Head-to-head reliability
FORD GT vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the FORD GT 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 GT vs Chevrolet Silverado: The Ford GT has 10 complaints over 9 years (1.1/year) and 11 recalls, while the Silverado has 8,227 complaints over 10 years (822.7/year) and 101 recalls. The GT's main issue is Takata airbag recalls; the Silverado reports engine, brake, and electrical failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD GT or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD GT
The Ford GT is a low-volume exotic, so its 10 complaints over 9 years reflect a tiny owner pool rather than a trouble-free design. The dominant issue is the Takata airbag inflator recall, with owners reporting repeated notices and parts shortages. Other reports include engine overheating, fuel smell, and a suspension-related loss of control. For a buyer, the main concern is ensuring all open recalls are completed, especially the airbag fix.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a high-volume full-size truck with 8,227 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 823 per year. Owners frequently report engine problems such as rough running or diesel particulate filter soot accumulation, transmission issues like sudden neutral engagement, and electrical faults that can cause engine shutdown or brake loss. These patterns suggest that while many trucks are fine, a notable number experience serious drivability and safety-related failures.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD GT | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 10 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 11 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.1 Better | 822.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 Better | 160 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 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 GT
- 01AIR BAGS5
- 02ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
- 03SUSPENSION1
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
- 05POWER TRAIN1
Owners report receiving Takata airbag recalls for the front driver and passenger inflators, with some saying parts were unavailable and repairs delayed. This matters because an unrepaired inflator can rupture in a crash, turning a minor collision into a fatal one.
One owner heard a loud noise, felt a jerk, and smelled fuel, leading to a head gasket replacement. Another reported an engine block fire that destroyed the car. These are severe, potentially catastrophic failures that can strand or endanger a buyer.
A owner lost control at 65 mph after hitting a speed bump, and the car spun. Another complaint mentions control arm imperfections and a crash. Suspension failures at speed are extremely dangerous and should be inspected carefully.
A lawyer requested records for a recall involving upper and lower control arms after a consumer lost control and crashed. This suggests possible structural or suspension defects that may not be captured under a single component category.
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR HAD BEEN PERFORMED CONCERNING THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS. A MONTH LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V384000 (AIR BA…”
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD GT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V319000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT O…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Owners of 2026 Silverados report engine shutdowns while driving, sometimes with a 'Return to Neutral' message, and diesel models experience repeated excessive soot accumulation in the particulate filter. These issues can cause sudden loss of power and require dealer visits.
Complaints include a new truck with under 300 miles suddenly going into neutral while driving uphill in a parking garage. This can leave the driver unable to accelerate or move, creating a rollaway or crash risk.
Owners report sudden loss of normal braking with a firm pedal but reduced stopping power, as well as engine shut-off while driving with dashboard messages. Electrical faults that affect brakes or engine operation are serious safety concerns.
One owner experienced severe loss of braking shortly after dropping a child at school, with the pedal firm but braking ineffective. Another had the truck shut off completely in a parking lot, losing acceleration and screens. Brake failures can lead 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 GT — 11 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer servi…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Maria…
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners of the recall an…
The defect: Ford Motor Company, (Ford) is conducting a regional recall for certain model year 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflators in all affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall began January 30, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S28…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2014 Mustang vehicles manufactured April 6, 2004, to June 21, 2014, and 2005-2006 GT vehicles manufactured February 20, 2004, to September 22, 2006. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 10, 2016. Even if interi…
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 GT or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Ford GT has far fewer complaints per year (about 1.1) than the Chevrolet Silverado (about 823), but the GT's small owner base makes direct comparison tricky. In practice, the Silverado's higher volume means more reported problems, but many are serious safety issues like brake loss and engine shutdown. The GT's main risk is the Takata airbag recall, which is critical to address.
Key differences
- The Ford GT's complaints are dominated by Takata airbag recalls, while the Silverado's top issues are engine, power train, and electrical problems reported by many owners.
- Silverado owners report sudden loss of braking and engine shutdown while driving, whereas Ford GT reports include head gasket failure, fuel smell, and suspension-related loss of control.
- The Ford GT has 1 crash-related complaint and 1 death, while the Silverado has 233 crash-related complaints, 160 injuries, and 3 deaths, reflecting its much larger fleet.
- Recall subjects differ: the GT has multiple airbag inflator recalls, while the Silverado has recalls for fuel pump control, tire pressure monitoring, and forward collision warnings.
- Confirm that the Takata airbag inflator recall has been performed on both driver and passenger sides; ask for documentation.
- Inspect for signs of head gasket failure such as coolant loss, white exhaust smoke, or fuel smell, and check suspension components for cracks or wear.
- Test drive at various speeds and check for sudden loss of braking, engine shutdown, or transmission slipping into neutral.
- Ask for service records related to diesel particulate filter soot accumulation on Duramax models, and check for electrical gremlins like flickering screens or warning messages.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see all open recalls for the specific vehicle.
- For the Ford GT, verify the airbag inflator recall was completed and ask for the repair invoice.
- For the Silverado, have a mechanic scan for stored engine and transmission codes, and test the brakes and electrical system thoroughly.
- Request a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with the model, focusing on the reported problem areas.
- Obtain a vehicle history report to check for prior accidents or lemon law buybacks.
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 GT | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 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 GT or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD GT vs Chevrolet Silverado
- FORD GT total complaints
- 10
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- FORD GT total recalls
- 11
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- FORD GT avg complaints/year
- 1.1
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- FORD GT
- FORD GT top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE