Head-to-head reliability
Infiniti FX35 vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Infiniti FX35 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 FX35 vs Chevrolet Silverado: The FX35 averages 8.2 complaints per year with 3 crash-related reports, while the Silverado averages 510.5 complaints per year with 117 crash-related reports. The Silverado also has 100 recalls versus 42 for the FX35. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Infiniti FX35 or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Infiniti FX35
The Infiniti FX35 is a luxury SUV with a relatively low complaint volume: 74 complaints over 9 years, averaging about 8.2 per year. The most common owner-reported issues involve air bag recalls (including Takata inflators), power door lock actuators that fail intermittently, and dashboard cracking or melting. These problems can affect safety, security, and interior quality, but the overall complaint rate is modest compared to the Silverado.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup with a very high complaint volume: 5,105 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 510.5 per year. Owners frequently report engine problems (especially with the 6.2L and 6.6L Duramax), transmission issues like sudden neutral engagement, and electrical faults that can cause braking loss. These issues often occur at low mileage and can lead to costly repairs or safety risks.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Infiniti FX35 | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 74 Better | 5,105 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 42 Better | 100 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 3 Better | 117 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 8.2 Better | 510.5 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 5 Better | 104 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 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.
Infiniti FX35
- 01AIR BAGS16
- 02LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES12
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM11
- 04STRUCTURE9
- 05ENGINE8
Owners report Takata air bag recalls with parts unavailable for months, and some say air bags deployed unexpectedly after debris strikes. This matters because air bag defects can cause injury or fail to protect in a crash.
Power door lock actuators fail intermittently or completely, sometimes trapping children inside. This is a safety and convenience concern, especially for families.
Fuel gauges stop registering and warning lights illuminate with power loss while driving. These electrical glitches can leave drivers stranded or unaware of critical vehicle status.
Dashboard cracks and becomes sticky or melting, causing blinding reflections. This is a cosmetic and visibility issue that can be expensive to fix.
“TAKATA RECALL THE RECALL WAS ISSUED ON THIS CAR IN MAY 2016, AND THE DEALERSHIPS STILL DO NOT HAVE PARTS AS OF TODAY, 10/21/2016. WE ARE NOW BEING TOLD THAT THE PARTS WILL NOT BE HERE BEFORE MID TO END OF NOVEMBER. CUSTOMERS ARE BEING TOLD THAT IT IS SAFE TO…”
“WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE ON A FIVE LANE FREEWAY, A PIECE OF DEBRIS (ABOUT 1X2 FT) WAS BOUNCING FROM LANE TO LANE. IT BOUNCED INTO MY LANE AND WENT UNDER MY 2012 INFINITE FX35. I HEARD A LOUD BANG AND MY AIRBAGS EJECTED OPEN. MY WHOLE FRONT WINDSHIELD…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE1,698
- 02POWER TRAIN1,453
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM982
- 04SERVICE BRAKES691
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER542
Owners of 2026 Silverado with 6.2L or 6.6L Duramax report engine failures, excessive soot accumulation, and loss of power at low mileage. These can require major repairs and leave families stranded.
Transmission suddenly shifts into neutral or loses motive power, even at low speeds. This can cause loss of control and is a serious safety concern.
Electrical faults can cause severe braking loss, with a firm pedal but reduced stopping power, and can also disable steering. These are critical safety issues that demand immediate attention.
Owners report sudden loss of normal braking, often accompanied by other electrical failures. Brake problems at any speed increase 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.
Infiniti FX35 — 42 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (INFINITI) is recalling certain 2003 INFINITI FX35, 2006-2008 FX35 and FX45 vehicles that previously received a replacement front passenger air bag assembly under recall number 20V-008. The air bag cushion was folded incorrectly, which could increase internal pressure and…
The risk: A tear in the air bag may decrease air bag performance, and increase the risk of injury.
The fix: INFINITI will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on April 19, 2021. Owners may contact INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200. INFINITI's number for this recall…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti I30 and I35, 2002-2003 Inifiniti QX4, 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 and 2006-2010 M35 and M45 vehicles. The vehicles ar…
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: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 888-737-9511 o…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2012 Nissan Versa hatchbacks originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and th…
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began on June 8, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2003-2004 Infiniti I35, 2006-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-2011 Nissan Versa vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Missis…
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2017. All owners should receive a second notice by May 15, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer s…
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
Infiniti FX35 or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Infiniti FX35 has far fewer complaints per year (about 8.2) than the Chevrolet Silverado (about 510.5). In practice, this means FX35 owners report fewer problems overall, but the issues they do face—like air bag recalls and door lock failures—can still be serious. The Silverado's much higher complaint rate suggests a greater likelihood of encountering engine, transmission, or brake issues.
Key differences
- Complaint volume: FX35 averages 8.2 complaints per year; Silverado averages 510.5 per year.
- Crash-related complaints: FX35 has 3; Silverado has 117, indicating more reported crashes possibly linked to defects.
- Injuries: FX35 reports 5 injuries; Silverado reports 104 injuries, a much higher number.
- Recalls: FX35 has 42 recalls; Silverado has 100 recalls, covering more systems like tailgate latches and brake fluid warnings.
- Check for open Takata air bag recalls and confirm the inflator has been replaced; parts may still be unavailable.
- Test all power door locks and actuators, especially rear doors, as intermittent failures are common.
- Listen for engine pinging or knocking and check for diesel particulate filter soot accumulation in Duramax models.
- Test braking and electrical systems thoroughly; look for warning lights and any loss of brake assist or steering.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website.
- Have a mechanic inspect the air bag system, door locks, and dashboard on the FX35.
- For the Silverado, scan for engine and transmission fault codes and test-drive at various speeds.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been performed, especially brake and air bag recalls.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the most complained-about components for each model.
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 FX35 or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Infiniti FX35 vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Infiniti FX35 total complaints
- 74
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 5,105
- Infiniti FX35 total recalls
- 42
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 100
- Infiniti FX35 avg complaints/year
- 8.2
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 510.5
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti FX35
- Infiniti FX35 top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE