Head-to-head reliability
Hyundai KONA vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Hyundai KONA 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
Hyundai KONA vs Chevrolet Silverado: The KONA has 86.4 complaints per year versus the Silverado's 510.5, but both show serious engine and safety issues. KONA owners report engine shutdowns, while Silverado owners face transmission and brake failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Hyundai KONA or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Hyundai KONA
The Hyundai KONA, in ownership terms, is a compact crossover that has been on sale for about nine years. Owner complaints paint a picture of a vehicle that can suffer from sudden engine shutdowns and stalling, which are alarming and potentially dangerous. The high volume of engine-related complaints, along with electrical and powertrain issues, suggests that while many KONAs may be trouble-free, a significant number of owners have experienced serious reliability problems that could leave them stranded or require costly repairs.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup truck with a decade of sales history, and it shows a much higher volume of complaints overall. The pattern of issues includes engine problems like excessive oil consumption and diesel particulate filter clogging, as well as transmission failures and sudden loss of braking power. These are serious safety concerns, and the sheer number of complaints indicates that Silverado owners frequently face major mechanical and electrical failures, making it a riskier used purchase.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Hyundai KONA | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 778 Better | 5,105 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 15 Better | 100 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 45 Better | 117 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 86.4 Better | 510.5 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 48 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.
Hyundai KONA
- 01ENGINE400
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER136
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM136
- 04POWER TRAIN96
- 05FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE57
Owners report the engine seizing or shutting off randomly while driving, sometimes with a warning to 'turn off engine and restart.' This can cause a sudden loss of power and steering, which is dangerous, and often leads to poor acceleration and shaking afterward.
Electrical issues range from liftgate bolts buckling due to a malfunctioning power liftgate to more serious drivetrain problems like loss of drive power and sluggish acceleration. These can be intermittent and hard to diagnose, leading to frustration and potential safety risks.
The powertrain can exhibit harsh shifting, with the engine revving and dropping, causing jarring movements. Some owners report the vehicle suddenly losing power or going into neutral, which is especially concerning when driving uphill or in traffic.
“The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message to “Turn off Engine and Restart Engine” was displayed and the engine seized. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while driving on a b…”
“The car shuts off at random times during me driving . Its like the car locks up steering and shuts completely down . Have to pull over and give the car time . And it shuts back on in and drives with poor accelerate after each issuse. The car is now shaking an…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE1,698
- 02POWER TRAIN1,453
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM982
- 04SERVICE BRAKES691
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER542
Engine complaints include severe issues like the engine failing at highway speeds, causing loss of motive power, and diesel models experiencing repeated diesel particulate filter clogging, requiring dealer service. These problems can lead to breakdowns and expensive repairs.
Transmission problems are common, with reports of the vehicle suddenly shifting into neutral or experiencing harsh engagement. This can happen at low speeds, like in a parking garage, and may leave the driver without control.
There are alarming reports of sudden, severe loss of braking effectiveness, even though the brake pedal feels firm. This can happen at low speeds, like when approaching a stop sign, and poses a serious crash risk.
“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.
Hyundai KONA — 15 recalls
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Kona Electric and 2024-2026 Kona vehicles. The seat belt buckle in the rear center seat may fail to properly restrain an occupant during a crash.
The risk: A seat belt buckle that fails to properly restrain an occupant in a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Passengers are advised not to use the rear center seat until the recall remedy is performed. Dealers will replace the seat belt buckle assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 11, 2026. Owner…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024 Kona vehicles. The seat belt assemblies in the right and left rear seats may not function properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208, "Occupation Crash Protecti…
The risk: A seat belt that does not function properly may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractor as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 21, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recal…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024 Kona vehicles. The 12-Volt battery cables may chafe against the engine control module bracket and short circuit during a crash.
The risk: A short circuit increases the risk of an engine compartment fire.
The fix: Dealers will install sheathing over the wiring, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 22, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 252.
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024 Elantra, Venue, and Kona vehicles. An electrical short circuit may occur in the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve assembly, which can result in a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the exhaust gas recirculation valve assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 28, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 260.
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
Hyundai KONA or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Hyundai KONA has far fewer complaints per year (86.4) compared to the Chevrolet Silverado (510.5), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, both vehicles have serious engine and safety-related problems, so neither is without risk. In practice, the KONA may offer a more manageable ownership experience, but buyers should still be vigilant.
Key differences
- The KONA has a much lower complaint rate per year (86.4) than the Silverado (510.5), suggesting fewer reported problems overall.
- KONA owners frequently report engine shutdowns and stalling, while Silverado owners report engine failures and transmission issues that can occur at highway speeds.
- The Silverado has a notable number of brake-related complaints, including sudden loss of braking, which is a critical safety concern not as prominent in the KONA.
- The KONA's electrical issues include power liftgate malfunctions, while the Silverado's electrical problems are often tied to engine and brake failures.
- Check for any history of engine stalling or shutdowns, as this is a common complaint. Ask for service records and have a mechanic inspect the engine and electrical system.
- Test the power liftgate and other electrical accessories to ensure they operate correctly, as malfunctions have been reported.
- Inspect the transmission for any signs of slipping or harsh shifting, and check for any recalls related to the transmission or engine.
- Have the braking system thoroughly checked, especially for any issues with brake fluid or sensors, as sudden loss of braking has been reported.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the engine, transmission, and brakes.
- Test drive at various speeds, including highway, to check for any unusual noises, vibrations, or loss of power.
- Ask for maintenance records and verify that any previous issues were properly addressed.
- Consider purchasing an extended warranty or service contract to cover potential major repairs.
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 | Hyundai KONA | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 9 | 98 |
| 2025 | 28 | 150 |
| 2024 | 49 | 0 |
| 2023 | 63 | 0 |
| 2022 | 96 | 1340 |
| 2021 | 115 | 934 |
| 2020 | 157 | 0 |
| 2019 | 187 | 1992 |
| 2018 | 74 | 591 |
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 Hyundai KONA or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Hyundai KONA vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Hyundai KONA total complaints
- 778
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 5,105
- Hyundai KONA total recalls
- 15
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 100
- Hyundai KONA avg complaints/year
- 86.4
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 510.5
- More reliable overall
- Hyundai KONA
- Hyundai KONA top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE