Head-to-head reliability
FORD F 150 vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the FORD F 150 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 F 150 vs Chevrolet Silverado: The F-150 averages 2,755 complaints per year with 10 deaths, while the Silverado averages 134 complaints per year with 0 deaths. The F-150's top issues are powertrain and electrical failures causing loss of control; the Silverado's include transmission leaks and engine knocking. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD F 150 or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 shows a high volume of complaints, averaging over 2,700 per year, with a heavy concentration in the powertrain and engine. Owners report issues like the shifter getting stuck in drive when parking, sudden loss of power, and severe vibrations after repairs. The electrical system also contributes to safety concerns, including total power loss while driving. With 141 recalls and 10 deaths reported, the F-150 demands careful pre-purchase inspection.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado has far fewer complaints, averaging 134 per year, but still shows notable problems in the powertrain, service brakes, and engine. Owners report transmission fluid line failures causing sudden leaks, engine knocking requiring replacement, and brake system malfunctions that prevent starting. The 100 recalls and 0 deaths suggest a lower severity, but issues like sudden power loss at highway speeds are concerning.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD F 150 | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 27,553 | 1,340 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 141 | 100 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 762 | 80 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 2755.3 | 134.0 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 714 | 33 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 10 | 0 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 F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN9,967
- 02ENGINE4,861
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3,474
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER3,211
- 05STRUCTURE1,485
Owners report the shifter getting stuck in drive when parking, failing to automatically shift into park, which can cause the truck to roll. Also, turbo wastegate issues and transmission fluid leaks are common, leading to loss of drive.
Engine problems include the integrated park module failing to engage park, and sudden loss of power while driving. Some owners report severe shaking and vibrations even after repairs.
Total power loss while driving is a critical issue, disabling brakes, steering, and airbags. Also, ABS system noise after recall service indicates unresolved electrical gremlins.
“When I am parking the truck, I press and hold the brake pedal, While the truck shifter in in "Drive", I press the start/stop button to shut truck down, the shifter gets stuck in "drive" and doesn't automatically shift in to park. The truck locks down and will…”
“My truck is a 2025 Ford F150 STX with 5,900 miles on it. This truck was purchased new at River City Ford in Lavalette, WV The component in questions seems to be involved with the turbos and more specifically the wastegate that attached to the turbos. Also, ye…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01POWER TRAIN339
- 02SERVICE BRAKES300
- 03ENGINE257
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM214
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER146
Transmission fluid line failures cause sudden fluid leaks without warning, leading to loss of drive. Some owners report the truck suddenly stopping while towing, even with light loads.
Brake system malfunctions prevent the vehicle from starting, and high-voltage battery faults in the EV model cause loss of vehicle control. These issues persist after multiple dealer visits.
Engine knocking noises requiring complete replacement, and sudden loss of power at highway speeds with metal rattling sounds, indicate serious internal failures.
“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…”
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 F 150 — 141 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 F-150, 2022-2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, Maverick, 2024-2026 Ranger, 2023-2026 F-600 SD, 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2026 E-Transit vehicles. When towing a trailer, the integrated trailer module (ITRM) may los…
The risk: Trailer lights or brakes that do not function can reduce the driver’s ability to control the trailer and decrease the trailers visibility to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The integrated trailer module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, 2024 Expedition and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine. The engines may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a rapid oil leak.
The risk: A rapid oil leak can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the engine cup plug alignment, and replace the plug if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 23, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for th…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Bronco, 2024 Ranger, 2025 Mustang, Explorer, and Aviator vehicles. The transmission valve body may have been machined incorrectly, which can cause reverse gear failure, or unexpected forward movement in reverse or neutral gear.
The risk: Unexpected vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the transmission main control valve body, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S19.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Expedition, and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. The engine may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a rapid oil leak.
The risk: A rapid oil leak can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the engine cup plug alignment, and replace the plug if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…
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…
Buyer analysis
FORD F 150 or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet Silverado has far fewer complaints per year (134 vs 2,755) and no reported deaths, suggesting a lower frequency of severe issues. However, both vehicles have critical safety-related failures. The F-150's higher complaint volume and crash involvement make it a riskier choice for reliability-conscious buyers.
Key differences
- The F-150 has 20 times more complaints per year than the Silverado, with 10 deaths reported versus 0.
- F-150 owners report total power loss while driving, disabling safety systems; Silverado owners report transmission fluid line failures and engine knocking.
- The F-150's powertrain issues include shifter park failures; the Silverado's include sudden transmission fluid leaks.
- Both have electrical problems, but the F-150's are more severe, causing complete loss of control.
- Check for shifter park failure: test if the truck automatically shifts into park when turned off in drive.
- Inspect for signs of total power loss: ask about any incidents where the truck lost all electrical power while driving.
- Check transmission fluid lines for leaks or damage, especially if the truck has been used for towing.
- Listen for engine knocking at startup and during acceleration, as it may indicate a need for engine replacement.
Before you buy
- Test the F-150's shifter park function by parking in drive and turning off the engine; ensure it shifts to park automatically.
- On the Silverado, inspect the transmission fluid lines for any signs of leakage or corrosion.
- Check for open recalls on both vehicles using the VIN, especially for electrical and powertrain recalls.
- Take a test drive at highway speeds and listen for unusual noises or vibrations in both trucks.
- Review the vehicle's service history for any prior engine or transmission 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 | FORD F 150 | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 9 | 70 |
| 2025 | 320 | 118 |
| 2024 | 597 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1448 | 0 |
| 2022 | 3290 | 0 |
| 2021 | 4938 | 0 |
| 2020 | 2530 | 0 |
| 2019 | 5718 | 0 |
| 2018 | 5505 | 0 |
| 2017 | 3198 | 1152 |
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 F 150 or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD F 150 vs Chevrolet Silverado
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 27,553
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 1,340
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 141
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 100
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 2755.3
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 134.0
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet Silverado
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN