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/yr) and 11 recalls, while the Silverado has 5,105 complaints over 10 years (510.5/yr) and 100 recalls. GT issues include air bag recalls and engine fires; Silverado problems span engine, transmission, and brakes. 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, high-performance sports car with a modest complaint history, averaging just over one complaint per year. Owners report issues centered on air bag recalls (including Takata inflators), engine cooling and head gasket failures, and occasional suspension or control arm problems that can lead to loss of control. While the total number of complaints is small, the severity of some incidents—such as engine fires and crashes—means buyers should verify all recall work is completed and inspect for signs of engine or suspension wear.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a mass-market pickup with a high complaint volume, averaging over 500 complaints per year. The dominant issues are engine problems (especially with the 6.2L and Duramax diesel variants), transmission and drivetrain failures, electrical system glitches that can affect braking and steering, and brake system complaints. Many complaints involve sudden loss of power or braking, which are serious safety concerns. The Silverado also has a large number of recalls, so checking recall status is essential.
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 | 5,105 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 11 Better | 100 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 117 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.1 Better | 510.5 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 Better | 104 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 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 GT
- 01AIR BAGS5
- 02ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
- 03SUSPENSION1
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
- 05POWER TRAIN1
Owners report Takata air bag recalls where parts were unavailable or repairs were delayed, leaving vehicles with potentially dangerous inflators. One complaint mentions a recall repair performed but a follow-up notice for another air bag issue, indicating ongoing concerns.
There are reports of head gasket failures causing fuel smell and jerking, and one severe case of wheel breakage leading to an engine block fire that destroyed the vehicle. These are high-cost repairs and safety risks.
A complaint describes losing control at 65 mph after hitting a speed bump, causing the vehicle to spin. Another mentions upper and lower control arm imperfections linked to a crash, suggesting suspension components may be prone to failure.
“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
- 01ENGINE1,698
- 02POWER TRAIN1,453
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM982
- 04SERVICE BRAKES691
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER542
Owners report severe issues with the 6.2L motor, including sudden loss of power and engine failure, and with the Duramax diesel, repeated diesel particulate filter clogging requiring dealer service. These can leave you stranded and are costly to repair.
Transmission problems are common, such as the vehicle suddenly shifting into neutral while driving, which is dangerous. Many complaints overlap with engine issues, indicating drivetrain reliability concerns.
Electrical failures can cause sudden loss of braking and steering, as described in a complaint where the vehicle lost motive power and brakes became inoperable. This is a critical safety issue.
Brake complaints include sudden severe loss of braking effectiveness even with a firm pedal, and brake failure linked to electrical issues. This is a top safety concern for any buyer.
“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 — 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 GT or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Ford GT has far fewer complaints per year (1.1) compared to the Chevrolet Silverado (510.5), indicating a lower frequency of reported issues. However, the GT's issues are severe when they occur, while the Silverado's high volume reflects widespread problems across many systems. In practice, the GT may be more reliable in terms of complaint count, but the Silverado's issues are more common and varied.
Key differences
- The Ford GT has only 10 complaints over 9 years, while the Silverado has 5,105 over 10 years—a dramatic difference in reported issue frequency.
- Ford GT complaints focus on air bag recalls and engine/suspension failures, whereas Silverado complaints span engine, transmission, electrical, and brakes, indicating broader systemic problems.
- Silverado has 100 recalls versus 11 for the GT, suggesting more widespread safety and reliability campaigns.
- The GT's issues are often severe (engine fire, loss of control), while the Silverado's include sudden loss of power and braking, which are also critical but more frequent.
- Check for open Takata air bag recalls and ensure all recall repairs are completed, as parts were historically unavailable.
- Inspect the engine for signs of head gasket failure (coolant leaks, white smoke) and ask about any history of overheating or engine fire.
- Verify the engine type: 6.2L gasoline and Duramax diesel have known issues; ask for service records of any engine or transmission repairs.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, including sudden stops, and check for any warning lights related to the electrical system that could affect braking or steering.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA's website to check for open recalls on both vehicles.
- For the Ford GT, request proof of all air bag recall repairs and have a mechanic inspect the head gasket and suspension components.
- For the Silverado, ask for a diagnostic scan to check for any stored codes related to engine, transmission, or electrical systems.
- Take both vehicles for a test drive that includes highway speeds and sudden braking to feel for any drivetrain or brake issues.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with each model, especially for the GT's performance parts and the Silverado's diesel engine if applicable.
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 | 1340 |
| 2021 | 0 | 934 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 | 1992 |
| 2018 | 0 | 591 |
| 2017 | 0 | 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 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
- 5,105
- FORD GT total recalls
- 11
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 100
- FORD GT avg complaints/year
- 1.1
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 510.5
- More reliable overall
- FORD GT
- FORD GT top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE