Head-to-head reliability
FORD F 750 vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the FORD F 750 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 750 vs Chevrolet Silverado: The Ford F-750 has 6 complaints and 0 crashes over 10 years, while the Chevrolet Silverado has 5,105 complaints, 117 crashes, and 1 death. The F-750's main issue is fuel system fires; the Silverado suffers engine, brake, and electrical failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD F 750 or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD F 750
The Ford F-750 is a heavy-duty commercial truck, often used for work like hauling or emergency services. Over 10 years, it has only 6 complaints and 7 recalls, with no crashes, injuries, or deaths reported. The main pattern is fuel and engine issues, including fires from fuel system failures. For a buyer, this suggests a low complaint volume but potentially serious fuel-related problems.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup used for personal and work duties. It has a massive 5,105 complaints and 100 recalls over 10 years, with 117 crash-related reports, 104 injuries, and 1 death. Owners frequently report engine, power train, electrical, and brake problems, often on very new vehicles. This indicates a high volume of issues that can affect safety and reliability.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD F 750 | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 6 Better | 5,105 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 Better | 100 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 117 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.6 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 750
- 01ENGINE4
- 02FUEL SYSTEM1
- 03DIESEL1
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
- 05POWER TRAIN1
Owners report high-pressure fuel system failures, including secondary fuel filter problems that can lead to fires from the injector manifold. One complaint described flames coming from the engine while driving. This is a serious fire risk that could cause vehicle damage or injury.
Complaints include reduced power and failure to accelerate, sometimes with no warning light. This can leave a driver stranded or unable to maintain speed, which is dangerous in traffic.
Similar to fuel system issues, diesel-related complaints mention reduced power and acceleration problems. These can require dealer repairs and may recur, affecting vehicle uptime.
One complaint involves the automatic transmission cooling unit and lines, which could lead to transmission overheating or failure. This might result in costly repairs and loss of drive power.
“1. The high pressure fuel system failed, specifically the secondary fuel filter. The fire originated from the injector manifold, burning straight up to the bottom of the hood. Fuel was everywhere and the driver could obviously smell it. 2. This could have bee…”
“The contact owned a 2019 Ford F-750 SD. The contact stated that while an employer was driving at approximately 40 MPH, he smelled a burning odor. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and inspected. The contact observed flames emanating from the eng…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE1,698
- 02POWER TRAIN1,453
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM982
- 04SERVICE BRAKES691
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER542
Owners report severe engine issues, including loss of motive power, loud pinging sounds, and diesel particulate filter soot accumulation requiring dealer service. Some incidents happened at very low mileage, leaving drivers stranded.
Complaints include sudden shifting into neutral and loss of power, sometimes in parking garages or while driving. This can cause unexpected rollaways or inability to move, increasing crash risk.
Reports include sudden loss of braking effectiveness, with a firm pedal but reduced stopping power, and loss of steering and brakes at highway speeds. These are critical safety failures that could lead to crashes.
Owners describe severe loss of normal braking, where the vehicle would not stop as expected. This directly threatens occupant and pedestrian safety.
“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 750 — 7 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 2020-2022 F-Super Duty F250, F350, F450, F550, 2021-2022 F600, and 2022 F750 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 24V957. Biodiesel deposits may form on the pump drivetrain roller components, which could lead to failure of the h…
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) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed mailed April 7, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S…
The defect: Mickey Truck Bodies, Inc. (Mickey Truck Bodies) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford F-750 based vehicles equipped with ASA Electronics Voyager monitors used to display the back-up camera image. The affected monitors may revert back to the factory default settings which may cause the camera image to…
The risk: The driver may inadvertently turn the wrong direction to avoid an object behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mickey Truck Bodies will work with ASA Electronics to notify owners, and provide a remedy to keep the image from reversing, free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2019. Owners may contact ASA Electronics customer service at 1-800-384-4400…
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.
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 750 or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Ford F-750 has far fewer issues per year (0.6 complaints/year) compared to the Chevrolet Silverado (510.5 complaints/year). In practice, the F-750 owner is much less likely to experience frequent problems, but when issues occur, they can involve fires. The Silverado's high complaint volume means a buyer should expect more visits to the dealer and a higher chance of safety-related failures.
Key differences
- The Ford F-750 has 6 complaints and 0 crashes, while the Chevrolet Silverado has 5,105 complaints and 117 crash-related reports.
- Ford F-750 complaints center on fuel system fires and power loss; Silverado complaints include engine failures, sudden neutral shifts, and brake loss.
- The Silverado has 100 recalls versus 7 for the F-750, indicating more widespread safety defects.
- Silverado reports include 104 injuries and 1 death, while the F-750 has none, highlighting a higher safety risk in the Silverado.
- Inspect the high-pressure fuel system, especially the secondary fuel filter and injector manifold, for leaks or signs of overheating that could lead to fire.
- Check for any history of reduced power or acceleration issues, and ensure the diesel particulate filter and fuel pump have been serviced per recalls.
- Test the brakes thoroughly for any loss of stopping power or unusual pedal feel, as owners report sudden brake failure.
- Listen for engine pinging or rough running, and check for transmission issues like sudden neutral engagement, especially at low speeds.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed, especially fuel system and brake recalls.
- Have a mechanic inspect the fuel system and engine for leaks, fire damage, or signs of failure.
- Test drive at various speeds and braking conditions to check for power loss, brake performance, and transmission behavior.
- For the Silverado, specifically test the brakes and electrical system, and scan for any stored error codes.
- Consider an extended warranty due to the potential for costly repairs, especially on the Silverado.
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 750 | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 98 |
| 2025 | 0 | 150 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 | 1340 |
| 2021 | 1 | 934 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 | 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 750 or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD F 750 vs Chevrolet Silverado
- FORD F 750 total complaints
- 6
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 5,105
- FORD F 750 total recalls
- 7
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 100
- FORD F 750 avg complaints/year
- 0.6
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 510.5
- More reliable overall
- FORD F 750
- FORD F 750 top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE