Head-to-head reliability
Infiniti M45 vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Infiniti M45 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 M45 vs Chevrolet Silverado: The M45 has 174 complaints over 7 years (about 25 per year) and no crashes, injuries, or deaths, while the Silverado has 5,105 complaints over 10 years (about 511 per year) with 117 crashes, 104 injuries, and 1 death. The M45's main issues are fuel gauge and stalling; the Silverado's include severe engine, brake, and transmission failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Infiniti M45 or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Infiniti M45
The Infiniti M45 is a luxury sedan with a relatively low complaint rate: 174 complaints over 7 years, averaging about 25 per year. Most owner complaints center on fuel system and gasoline issues, often involving inaccurate fuel gauge readings or fuel sending unit failures. Engine stalling is also reported, sometimes linked to a faulty crankshaft position sensor. There are no reported crashes, injuries, or deaths in the data, but the fuel and stalling issues can leave a buyer stranded.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint volume: 5,105 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 511 per year. The most common problem areas are the engine, power train, electrical system, and service brakes. Owners report severe issues like sudden loss of braking, engine failure, and transmission problems, with 117 crash-related complaints, 104 injuries, and 1 death. This suggests a higher risk of serious safety incidents compared to the Infiniti.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Infiniti M45 | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 174 Better | 5,105 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 33 Better | 100 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 117 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 24.9 Better | 510.5 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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 M45
- 01FUEL SYSTEM107
- 02GASOLINE89
- 03ENGINE30
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM27
- 05ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING19
Owners frequently report fuel gauge inaccuracies, such as the gauge showing nearly full when the tank is actually low, and fuel sending unit failures. This can lead to unexpected fuel exhaustion and stalling.
Complaints include sudden stalling at highway or city speeds, often requiring the car to be put in neutral or pulled over to restart. A faulty crankshaft position sensor is sometimes cited as the cause.
Reports include check engine lights triggered by fuel sending unit issues and instances of stalling at a complete stop, with the vehicle sometimes restarting after an hour. These electrical gremlins can be intermittent and hard to diagnose.
“PURCHASED MY 2004 INFINITI M45 AT WILLOW GROVE INFINITI IN THE SUBURBS OF PHILADELPHIA WITH 22,160 MILES. I PERFORMED A THOROUGH TEST DRIVE AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT TO BE MY "WEEKEND" CAR SINCE I'M ALREADY SUPPLIED WITH A COMPANY…”
“THIS COMPLAINT RELATES TO A 2004 INFINITY M45. IN THE SPRING OF 2010, I NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WAS SHOWING NEARLY A FULL TANK OF GAS, BUT IT HAD BEEN A LONG PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE I HAD PUT GAS IN THE TANK. WHEN I FILLED UP THE TANK, I REALIZED THAT THE T…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE1,698
- 02POWER TRAIN1,453
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM982
- 04SERVICE BRAKES691
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER542
Owners report severe engine problems, including loss of motive power at highway speeds, loud pinging sounds, and diesel particulate filter soot accumulation requiring dealer service. These can leave the truck undrivable and create dangerous situations.
Complaints include sudden shifting into neutral while driving slowly uphill, and transmission issues that cause loss of power. This can happen even on new vehicles with very low mileage.
Owners describe sudden, severe loss of normal braking with a firm pedal but ineffective stopping, as well as loss of steering and brakes when the engine loses power. These electrical faults can directly compromise vehicle control.
Reports of braking failure where the pedal remains firm but the vehicle does not stop normally, often accompanied by other electrical issues. This is a critical safety concern that requires 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 M45 — 33 recalls
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 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…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain air bag inflator replacement service parts that may have been installed as part of a theft or collision repair. The parts include certain passenger-side air bag inflators designed to fit Infiniti 2002-2003 QX4, 2006-2010 M35 and M45; Nissan 2…
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: Dealers will inspect and replace the inflators as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 14, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
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…
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 M45 or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Infiniti M45 has far fewer issues per year (about 25 complaints annually) compared to the Chevrolet Silverado (about 511 complaints annually). In practice, this means the M45 is likely to spend less time in the shop for unexpected repairs, while the Silverado's higher complaint rate and reports of severe safety failures suggest a greater risk of costly and dangerous problems.
Key differences
- The Infiniti M45 averages about 25 complaints per year, while the Chevrolet Silverado averages about 511 per year, a twenty-fold difference.
- The Silverado has 117 crash-related complaints, 104 injuries, and 1 death, whereas the M45 has zero in all three categories.
- Infiniti M45 owners most often report fuel gauge and stalling issues, while Silverado owners report severe engine, transmission, and brake failures.
- The Silverado has 100 recalls versus 33 for the M45, including recalls for air bags, steering, and brake fluid warning sensors.
- Check the fuel gauge accuracy by filling the tank and comparing the reading to actual fuel level; test the fuel sending unit if the gauge behaves erratically.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any hesitation, stalling, or difficulty restarting, especially at highway speeds, which could indicate a failing crankshaft position sensor.
- Test the brakes thoroughly at various speeds; a firm pedal with poor stopping power could indicate a brake system fault reported by owners.
- Listen for unusual engine noises like pinging and watch for loss of power or transmission slipping into neutral, especially during uphill driving or at highway speeds.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the fuel system and engine sensors for the Infiniti M45.
- For the Chevrolet Silverado, have the mechanic inspect the brakes, transmission, and engine for signs of the reported failures.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for fuel system repairs on the M45 and engine or transmission work on the Silverado.
- During a test drive, simulate common failure conditions: for the M45, drive at highway speeds and check for stalling; for the Silverado, test braking and acceleration from a stop.
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 M45 or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Infiniti M45 vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Infiniti M45 total complaints
- 174
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 5,105
- Infiniti M45 total recalls
- 33
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 100
- Infiniti M45 avg complaints/year
- 24.9
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 510.5
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti M45
- Infiniti M45 top complaint area
- FUEL SYSTEM
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE