in period and it should go away. I’ve had the truck in the shop 5-6 times s…”
“Were were driving, my 2021 Toyota Tundra, just stopped running. No check engine lights had come on until the engine stalled as we coasted to a stop on the side of the road. We had it towed to the Central Maine Motor in Waterville, Maine 04901. Central Maine M…”
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 — 100 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500 and 2017-2019 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with a Duramax diesel 6.6 liter engine and an optional engine-block heater cord. An electrical short-circuit may occur in the engine-block heater cable or…
The risk: An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will replace engine block heaters and heater cords. Vehicles that have this feature disabled as a remedy to the safety condition will be contacted and offered replacement block heaters and heater cords under a separate customer sat…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500, 5500 and 6500 vehicles and 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 vehicles and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with Duramax 6.6 liter diesel engines and an optional engine-block heater. The engine block heat…
The risk: A short-circuit may damage the engine components and increase the risk of fire.
The fix: GM will contact owners, dealers will replace the engine block heater, free of charge. Additionally, in Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 vehicles, dealers will install a new rerouted heater cord. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2018-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 Crew Cab trucks. The left or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall m…
The risk: A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2024. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC Customer Service at 888-988-7267.…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 vehicles equipped with a dual fuel tank option. The rear fuel tank may collapse and prevent the fuel pump from transferring fuel to the front tank, resulting in an engine stall.
The risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the fuel tank and fuel pump module, replacing them as necessary. Dealers will also add a vent hose to the rear tank assembly. Repairs will be performed free of charge. An interim owner notification letter informing own…
Toyota Tundra — 74 recalls
The defect: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling one 2026 Tundra truck. The current load carrying capacity modification label is incorrect. As such, this vehicle fails to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
The risk: An incorrect load carrying capacity modification label may lead to improper loading of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: SET will provide the owner with a new load carrying capacity modification label, free of charge. An owner notification letter is expected to be mailed September 4, 2026. The owner may contact SET's customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Tundra vehicles. The headlight electrical circuits may power the high and low beams simultaneously, which could overheat the electrical connector.
The risk: An overheated electrical connector can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will modify the engine wire harness assembly and replace any damaged bulb, bulb connector, and/or headlight assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota cus…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2022 Sequoia and 2007-2021 Tundra vehicles. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.
The risk: An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain JTEKT power steering gear assembly service parts for 2007-2021 Tundra and 2008-2022 Sequoia, part numbers 44250-0C160, 44250-0C131, 44250-0C170, and 11250-0C121. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorr…
The risk: An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 17, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall i…
Buyer analysis
Chevrolet Silverado or Toyota Tundra: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet Silverado has fewer complaints per year (134 vs 157), but its issues are more safety-critical—sudden brake loss and transmission failures. The Tundra's higher rate is driven by engine and drivability problems. In practice, the Silverado may pose a greater immediate safety risk, while the Tundra's issues are more about reliability and annoyance.
Key differences
- Silverado owners report sudden transmission fluid line failures and brake loss; Tundra owners report engine stalling and throttle delay.
- Silverado has more crash-related complaints (80 vs 32) and more recalls (100 vs 74), indicating more safety-related defects.
- Tundra's top issue is engine problems (516 complaints) vs Silverado's powertrain (339), but Silverado's brake complaints (300) are more safety-critical.
- Silverado has 33 injuries vs Tundra's 36, but Silverado's injuries come from fewer total complaints, suggesting higher severity per incident.
- Inspect the transmission fluid lines for leaks or corrosion, as sudden failure is a common complaint.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, including emergency stops, and check for any warning lights or unusual pedal feel.
- Test the throttle response from a cold start: if there is a delay or hesitation, it may indicate a known issue.
- Check for engine stalling by driving at various speeds and idling; also look for any check engine light history.
Before you buy
- Request service records for transmission repairs or replacements on the Silverado.
- On the Tundra, ask if the engine or fuel system has been updated for the stalling and throttle delay issues.
- Test drive both vehicles from a cold start to feel for hesitation, jerking, or unusual noises.
- Check NHTSA recall status for both vehicles and ensure all recalls have been performed.
- For the Silverado, verify brake system integrity and ask about any electrical system repairs.
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 | Toyota Tundra |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 70 | 20 |
| 2025 | 118 | 127 |
| 2024 | 0 | 311 |
| 2023 | 0 | 380 |
| 2022 | 0 | 417 |
| 2021 | 0 | 23 |
| 2020 | 0 | 45 |
| 2019 | 0 | 71 |
| 2018 | 0 | 99 |
| 2017 | 1152 | 78 |
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 Toyota Tundra in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Silverado vs Toyota Tundra
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 1,340
- Toyota Tundra total complaints
- 1,571
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 100
- Toyota Tundra total recalls
- 74
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 134.0
- Toyota Tundra avg complaints/year
- 157.1
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet Silverado
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Toyota Tundra top complaint area
- ENGINE