Head-to-head reliability
FORD F 650 vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the FORD F 650 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 650 vs Chevrolet Silverado: The F-650 has 20 complaints over 10 years (2.0/yr) with no crashes, while the Silverado has 5,105 complaints (510.5/yr) with 117 crashes. Engine and brake issues are common in both, but the Silverado's higher rate suggests more frequent problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD F 650 or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD F 650
The Ford F-650 is a heavy-duty commercial truck, often used for towing or as a work vehicle. Over the past decade, owners have reported a relatively low number of complaints, averaging about 2 per year, with no crashes or injuries. The most common issues involve the service brakes, steering, and engine, with some reports of sudden loss of power and brake/steering assist. While these are serious when they occur, the low frequency suggests that most owners may not encounter them, but those who do face significant safety concerns.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a popular full-size pickup truck with a much higher volume of complaints—over 5,000 in the same period, averaging more than 500 per year. Engine and powertrain issues dominate, including reports of sudden power loss, transmission problems, and engine failures. There are also numerous electrical system and brake complaints, some leading to crashes and injuries. This pattern indicates that while the Silverado is widely used, a notable number of owners experience reliability and safety problems that require attention.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD F 650 | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 20 Better | 5,105 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 8 Better | 100 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 117 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 2.0 Better | 510.5 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 104 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
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 650
- 01SERVICE BRAKES16
- 02STEERING6
- 03ENGINE5
- 04POWER TRAIN4
- 05FUEL SYSTEM3
Owners report issues such as the 'Service Advance Trac' warning appearing, abnormal brake pedal sounds, and parking brake failure. These problems can affect braking performance and may lead to a loss of braking confidence.
There are reports of steering tie-rod assembly issues and a sudden loss of steering assist when the engine quits. This can make the vehicle difficult to control, especially at speed.
Catastrophic engine failure has been reported, such as camshaft/lifter failure at around 48,000 miles, requiring expensive repairs. Also, the engine may suddenly quit, leading to a loss of power and assist systems.
Some complaints mention the vehicle suddenly going into neutral or losing drive, which can be dangerous in traffic. This is often linked to the engine or transmission control issues.
“Picked up the brand new F650 rollback tow truck from the dealer in Ohio. Traveling back to California with a Chevy Yukon 2WD on the bed. Approx 200 miles from the dealer the "Service Advance Trac warning appeared on the dash. The traction yellow light and wre…”
“The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-650. The contact stated while releasing the brake pedal and driving from a complete stop, the brake pedal made abnormal sounds. The contact also stated that the parking brake was not operative. The vehicle was taken to the deale…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE1,698
- 02POWER TRAIN1,453
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM982
- 04SERVICE BRAKES691
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER542
Frequent reports of engine problems, including sudden loss of power, abnormal noises, and failures. For example, some owners have experienced catastrophic engine failure or excessive soot accumulation in diesel particulate filters, requiring dealer intervention.
Transmission issues are common, such as the vehicle suddenly shifting into neutral or losing drive, especially under load. This can leave drivers stranded or cause accidents.
Electrical problems often manifest as warning lights, loss of braking or steering assist, and even complete loss of motive power. Some owners report that the vehicle becomes inoperable while driving.
Brake failures are reported, including a sudden severe loss of braking effectiveness even when the pedal feels firm. This is a critical safety issue that has led to crashes.
“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 650 — 8 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 F-Super Duty F250, F350, F450, F550, F600, and 2021-2022 F-650, F750 vehicles. Biodiesel deposits may form on the pump drivetrain roller components, which could lead to failure of the high pressure fuel pump.
The risk: High pressure fuel pump failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) and Transmission Control Module (TCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Fo…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2024 F-650 and F-750 vehicles. The parking brake may malfunction and allow the lever to be released without pressing the release button.
The risk: A parking brake that is released unexpectedly may result in a vehicle roll away, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the parking brake handle assembly. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 17, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S09.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, and Medium Duty F-650 and F-750 vehicles equipped with 6.7L diesel engines. A small void may be present in the top-center of the vehicle's underhood secondary fuel filter cap, which may progress to a p…
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the primary and secondary fuel filters, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 28, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S01.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-650 and F-750 vehicles equipped with 7.3L gas engines. The transmission oil cooler line may contact the air conditioning compressor pulley, possibly causing a transmission fluid leak.
The risk: Leaking transmission fluid may contact hot engine components, increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect transmission oil cooler lines for proper orientation and damage, correcting the lines and replacing any that are damaged, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2020. Owners may cont…
Chevrolet Silverado — 100 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with power-unlatching tailgates. The tailgate's electronic gate-release switch may short circuit due to water intrusion, which can result in the tailgate inadvertently…
The risk: An unlatched tailgate may open while driving and result in a loss of unsecured cargo, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised to check that the tailgate is closed and latched before driving. Dealers will replace the exterior touchpad switch assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2024. Owners may contact Chevr…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 vehicles. The steering gear shaft may fracture and disconnect from the steering arm.
The risk: A steering arm that disconnects may result in a total loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the steering gear, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 22, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-4…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra HD 2500, 3500 vehicles equipped with power-unlatching tailgates. The tailgate's electronic gate-release switch may short circuit due to water intrusion, which can result in the tailgate inadvertentl…
The risk: An unlatched tailgate may open and result in a loss of unsecured cargo, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised to check that the tailgate is closed and latched before driving. Dealers will replace the exterior touchpad switch assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 17, 2024. Owners may contact…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023-2024 GMC Hummer EV pick up, 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV, and 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV vehicles. The left or right front seat belt buckle attachment bolts may not be tightened properly.
The risk: An improperly tightened seat belt buckle may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will tighten the left and right front seat belt buckle attachment bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 21, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-833-EVCHEVY (1-833-382-4389) (TTY 711 /…
Buyer analysis
FORD F 650 or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
Based on NHTSA data, the Ford F-650 has far fewer complaints per year (2.0) compared to the Chevrolet Silverado (510.5). This suggests that, on average, the F-650 is less likely to experience reported issues, but the severity of the problems when they occur is similar. In practice, the Silverado's higher complaint rate means a buyer is more likely to encounter a problem, but the F-650's issues are still serious and should not be overlooked.
Key differences
- The F-650 has a much lower complaint rate (2.0/yr) than the Silverado (510.5/yr), indicating fewer reported problems per vehicle.
- The Silverado has a higher number of crash-related complaints (117) and injuries (104), while the F-650 has none, suggesting more severe safety incidents in the Silverado.
- Engine and powertrain issues are prominent in both, but the Silverado's complaints are more numerous and include electrical system failures that can lead to loss of control.
- The F-650's complaints often involve brake and steering assist loss due to engine shutdown, while the Silverado's include sudden transmission neutral events and brake failures.
- Inspect the brake system thoroughly, including the Advance Trac warning and parking brake operation, as these are common failure points.
- Check for any signs of engine trouble, such as unusual noises or stalling, and verify the condition of the camshaft and lifters if the vehicle has high mileage.
- Pay close attention to the engine and transmission, especially for any warning lights or unusual behavior like sudden loss of power or shifting into neutral.
- Test the brakes and electrical system, as failures in these areas have been reported and can lead to dangerous situations.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for any open recalls on the specific VIN.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on brakes, steering, engine, and transmission.
- Test drive the vehicle under various conditions, including highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic, to check for any warning lights or abnormal behavior.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for the engine and transmission, to see if any major repairs have been done.
- Research common issues for the specific model year and engine type to know what to look for.
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 650 | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 98 |
| 2025 | 4 | 150 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 | 2 | 1340 |
| 2021 | 4 | 934 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 4 | 1992 |
| 2018 | 0 | 591 |
| 2017 | 3 | 0 |
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 650 or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD F 650 vs Chevrolet Silverado
- FORD F 650 total complaints
- 20
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 5,105
- FORD F 650 total recalls
- 8
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 100
- FORD F 650 avg complaints/year
- 2.0
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 510.5
- More reliable overall
- FORD F 650
- FORD F 650 top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE