Head-to-head reliability
Honda Element vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Honda Element 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 Element vs Chevrolet Silverado: The Element averaged 145 complaints per year over 9 years, while the Silverado averaged 823 per year over 10 years. The Element's top issues are visibility and air bags; the Silverado's are engine and power train. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Element or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda Element
The Honda Element is a compact SUV known for its boxy shape and practical interior. Over 9 years, it averaged 145 complaints per year, with visibility and air bag issues dominating. Owners report stress cracks in the windshield and air bag deployment problems in crashes. Suspension rust is also a serious concern, especially in older models.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup truck with a much higher complaint rate: about 823 per year over 10 years. Engine and power train problems are most common, with reports of sudden engine shutdowns and transmission failures. Electrical and brake issues also appear frequently, and there have been 3 deaths reported.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Element | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,307 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 100 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 97 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 145.2 Better | 822.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 100 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 Element
- 01VISIBILITY379
- 02AIR BAGS328
- 03SUSPENSION116
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM112
- 05STRUCTURE93
Owners report windshield stress cracks that appear spontaneously, often near the rearview mirror, and can lead to loud bangs or shattering. This is a safety concern because it can impair the driver's view and may require costly replacement.
Complaints describe air bags failing to deploy in crashes, including side impacts and rollovers. This is critical because air bags are a key safety feature, and non-deployment increases injury risk.
Excessive rust on the rear suspension and frame is commonly reported, similar to the Honda CR-V. This can cause structural weakness and fail state safety inspections, making the vehicle unsafe to drive.
Owners report gauge needles popping out and tachometers failing, which can lead to inaccurate readings and distract the driver. These issues may indicate broader electrical problems.
“I had arrived home on 7/17/2025 and was sitting in my parked vehicle under my carport talking on the phone when I heard a very loud bang. I was disoriented and worried that my safety may be at risk, so I asked the person I was speaking to if they would stay o…”
“STRESS CRACK APPEARED ON WINDSHIELD DIRECTLY OPPOSITE REAR VIEW MIRROR. CRACK BEGINS ABOVE AREA OF WINDSHIELD EXPOSED TO OUTSIDE AIR, EXTENDS STRAIGHT DOWN FOR SEVERAL INCHES, THEN VEERS LEFT SEVERAL INCHES AND STOPS. NOTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND THERE IS N…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Owners report sudden engine shutdowns while driving, sometimes with messages like 'Return to Neutral' and 'Press Start.' This can happen at any speed and is extremely dangerous, especially in traffic.
Complaints include the vehicle suddenly going into neutral and transmission failures, even at low mileage. This can cause loss of power and control, posing a serious safety risk.
Reports describe severe loss of braking and engine shut-offs while driving, with screens going blank. These electrical glitches can disable critical safety systems.
Owners report sudden loss of braking effectiveness, with a firm pedal but reduced stopping power. This can lead to crashes, especially in emergency situations.
“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 Element — 100 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Ridgeline vehicles nationwide. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2012 Acura RL, 2011 Honda Element and 2011-2013 Ridgeline vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mary…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are…
The defect: Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain Accelerator Pedal Assemblies part numbers 699-114 and 825-5029-1, sold as replacement parts for 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2004-2008 Acura TL and TSX, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2007-2011 Honda Element, 2005-2008 Honda Pilot and 2006-…
The risk: If the accelerator pedal binds, the engine may not quickly return to idle after the pedal is no longer pressed, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dorman will notify owners, and qualified service facilities will replace the affected accelerator pedal assemblies, free of charge. The recall began December 9, 2019. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492, using opti…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NG…
The risk: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for t…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. T…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5…
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 Element or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Honda Element has far fewer complaints per year (145 vs. 823 for the Silverado), suggesting it may be more reliable overall. However, the Element's issues often involve safety-critical systems like air bags and rust, while the Silverado's problems are more frequent and include engine shutdowns. In practice, the Element may require less frequent repairs, but both have serious safety concerns.
Key differences
- The Silverado has about 5.7 times more complaints per year than the Element, indicating a higher frequency of reported problems.
- The Element's top issues are visibility (windshield cracks) and air bags, while the Silverado's are engine and power train failures.
- The Silverado has 3 reported deaths and 160 injuries, compared to 0 deaths and 100 injuries for the Element, though the Element's air bag issues are concerning.
- The Element has 100 recalls over 9 years, while the Silverado has 101 recalls over 10 years, but the Silverado's recalls include fuel pump and forward collision avoidance issues.
- Check for rust on the rear suspension and frame, especially in older models, as this can fail safety inspections.
- Inspect the windshield for stress cracks, particularly near the rearview mirror, and verify that air bag recalls have been addressed.
- Test drive and look for any signs of engine stalling or transmission slipping, as these are commonly reported.
- Check for electrical issues like brake loss or screen failures, and ensure all recalls (especially fuel pump) are up to date.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Element for rust and the Silverado for engine/transmission codes.
- Test drive both vehicles under various conditions, including highway and stop-and-go traffic.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for the Silverado's engine and brakes.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been performed, particularly air bag recalls on the Element.
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 Element or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Element vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Honda Element total complaints
- 1,307
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- Honda Element total recalls
- 100
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- Honda Element avg complaints/year
- 145.2
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- Honda Element
- Honda Element top complaint area
- VISIBILITY
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE