Head-to-head reliability
FORD Crown Victoria vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the FORD Crown Victoria 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
FORD Crown Victoria vs Chevrolet Silverado: The Crown Victoria averaged 95 complaints per year with 4 deaths, while the Silverado averaged 823 complaints per year with 3 deaths. The Silverado has more crashes (233 vs. 79) and injuries (160 vs. 46). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD Crown Victoria or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD Crown Victoria
The Ford Crown Victoria is a large, rear-wheel-drive sedan often used as a fleet vehicle, taxi, or police car. Over 10 years, it averaged about 95 complaints per year, with the most common issues in exterior lighting, steering, and electrical systems. Owners frequently report melting headlight sockets, turn signals that blink rapidly, and steering problems that can lead to separation. These are not just minor annoyances; some steering failures have resulted in loss of control, and there are 4 reported deaths in the data.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup truck available in many configurations, from work truck to luxury trim. It averaged about 823 complaints per year over 10 years, with major problem areas in the engine, power train, electrical system, and service brakes. Owners describe serious issues like engines shutting off while driving, sudden loss of braking, and transmission problems even on very low-mileage vehicles. With 233 crash-related complaints and 160 injuries, these are not just inconvenience issues.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD Crown Victoria | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 954 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 37 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 79 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 95.4 Better | 822.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 46 Better | 160 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 4 | 3 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.
FORD Crown Victoria
- 01EXTERIOR LIGHTING285
- 02STEERING186
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM109
- 04POWER TRAIN82
- 05SUSPENSION75
Owners report headlight sockets melting, causing bulbs to blow out repeatedly, and turn signals that blink rapidly even when no bulbs are burned out. This can leave you with non-functioning lights, which is a safety risk and a recurring repair cost.
Complaints include steering shaft separation with no warning, and banging or clunking noises from the steering wheel while driving. Some owners had recall work done but still experienced failures, meaning the problem may not be fully resolved.
The instrument cluster can become inoperable, including the speedometer, and dash lights may go out when headlights are turned on. This means you may not know your speed or see critical warnings, increasing driving risk.
Owners report unintended shifting from reverse to drive, causing sudden acceleration, and stalling at high speeds with no restart. These issues can lead to crashes and leave you stranded.
“THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WORKS SOMETIMES BUT BLINKS RAPIDLY MOST OF THE TIME. NO BULBS ARE BURNED OUT. SOMETIMES THE DASH LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON AND THEN THE DASH LIGHTS COME BACK ON WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF. SOMETIMES THE DASH…”
“THE HEADLIGHT SOCKETS ARE MELTING, CAUSING THE BULBS TO BLOW OUT. WE HAVE REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 6 SOCKETS, MOSTLY ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, AND MULTIPLE BULBS. MHQ SAYS THIS IS COMMON. SHOULD THERE BE A RECALL? SHOULD FORD BE FIXING THIS? *TR”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Owners of newer Silverados report engine shutdowns while driving, sometimes with messages like 'Return to Neutral' or 'Press Start.' Diesel models have had repeated diesel particulate filter soot accumulation events requiring dealer service. These can leave you without power in traffic.
Complaints include sudden shifting into neutral while driving slowly, even with less than 300 miles on the odometer, and transmission problems that cause loss of acceleration. This can happen in parking lots or on the road, creating a dangerous situation.
Owners describe sudden, severe loss of normal braking with a firm brake pedal but reduced stopping power, as well as screens going blank and engine shut-off. These electrical glitches can disable critical safety features.
Reports include braking that does not stop the vehicle normally, often accompanied by other electrical issues. This is a serious safety concern because it directly affects your ability to stop.
“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.
FORD Crown Victoria — 37 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria, 2005-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured March 23, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and 2005-2011 Lincoln Town Car vehicles manufactured March 8, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and on which the upper intermedi…
The risk: Improper servicing of the upper intermediate shaft could cause the shaft to separate, which can then result in a loss of steering control, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify the owners of vehicles whose repair records reflect that the upper intermediate steering shaft was repaired during the course of the prior recall 13V-385. Dealers will inspect and replace the upper immediate shaft if neces…
The defect: Ford is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria (including Crown Victoria Police Interceptors), Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car vehicles. The affected vehicles are currently registered or were originally sold in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinoi…
The risk: If the lower bearing separates, the vehicle may experience a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the lower intermediate shaft, free of charge. The upper intermediate shaft and steering column lower bearing will be inspected to identify any damage that may have occurred as a result of lo…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria, 2005-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured March 23, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and 2005-2011 Lincoln Town Car vehicles manufactured March 8, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and on which the upper intermedi…
The risk: Improper servicing of the upper intermediate shaft could cause the shaft to separate, which can then result in a loss of steering control, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify the owners of vehicles whose repair records reflect that the upper intermediate steering shaft was repaired during the course of the prior recall 13V-385. Dealers will inspect and replace the upper immediate shaft if neces…
The defect: Ford is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria (including Crown Victoria Police Interceptors), Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car vehicles. The affected vehicles are currently registered or were originally sold in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinoi…
The risk: If the lower bearing separates, the vehicle may experience a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the lower intermediate shaft, free of charge. The upper intermediate shaft and steering column lower bearing will be inspected to identify any damage that may have occurred as a result of lo…
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
FORD Crown Victoria or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Ford Crown Victoria has far fewer complaints per year (about 95 vs. 823 for the Silverado), but both have serious safety-related issues. The Silverado's higher volume means more frequent problems, especially with engines, transmissions, and brakes, while the Crown Victoria's issues tend to cluster in lighting and steering. In practice, the Crown Victoria may have fewer overall trips to the shop, but the Silverado's problems can be more severe and costly.
Key differences
- The Silverado has about 8.6 times more complaints per year than the Crown Victoria, with engine and power train issues dominating.
- Crown Victoria problems often involve exterior lighting (melting sockets) and steering (shaft separation), while Silverado issues include engine shutdowns and sudden loss of braking.
- The Silverado has more crash-related complaints (233 vs. 79) and injuries (160 vs. 46), but fewer deaths (3 vs. 4) in the data.
- Both have recalls, but the Silverado has 101 recalls vs. 37 for the Crown Victoria, covering systems like fuel pumps and forward collision avoidance.
- Check headlight sockets for melting or discoloration, and test all turn signals for rapid blinking or intermittent operation.
- Inspect steering for clunking noises or play, and verify that any open steering recalls have been completed.
- Test drive at various speeds and in parking lots to check for sudden engine shutdowns, transmission slipping into neutral, or loss of braking.
- Ask for service records related to diesel particulate filter (if diesel) and ensure all recalls, especially fuel pump and brake-related, are addressed.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the specific vehicle, focusing on the known problem areas for each model.
- During the test drive, pay attention to lighting function, steering feel, transmission shifting, and braking performance.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for recalls and any repairs related to the common complaints.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection that includes a scan for stored error codes, even if no warning lights are on.
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 FORD Crown Victoria or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD Crown Victoria vs Chevrolet Silverado
- FORD Crown Victoria total complaints
- 954
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- FORD Crown Victoria total recalls
- 37
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- FORD Crown Victoria avg complaints/year
- 95.4
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- FORD Crown Victoria
- FORD Crown Victoria top complaint area
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE