Head-to-head reliability
Infiniti EX35 vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Infiniti EX35 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
Infiniti EX35 vs Chevrolet Silverado: The EX35 has 92 complaints over 6 years (15.3/year) and 6 recalls, while the Silverado has 8,227 complaints over 10 years (822.7/year) and 101 recalls. The Silverado also reports 233 crash-related complaints and 160 injuries versus 6 and 3 for the EX35. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Infiniti EX35 or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Infiniti EX35
The Infiniti EX35 is a compact luxury SUV with a relatively low complaint volume: 92 complaints over 6 years, averaging about 15 per year. Owners most often report air bag warning lights, steering instability, and occasional engine shutdowns. With 6 recalls and 3 injuries reported, it's a vehicle that demands attention to specific safety systems, but the overall complaint rate is modest.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup with a very high complaint volume: 8,227 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 823 per year. Owners frequently report engine and transmission problems, electrical glitches, and brake issues, with 233 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths. The sheer number of complaints and recalls (101) suggests a higher likelihood of encountering problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Infiniti EX35 | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 92 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 6 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 6 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 15.3 Better | 822.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 3 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.
Infiniti EX35
- 01AIR BAGS22
- 02STEERING16
- 03ENGINE15
- 04POWER TRAIN13
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM12
Owners report the air bag warning light flashing due to a faulty passenger-side occupancy sensor, which can prevent the air bag from deploying correctly. This is a safety concern that may require expensive sensor replacement.
Complaints include 4WAS and stability control warning lights coming on over rough roads, with the rear feeling unstable and the steering wheel off-center. Also, the electronic tilt steering can malfunction, leaving the wheel stuck in one position.
Some owners experience sudden engine power loss and shutdown while driving, sometimes at highway speeds, followed by difficulty restarting. Another report mentions a faulty solenoid switch causing a squealing noise.
Owners describe severe hesitation when accelerating after slowing or stopping, which can be dangerous in traffic. This suggests transmission or throttle response issues that may worsen over time.
“I TOOK THE CAR TO JIM COLEMAN INFINITI SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO FIND OUT WHY THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS FLASHING NON-STOP. AFTER THE DIAGNOSTIC THEY CONCLUDED IT WAS DUE TO PASSENGER SIDE OCS SENSOR FAULTY, SO IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE SENSOR THEY NEED TO REPLAC…”
“I PURCHASED 2009 INFINITI EX 35 ONE MONTH AGO(SEPTEMBER 30, 2009). THERE IS A "PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT. ACCORDING TO INFINITI SERVICE CENTER NEARBY, IT IS DESIGNED TO DETECT CHILD OR SMALL ADULT WHO IS LESS THAN 100 POUNDS SEATING ON PASSENGER SIDE A…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Many complaints involve engine shutdown while driving, sometimes with a 'Return to Neutral' message, and diesel particulate filter soot accumulation requiring dealer service. These issues can leave you stranded and are costly to fix.
Owners report the vehicle suddenly going into neutral and losing power, even at low speeds, which can cause loss of control. Transmission problems are common and may require major repairs.
Complaints include sudden loss of braking assistance, engine shut-off while driving, and screens going blank. These electrical glitches can affect critical safety functions and are hard to diagnose.
Owners describe a firm brake pedal but reduced braking effectiveness, making it hard to stop. This is a serious safety issue that needs immediate attention.
“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.
Infiniti EX35 — 6 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2008 Infiniti EX35 vehicles equipped with the power tilt/telescope option included in the premium package, manufactured June 29, 2007, to April 25, 2008, 2009 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 vehicles manufactured October 31, 2007, to April…
The risk: Extra play in the steering wheel or a loss of steering may increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering shaft on the Infiniti EX35, FX35, and FX45 vehicles, and will replace the steering column assembly on the Nissan GT-R vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on March 9, 2…
The defect: CURT IS RECALLING CERTAIN CLASS 1 RECEIVER HITCHES, P/N 11500, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MARCH 26, 2008 AND MARCH 12, 2009, SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 NISSAN INFINITI EX35 VEHICLES. WHEN THE HITCH IS LOADED TO THE MAXIMUM RATING, THE BUMPER STRUCTURE OF THE VEH…
The risk: A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR SHOULD THE TOWED VEHICLE SEPARATE FROM THE TOWING VEHICLE WHILE IN OPERATION.
The fix: CURT MFG WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HITCHES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 14, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CURT MFG TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-738-7213.
The defect: CURT IS RECALLING CERTAIN CLASS 1 RECEIVER HITCHES, P/N 11500, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MARCH 26, 2008 AND MARCH 12, 2009, SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 NISSAN INFINITI EX35 VEHICLES. WHEN THE HITCH IS LOADED TO THE MAXIMUM RATING, THE BUMPER STRUCTURE OF THE VEH…
The risk: A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR SHOULD THE TOWED VEHICLE SEPARATE FROM THE TOWING VEHICLE WHILE IN OPERATION.
The fix: CURT MFG WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HITCHES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 14, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CURT MFG TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-738-7213.
The defect: CURT IS RECALLING CERTAIN CLASS 1 RECEIVER HITCHES, P/N 11500, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MARCH 26, 2008 AND MARCH 12, 2009, SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 NISSAN INFINITI EX35 VEHICLES. WHEN THE HITCH IS LOADED TO THE MAXIMUM RATING, THE BUMPER STRUCTURE OF THE VEH…
The risk: A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR SHOULD THE TOWED VEHICLE SEPARATE FROM THE TOWING VEHICLE WHILE IN OPERATION.
The fix: CURT MFG WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HITCHES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 14, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CURT MFG TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-738-7213.
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
Infiniti EX35 or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Infiniti EX35 has far fewer issues per year (about 15 complaints annually) compared to the Chevrolet Silverado (about 823 complaints annually). In practice, this means you're much less likely to encounter frequent or severe problems with the Infiniti, though both have safety-related complaints that require careful inspection.
Key differences
- The Infiniti EX35 averages about 15 complaints per year, while the Silverado averages about 823 per year—a massive difference in reported problem frequency.
- Silverado owners frequently report engine shutdowns and transmission failures, while Infiniti owners more often report air bag sensor and steering issues.
- The Silverado has 101 recalls and 233 crash-related complaints, compared to 6 recalls and 6 crash-related complaints for the Infiniti.
- Both vehicles have injury reports, but the Silverado has 160 injuries and 3 deaths versus 3 injuries and 0 deaths for the Infiniti.
- Check for a flashing or illuminated air bag warning light, which indicates a faulty passenger occupancy sensor that may need replacement.
- Test drive over rough roads and listen for steering warnings; feel for rear instability or an off-center steering wheel, which could signal 4WAS or stability control issues.
- During a test drive, watch for any sudden engine shutdown, loss of power, or 'Return to Neutral' messages on the dashboard.
- Test the brakes carefully for a firm pedal with reduced stopping power, and check for any electrical glitches like blank screens or warning lights.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models using the NHTSA VIN lookup tool.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the air bag system, steering components, and engine for the Infiniti EX35, focusing on the specific complaints noted.
- For the Silverado, insist on a diagnostic scan for engine and transmission codes, and test drive extensively to replicate shutdown or braking issues.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for recalls and any repairs related to the reported problem areas.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection that includes a road test over varying conditions to uncover intermittent faults.
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 Infiniti EX35 or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Infiniti EX35 vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Infiniti EX35 total complaints
- 92
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- Infiniti EX35 total recalls
- 6
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- Infiniti EX35 avg complaints/year
- 15.3
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti EX35
- Infiniti EX35 top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE