Head-to-head reliability
Infiniti Q40 vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Infiniti Q40 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 Q40 vs Chevrolet Silverado: The Q40 has 8 complaints over 2 years and 0 recalls, while the Silverado has 8,227 complaints over 10 years and 101 recalls. The Silverado also reports 233 crash-related incidents and 3 deaths, versus 1 crash and 0 deaths for the Q40. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Infiniti Q40 or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Infiniti Q40
The Infiniti Q40 is a compact luxury sedan with a very low complaint volume: just 8 complaints over 2 years, averaging 4.0 per year, and no recalls on record. Owners report issues like a passenger air bag off light staying on for smaller adults, a clogged sunroof drain that soaks the floor and can damage electrical components, and a VDC system that may flicker and reduce control. With only 1 crash and 1 injury reported, the data suggests a relatively quiet ownership experience, but the few complaints that exist point to specific annoyances rather than widespread failures.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup with a massive complaint footprint: 8,227 complaints over 10 years, averaging 822.7 per year, plus 101 recalls, 233 crash-related reports, 160 injuries, and 3 deaths. Owners describe serious problems including engines shutting off while driving, sudden loss of braking, transmissions going into neutral, and diesel particulate filter soot accumulation. The volume and severity of these reports indicate that many Silverado owners face frequent and sometimes dangerous reliability issues.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Infiniti Q40 | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 8 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 4.0 Better | 822.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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 Q40
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
- 02AIR BAGS3
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1
- 05STRUCTURE1
Owners report the passenger 'air bag off' light staying on even when an adult passenger is seated, meaning the air bag may not deploy in a crash. This is a safety concern because it could leave a front passenger unprotected.
A clogged sunroof drain can let water pool under the floor and inside panels, damaging electrical components like the body control module. Buyers should check for damp carpets or electrical glitches, as water damage can be expensive to fix.
One owner reported ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and hearing loss after driving the car, suggesting excessive noise or vibration. Another described the VDC system flickering and causing a loss of control on the highway, which is a serious drivability concern.
“I BOUGHT THIS NEW 2015 INFINITI Q40 AWD FROM INFINITI DEALER ON FEB 28, 2015. AFTER DRIVING THIS NOISY CAR FOR THREE MONTHS(3000MILES), I STARTED HAVING RINGING IN BOTH EARS (TINNITUS). I HAVE TROUBLE TO SLEEP AND START LOSING MY HEARING IN BOTH EARS. I HAVE…”
“WHILE IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY THE VDC (AUTO HYDROPLANE CORRECT FUNCTION) IS SUSPECTED TO HAVE CAUSED INCREASE LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO OBSERVE THAT THE VDC LIGHT WAS FLICKERING ON AND OFF. IT DID INITIALLY COME ON TO AUTO CORRECT BUT THEN ABRU…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Owners report engines shutting off while driving, requiring a restart, and diesel particulate filter soot accumulation events that need dealer service. These issues can leave you stranded and may lead to costly repairs.
Complaints include the vehicle suddenly going into neutral while driving slowly uphill, and transmission problems linked to engine shutdowns. This can cause a loss of power and control, especially in traffic or parking situations.
Owners describe a sudden, severe loss of normal braking with a firm pedal but little stopping power, and instances where the truck shut off completely while braking. Brake failure is a critical safety risk that should be addressed immediately.
Reports include the engine shutting off while driving with a 'Return to Neutral' message, and screens going blank. These electrical glitches can disable safety features and leave you unable to accelerate or brake normally.
“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 Q40
No recalls on record.
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 Q40 or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Infiniti Q40 has far fewer issues per year (4.0 vs. 822.7) and no recalls, while the Chevrolet Silverado has a much higher complaint rate and 101 recalls. In practice, the Q40 is likely to need less frequent attention, but the Silverado's problems are more severe and can involve sudden engine shutdowns or brake loss.
Key differences
- The Infiniti Q40 has 8 complaints over 2 years and 0 recalls, while the Silverado has 8,227 complaints over 10 years and 101 recalls.
- Silverado owners report dangerous issues like engine shutdowns, sudden brake loss, and transmission going into neutral; Q40 complaints are fewer and include air bag off lights and sunroof drain clogs.
- The Q40 has 1 crash and 1 injury reported; the Silverado has 233 crash-related reports, 160 injuries, and 3 deaths.
- The Q40's top complaint areas are air bags and unknown/other, while the Silverado's are engine, power train, and electrical system.
- Check that the passenger air bag off light turns off when an adult sits in the front seat; if it stays on, the air bag may not deploy.
- Inspect for water damage under the floor mats and around the sunroof drain, as a clog can lead to electrical problems.
- Test drive and listen for any engine stalling or hesitation, and ask if the diesel particulate filter has had soot accumulation issues.
- Check for brake performance and any warning messages about 'Return to Neutral' or electrical glitches; these can indicate serious safety faults.
Before you buy
- Ask for a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the specific model.
- For the Q40, verify the air bag system works and check for sunroof drain leaks.
- For the Silverado, scan for stored engine and transmission codes and test the brakes thoroughly.
- Review the vehicle's recall history and confirm all recalls have been repaired.
- Take a long test drive that includes highway speeds, braking, and parking maneuvers to spot intermittent issues.
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 Q40 or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Infiniti Q40 vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Infiniti Q40 total complaints
- 8
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- Infiniti Q40 total recalls
- 0
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- Infiniti Q40 avg complaints/year
- 4.0
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti Q40
- Infiniti Q40 top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE