Head-to-head reliability
FORD F 250 vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the FORD F 250 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 250 vs Chevrolet Silverado: The Ford F-250 has 0 owner complaints and 25 recalls over 10 years, while the Chevrolet Silverado has 8,227 complaints, 101 recalls, and 233 crash-related reports. The Silverado's engine, brake, and electrical failures are more frequently reported. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD F 250 or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD F 250
The Ford F-250 is a heavy-duty pickup that, based on this data, has no owner complaints filed over the past decade. That doesn't mean it's perfect, but it does suggest that when something goes wrong, owners may be resolving it through recalls or dealer service rather than reporting it to NHTSA. The 25 recalls over 10 years point to potential issues with the engine, seat recliners, and rear axle, so a thorough pre-purchase inspection is still wise.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup with a very high number of owner complaints—over 8,200 in 10 years—and 101 recalls. The most common trouble spots are the engine, power train, electrical system, and brakes, with many reports describing sudden engine shutdowns, loss of braking, and transmission problems. The 233 crash-related complaints and 160 injuries indicate that some of these failures have contributed to accidents, so buyers should be especially cautious and check for open recalls.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD F 250 | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 25 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 Better | 822.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 160 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 3 |
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 250
No component data available.
Recalls mention engine issues, but no owner complaints describe specific symptoms. This means the exact failure pattern is unclear, but any engine-related recall should be addressed before purchase.
Recalls for the front seat recliner suggest a risk of the seatback unexpectedly reclining. That could affect driver control or injury risk in a crash, so check that the seat locks firmly in position.
A recall for the rear axle assembly points to a possible defect that could lead to loss of power or wheel issues. Have a mechanic inspect the axle for leaks, noise, or play.
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Owners report severe engine problems, including a 2026 Silverado with a 6.2L motor that failed shortly after purchase, and a 6.6L Duramax diesel that repeatedly clogged its diesel particulate filter, requiring dealer service. These issues can leave you stranded and lead to expensive repairs.
Complaints describe the truck suddenly shifting into neutral while driving slowly uphill, and the same 6.2L engine failure affecting power delivery. A transmission that drops out of gear is a serious safety concern.
Owners report sudden loss of braking with a firm pedal, and the engine shutting off while driving with messages like 'Return to Neutral' and 'Press Start.' These electrical glitches can disable critical safety systems without warning.
Complaints include a severe loss of normal braking shortly after dropping a child at school, and the truck shutting off completely in a parking lot with no acceleration. Brake failure is among the most dangerous defects a vehicle can have.
“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 F 250 — 25 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
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 2015-2017 F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 vehicles originally produced with black or body colored exterior door handles that may have been subsequently equipped with a chrome exterior door handle cover accessory kit purchased from a Ford…
The risk: If the doors unlatch and open in a side impact collision, the occupants have an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the accessory covers and refund the purchase price. The recall began July 13, 2017. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for the recall is 17C09.
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…
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 F 250 or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Ford F-250 has far fewer reported issues per year—0 complaints versus about 823 per year for the Chevrolet Silverado. In practice, that means Silverado owners are much more likely to experience engine, transmission, electrical, or brake problems that generate complaints, while F-250 owners report none. However, the F-250 still has 25 recalls, so it isn't trouble-free.
Key differences
- The Ford F-250 has 0 owner complaints and 25 recalls; the Chevrolet Silverado has 8,227 complaints and 101 recalls.
- Silverado complaints include sudden engine shutdowns, loss of braking, and transmission slipping into neutral—none of these are reported for the F-250.
- The Silverado has 233 crash-related complaints, 160 injuries, and 3 deaths; the F-250 has 0 in each category.
- F-250 recalls cover engine, seat recliner, and axle assembly; Silverado recalls cover fuel pump, tire pressure monitoring, and forward collision warnings.
- Check for open recalls on the engine, front seat recliner, and rear axle assembly—have a dealer confirm they are fixed.
- Test the driver and passenger seat recliners to ensure they lock securely and do not slip backward unexpectedly.
- Listen for engine misfires or rough running, especially on 6.2L and 6.6L Duramax models, and check for diesel particulate filter warning lights.
- Test the brakes at low speed and watch for any sudden loss of braking or a firm pedal with reduced stopping power; also check for messages like 'Return to Neutral' or 'Press Start' on the dash.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA's recall site and confirm all recalls for the specific truck have been completed.
- Take a long test drive that includes highway, uphill, and stop-and-go traffic to check for engine shutdowns, transmission slipping, or brake issues.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the engine, transmission, brakes, and electrical system, focusing on the complaint areas for each model.
- For the Silverado, ask for service records related to the diesel particulate filter and any engine or transmission repairs.
- For the F-250, verify that the seat recliner and axle recalls were addressed, and check for any unusual noises from the rear axle.
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 250 | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 120 |
| 2025 | 0 | 157 |
| 2024 | 0 | 527 |
| 2023 | 0 | 450 |
| 2022 | 0 | 1390 |
| 2021 | 0 | 961 |
| 2020 | 0 | 868 |
| 2019 | 0 | 2003 |
| 2018 | 0 | 597 |
| 2017 | 0 | 1154 |
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 250 or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD F 250 vs Chevrolet Silverado
- FORD F 250 total complaints
- 0
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- FORD F 250 total recalls
- 25
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- FORD F 250 avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- FORD F 250
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE