Head-to-head reliability
GMC Sierra vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the GMC Sierra 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
GMC Sierra vs Chevrolet Silverado: Over 10 years, the Sierra averaged 435 complaints per year and the Silverado 823, with the Silverado also having more crash-related reports (233 vs. 107). Both show engine and transmission issues, but the Sierra's rate is lower. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the GMC Sierra or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
GMC Sierra
The GMC Sierra is a full-size pickup that owners often rely on for work and towing. Over 10 years, it has averaged about 435 complaints per year, with the most common issues in the engine, power train, and electrical system. Owners report recurring problems like glow plug failures, fuel rail issues, and transmission shudder, which can lead to frequent dealer visits. While it has fewer complaints than its Chevrolet sibling, the pattern suggests that some trucks may require ongoing attention to engine and drivetrain components.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup similar to the GMC Sierra but with a higher complaint volume—about 823 per year over the same period. The most frequent complaints involve the engine, power train, and electrical system, with owners describing severe issues like engine shutdowns, loss of braking, and transmission problems. These reports often mention low-mileage failures, which can be alarming for a first-time buyer. The Silverado also has more crash-related complaints and injuries reported, though not every complaint leads to a crash.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | GMC Sierra | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 4,345 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 86 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 107 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 434.5 Better | 822.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 68 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.
GMC Sierra
- 01ENGINE1,552
- 02POWER TRAIN949
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM665
- 04SERVICE BRAKES576
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER439
Owners frequently report glow plug failures, fuel rail failure, and fuel pressure issues, especially in diesel models. These can cause rough running, check engine lights, and repeated dealership repairs, which may be costly and time-consuming.
Complaints include abnormal shaking, stalling, and loss of power while driving, sometimes at highway speeds. This can be dangerous, as one owner described almost being rear-ended by a tractor-trailer when the truck suddenly slowed.
Common electrical issues include persistent 'Service Trailer Brake System' warnings and, in rare cases, fires while parked. These warnings can be distracting, and the fire risk, though uncommon, is a serious safety concern.
Owners towing heavy loads report brake fade or failure on downhill grades, with the pedal becoming firm but braking ineffective. This is critical for those who tow, as it can lead to loss of control.
“Constant issues with glow plug failures, fuel rail failure, fuel pressure failure. Truck has been in the Gmc service regarding these issues constantly for the last year with a total of five repairs and replacement of glow plugs with releaning learning new plu…”
“GM Duramax L5P diesel engine electrical connector for #4 fuel injector. This failure caused the Diesel exhaust brake, which controls downhill speed, to disengage, extreme shaking of the vehicle, emissions system warning and speed limiting. This occurred while…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Reports include engine shutdowns while driving, excessive diesel particulate filter soot accumulation, and issues with the 6.2L motor. These can leave drivers stranded and require dealer intervention, sometimes at very low mileage.
Owners describe sudden shifting into neutral, loss of power, and transmission problems. One complaint noted the vehicle went into neutral while driving uphill in a parking garage, which could cause a rollback or collision.
Electrical faults can cause a sudden loss of braking assist, engine shut-off, and messages like 'Return to Neutral' or 'Press Start.' These issues are dangerous because they can happen without warning while driving.
Complaints include severe loss of normal braking, with a firm pedal but reduced stopping power. This can happen at low speeds, such as in parking lots, and may lead to collisions if not addressed.
“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.
GMC Sierra — 86 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The hood-latch striker wires may not have been heat-treated properly, possibly causing them to fracture.
The risk: If a striker wire fractures, the hood may open unexpectedly while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the hood assembly, free of charge. The recall began April 13, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for…
The defect: General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and GMC Sierra 2500 vehicles equipped with a 17" spare tire (RPO ZHQ or ZXT) and either the 20" accessory road tire (RPO REM) or the 18" accessory road tire (RPO Q2V). Operating the spare tire with other 20" or 18" ti…
The risk: An ABS system that cannot control the rear wheels independently increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will provide the appropriate spare tire and apply a new spare tire information label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 18, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; GMC…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon XL and 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The seat belt brackets may not be secured to the seat frame…
The risk: If a seat-belt bracket is not secured, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the front-row center seat position, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect left-side and right-side front-row center seat-belt bracket attachments and reassemble it correctly as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2021. Owners may contact GMC cus…
The defect: General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT5 and XT6, Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500 and Traverse and GMC Acadia and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The diffuser component of the Roof-Rail Air Bag (RRAB) inflator may not have been properly cr…
The risk: If the diffuser separates from the inflator during deployment, RRAB performance may be degraded, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect RRAB modules, free of charge. The recall began September 3, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, or…
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
GMC Sierra or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The GMC Sierra has fewer issues per year on average (about 435 complaints) compared to the Chevrolet Silverado (about 823 complaints). In practice, this means a Sierra owner might experience fewer trips to the dealer for repairs, but both trucks share similar engine, transmission, and electrical problems. The Silverado's higher complaint rate and greater number of crash-related reports suggest it may have a higher likelihood of serious safety incidents.
Key differences
- The Silverado has nearly double the annual complaint rate of the Sierra, with more reports of engine shutdowns and loss of braking.
- Sierra owners commonly report glow plug and fuel rail failures, while Silverado owners report diesel particulate filter soot accumulation and 6.2L engine problems.
- The Silverado has more crash-related complaints (233 vs. 107) and injuries (160 vs. 68), indicating a higher number of severe incidents reported to NHTSA.
- Both trucks have electrical issues, but the Sierra's include trailer brake warnings and fires, while the Silverado's include sudden loss of braking assist and engine shut-off.
- Check for glow plug and fuel rail issues by asking for service records and scanning for engine codes, especially on diesel models.
- Test the trailer brake system and look for any 'Service Trailer Brake System' warnings during a test drive.
- Look for signs of engine shutdowns or electrical faults by test-driving at various speeds and checking for warning messages like 'Return to Neutral.'
- Inspect the braking system carefully, as some owners report sudden loss of braking; a firm pedal with poor stopping may indicate a problem.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and all available service records to see if engine, transmission, or brake repairs have been done.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the engine, transmission, brakes, and electrical system.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any shaking, hesitation, or warning lights, and test the brakes at low and high speeds.
- For diesel models, check for excessive soot accumulation or frequent regeneration cycles, which may indicate DPF issues.
- Verify that all recalls have been addressed by checking the NHTSA website with the VIN.
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 | GMC Sierra | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 84 | 120 |
| 2025 | 152 | 157 |
| 2024 | 525 | 527 |
| 2023 | 545 | 450 |
| 2022 | 1250 | 1390 |
| 2021 | 0 | 961 |
| 2020 | 0 | 868 |
| 2019 | 1122 | 2003 |
| 2018 | 66 | 597 |
| 2017 | 601 | 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 GMC Sierra or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- GMC Sierra vs Chevrolet Silverado
- GMC Sierra total complaints
- 4,345
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- GMC Sierra total recalls
- 86
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- GMC Sierra avg complaints/year
- 434.5
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- GMC Sierra
- GMC Sierra top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE