Head-to-head reliability
Infiniti QX50 vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Infiniti QX50 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 QX50 vs Chevrolet Silverado: The QX50 has 273 complaints over 10 years (27/year) and 11 recalls, while the Silverado has 8,227 complaints (823/year) and 101 recalls. The QX50 reports engine fires and electrical glitches; the Silverado reports brake loss and engine shutdowns. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Infiniti QX50 or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Infiniti QX50
The Infiniti QX50 is a compact luxury SUV with a relatively low complaint volume: 273 over 10 years, or about 27 per year. That suggests most owners don't experience repeated failures, but the complaints that do appear are serious, including engine fires, electrical glitches, and a panoramic sunroof that shattered while driving. Recalls cover airbag inflators, door latches, engine internals, and rear suspension, so check that all recall work is done.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup with a very high complaint volume: 8,227 over 10 years, or about 823 per year. Owners report a wide range of problems, from engines shutting off while driving to sudden brake loss and transmission failures, often on nearly new trucks. With 101 recalls and 3 deaths reported, this is a vehicle that demands careful inspection and a thorough recall check before purchase.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Infiniti QX50 | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 273 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 11 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 10 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 27.3 Better | 822.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 13 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 QX50
- 01ENGINE101
- 02ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING44
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM41
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER38
- 05FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE35
Owners report engine fires, check-engine codes like P0720 and P0500, and misfires causing shaking and weak power. One owner faced a $5,000 used-engine bill after a highway fire, so engine health is a major financial risk.
A recall (25V437000) addresses engine and cooling issues, but owners say parts weren't available and the vehicle felt sluggish. This means even recalled vehicles may have unresolved drivability problems.
Complaints include infotainment fires while parked, screens going black, and time/date formats changing randomly. These glitches can distract the driver and may lead to costly module replacements.
A panoramic sunroof shattered spontaneously on the interstate, and a new vehicle had starting struggles and misfires within the first week. These random failures show that even low-mileage QX50s can have serious defects.
“so after my initial report about my engine catching fire on the highway, I received an invoice for $5,000 for a used engine with 80k miles on it; plus another $2800 for the service fee. I already put down about $3900 for the engine repair. The mechanic sent m…”
“There are 2 check engine codes that came up as an issue for my vehicle, out of the blue: P0720 and P0500. I reached out to my mechanic and he couldn't fix it. So my plan was to take it to the dealership at the end of this month; however, while driving the veh…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Owners report engines shutting off while driving, diesel particulate filter soot accumulation requiring dealer service, and 6.2L motor failures on new trucks. These can leave you stranded and lead to expensive repairs.
Complaints include the truck suddenly shifting into neutral and transmission problems on vehicles with under 300 miles. This loss of power is dangerous, especially in traffic or parking garages.
Owners describe sudden brake loss with a firm pedal, screens going blank, and engine shutdown messages like 'Return to Neutral.' These electrical faults can disable critical safety systems.
Reports of severe braking loss and the truck shutting off while barely applying throttle in a parking lot. Brake failures are a top safety concern and should be inspected immediately.
“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 QX50 — 11 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Titan, Frontier, Infiniti QX60, Pathfinder, 2023-2024 Sentra, Versa, Kicks, Infiniti QX50, and 2023 Rogue vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the driver's air bag inflator may absorb moisture, and cause the air bag to deploy improper…
The risk: An air bag that deploys improperly may not protect the driver as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the front driver's air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD103, PD10…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Titan, Frontier, Infiniti QX60, Pathfinder, 2023-2024 Sentra, Versa, Kicks, Infiniti QX50, and 2023 Rogue vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the driver's air bag inflator may absorb moisture, and cause the air bag to deploy improper…
The risk: An air bag that deploys improperly may not protect the driver as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the front driver's air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD103, PD10…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2023 INFINITI QX55 and 2022 INFINITI QX50 vehicles. The incorrect door latch may have been installed in the front right-side passenger door lock assembly, preventing the front right-side door lock from automatically locking.
The risk: An unlocked door may unlatch and open during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the front right-side passenger door lock assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 14, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Rogue, 2019-2020 Altima, 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50, and 2022 Infiniti QX55 vehicles equipped with 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L variable compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engines. The engine bearings may have manufacturing defects tha…
The risk: Engine failure increases the risk of a crash. A bearing failure may cause a breach in the engine block, allowing hot oil to be discharged, increasing the risk of an engine fire.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the engine control module (ECM) software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed April 8, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261 or Infiniti's customer service at 1-800-662-6200. Nissan…
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 QX50 or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Infiniti QX50 has far fewer complaints per year (about 27 vs. 823 for the Silverado), meaning you're less likely to face frequent repair visits. However, the QX50's issues can still be severe, like engine fires, while the Silverado's much higher volume means many owners report problems, including brake loss and engine shutdowns. In practice, the QX50 may be easier to live with day-to-day, but both require a pre-purchase inspection.
Key differences
- The QX50 averages about 27 complaints per year; the Silverado averages about 823 per year, a 30-fold difference.
- QX50 complaints often involve engine fires and electrical glitches; Silverado complaints frequently involve engine shutdowns, brake loss, and transmission failures.
- The Silverado has 101 recalls and 3 deaths reported; the QX50 has 11 recalls and 0 deaths.
- QX50 issues include a shattering panoramic sunroof; Silverado issues include diesel particulate filter soot accumulation and sudden neutral shifts.
- Check for engine misfires, rough idling, or check-engine codes P0720 and P0500, which owners report as hard to fix.
- Inspect the panoramic sunroof for cracks or signs of shattering, and test all infotainment and display functions for blackouts or random time changes.
- Test the brakes for any loss of stopping power or a firm pedal that doesn't slow the truck, as owners report sudden brake failure.
- Listen for engine shutdowns or messages like 'Return to Neutral' during a test drive, and check for diesel particulate filter warning lights on diesel models.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to confirm all recalls are repaired, especially the QX50's engine/cooling recall and the Silverado's fuel pump and brake-related recalls.
- Ask for a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the model, focusing on engine codes, transmission behavior, and brake function.
- For the QX50, test the sunroof, infotainment screen, and all electrical accessories for glitches or blackouts.
- For the Silverado, drive at highway speeds and in parking lots to check for sudden engine shutdowns, neutral shifts, or brake loss.
- Request maintenance records to see if engine, transmission, or brake issues have been addressed, and avoid vehicles with repeated unresolved complaints.
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 | Infiniti QX50 | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 157 |
| 2024 | 4 | 527 |
| 2023 | 4 | 450 |
| 2022 | 16 | 1390 |
| 2021 | 40 | 961 |
| 2020 | 33 | 868 |
| 2019 | 140 | 2003 |
| 2017 | 13 | 1154 |
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 QX50 or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Infiniti QX50 vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Infiniti QX50 total complaints
- 273
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- Infiniti QX50 total recalls
- 11
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- Infiniti QX50 avg complaints/year
- 27.3
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti QX50
- Infiniti QX50 top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE