Head-to-head reliability
Honda Crf250l vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Honda Crf250l 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
Honda CRF250l vs Chevrolet Silverado: The Honda CRF250L has 5 complaints over 10 years (0.5/year) and 3 recalls, while the Silverado has 8,227 complaints (822.7/year) and 101 recalls. The Silverado also has 233 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths, versus 1 crash-related and 0 deaths for the Honda. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Crf250l or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda Crf250l
The Honda CRF250L is a dual-sport motorcycle with a very low complaint rate: only 5 complaints over 10 years, averaging 0.5 per year. The main pattern is engine stalling, sometimes at speed, which can be dangerous on busy roads. There are also a few electrical and fuel system issues that can cause stalling or no-start conditions. With 3 recalls, including starter relay and lighting problems, it's a simple machine but not without occasional faults.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup with a massive complaint volume: 8,227 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 823 per year. The most common trouble spots are the engine, power train, electrical system, and brakes, with many reports of stalling, transmission problems, and brake loss. There are 101 recalls and 233 crash-related complaints, plus 160 injuries and 3 deaths reported. This suggests a wide range of serious issues that owners should be aware of.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Crf250l | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 5 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 3 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.5 Better | 822.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 2 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.
Honda Crf250l
- 01ENGINE3
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
- 03FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
Owners report the engine shutting off without warning while riding, sometimes at highway speeds, causing the bike to stall in traffic. This can be extremely dangerous, as one owner nearly got run over on a freeway.
A reported starter magnetic switch failure can prevent the engine from starting or cause it to stall while riding. This leaves you stranded or creates a sudden loss of power.
In hot weather (above 90°F), owners report severe fuel system failures that cause the engine to stall and die repeatedly. One owner had two bikes fail more than ten times within minutes of each other.
“2014 HONDA CRF250L WITH 3512 MILES. FOUR MILE FROM HOME ON FREEWAY 405 SOUTH AS I WAS RIDING ABOUT 55 MPH AND SUDDENLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE ENGINE SHUT OFF CAUSING THE BIKE TO STALLED ON A BUSY FREEWAY AND ALMOST GOT RAN OVER BY FAST COMING TRAFFIC. UNABLE…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HONDA CRF250L. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE FA…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Owners report engine shutdowns while driving, sometimes with messages like 'Return to Neutral' or 'Press Start'. There are also diesel particulate filter soot accumulation issues on Duramax models requiring dealer service.
Complaints include sudden shifting into neutral while driving slowly, such as in a parking garage, leaving the vehicle unable to accelerate. This can happen with very low mileage, even under 300 miles.
Reports describe a severe loss of normal braking, where the brake pedal feels firm but braking is ineffective. Other electrical issues cause the engine to shut off while driving, which is dangerous.
Owners report sudden brake failure, with the pedal remaining firm but the vehicle not stopping normally. This has occurred shortly after dropping children at school, highlighting a serious safety concern.
“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.
Honda Crf250l — 3 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 ST1300PA, 2014-2015 CB500, CBR500, CRF250L, CBR650, CTX700, NSS300, VT750, VT1300, 2015 CB300F, CBR300, CBR600, and 2014-2016 NC700 motorcycles. In the affected motorcycles, sealant may have been incorrectly applied to the s…
The risk: A loss of electrical power may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace any affected starter relay switch, free of charge. The recall began on August 31, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is JS9 a…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Super Cub C125, CB500X, CB650R, CBR300R, CBR500R, CBR650R, Rebel 300, Rebel 500, Monkey, 2020 CRF250L, GROM, 2021 CRF300L, and CB500F motorcycles. The rear reflector lens may not reflect brightly enough. As such, these vehicles fail to…
The risk: A dim rear reflector may reduce the visibility of the motorcycle to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the rear reflector, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KM3.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 ST1300PA, 2014-2015 CB500, CBR500, CRF250L, CBR650, CTX700, NSS300, VT750, VT1300, 2015 CB300F, CBR300, CBR600, and 2014-2016 NC700 motorcycles. In the affected motorcycles, sealant may have been incorrectly applied to the s…
The risk: A loss of electrical power may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace any affected starter relay switch, free of charge. The recall began on August 31, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is JS9 a…
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
Honda Crf250l or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Honda CRF250L has far fewer issues per year (0.5 vs. 822.7), meaning you're much less likely to encounter frequent problems. However, the Silverado's issues are more numerous and include serious safety-related failures like brake loss and stalling. In practice, the Honda is a simpler machine with occasional stalling risks, while the Silverado demands more vigilance and potential repair costs.
Key differences
- Complaint volume: Honda CRF250L has 5 complaints over 10 years; Chevrolet Silverado has 8,227, a massive difference in reported problems.
- Safety incidents: Silverado has 233 crash-related complaints, 160 injuries, and 3 deaths; Honda has 1 crash-related, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths.
- Common failures: Honda mainly stalls due to engine, electrical, or fuel issues; Silverado suffers from engine shutdowns, transmission problems, brake loss, and electrical faults.
- Recalls: Honda has 3 recalls (starter relay, lighting); Silverado has 101 recalls covering fuel pumps, tires, collision avoidance, and more.
- Test ride at highway speeds and in hot weather to check for sudden engine stalling, a reported issue.
- Check starter relay and electrical connections, as failures can cause no-start or stalling.
- Test drive at low speeds and in parking lots to check for sudden shifting into neutral or engine shutdown.
- Inspect brake function carefully; reports describe firm pedal but ineffective braking, so have a mechanic check the brake system.
Before you buy
- Run a VIN check for open recalls on both vehicles, especially the Silverado's 101 recalls.
- For the Honda, test ride in hot weather and at highway speeds to reproduce stalling.
- For the Silverado, test drive at various speeds and check for transmission hesitation or sudden neutral.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Honda's starter relay and fuel system, and the Silverado's brakes and engine for stalling issues.
- Review NHTSA complaint history for specific model years to see if patterns apply to the one you're considering.
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 | Honda Crf250l | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0 | 527 |
| 2023 | 0 | 450 |
| 2022 | 0 | 1390 |
| 2021 | 0 | 961 |
| 2020 | 0 | 868 |
| 2019 | 0 | 2003 |
| 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 Honda Crf250l or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Crf250l vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Honda Crf250l total complaints
- 5
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- Honda Crf250l total recalls
- 3
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- Honda Crf250l avg complaints/year
- 0.5
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- Honda Crf250l
- Honda Crf250l top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE