Head-to-head reliability
Isuzu I 290 vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Isuzu I 290 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
Isuzu I 290 vs Chevrolet Silverado: The Isuzu I 290 has 15 complaints over 2 years (7.5/year) and 2 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, 160 injuries, and 3 deaths; the Isuzu reports none. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Isuzu I 290 or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Isuzu I 290
The Isuzu I 290 is a compact pickup with a modest complaint volume—15 over two years—but the pattern shows recurring no-start and stalling problems that can strand a buyer. Electrical and engine complaints dominate, often tied to the Passlock II anti-theft system and intermittent ignition lockout. Recalls are limited to brake light switches, so other repairs are likely out-of-pocket. Overall, it's a simple truck with a few known electrical gremlins that can be frustrating to diagnose.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup with a massive complaint count—8,227 over ten years—and a broad range of serious issues including engine, transmission, and braking failures. Many complaints involve sudden loss of power, unintended neutral shifts, and brake problems, with some crashes and injuries reported. Recalls cover fuel pumps, tire monitors, and driver alerts, but the volume of owner reports suggests ongoing reliability concerns. This is a high-volume vehicle with high-volume problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Isuzu I 290 | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 15 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 2 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 7.5 Better | 822.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Isuzu I 290
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM7
- 02ENGINE4
- 03ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING4
- 04POWER TRAIN3
- 05STEERING2
Owners report the Passlock II anti-theft system intermittently locks out the ignition, preventing the truck from starting; the problem often becomes daily and dealers may not reproduce it. This can leave you stranded and is costly to diagnose.
Complaints include a 'reduced power' light with speed limited to about 15 mph and the engine dying while driving or idling. Another owner reports intermittent crank-but-no-start after refueling, worsening over time. These stalling events are a safety concern in traffic.
Similar stalling and no-start symptoms appear under this category, often overlapping with the engine complaints. The pattern suggests fuel or ignition-related faults that can leave the truck undrivable.
One owner reported the vehicle shutting off when slowing to about 5 mph, and a GM dealer acknowledged awareness of related issues. This sudden loss of power can be dangerous, especially in stop-and-go traffic.
“THE PASSLOCKII SYSTEM LOCKS OUT THE IGNITION SO IT WON'T START. THIS WAS INTERMITTENT AT FIRST BUT HAS BECOME A DAILY OCCURRENCE. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT WHEN WE TOOK IT TO THEM. THIS SYSTEM IS FAULTY AND THE MANUFACTURER KNEW IT WHEN THEY MADE THE…”
“THIS TRUCK HAS DEVELOPED AN INTERMITTEN STARTING PROBLEM. AMBIENT TEMPERTURE SEEMS TO HAVE SOME BEARING ON THE FREQUENCY OF THE OCCURANCE, FOR EXAMPLE WHEN I VISITED COLORODO HAVING MUCH LOWER TEMPERATURE THAN IN SOUTH TEXAS, I HAD ZERO OCCURANCES AND WHEN I…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Owners of newer Silverados report engine shutdowns while driving, sometimes with a 'Return to Neutral' message, and diesel models suffer repeated excessive soot accumulation requiring dealer service. These failures can happen at low mileage and leave you without power.
Complaints include a vehicle suddenly shifting into neutral while driving slowly uphill, and engine stalling with loss of acceleration. Such behavior is unpredictable and can cause dangerous situations in traffic or parking lots.
Reports describe sudden severe loss of normal braking with a firm pedal but ineffective stopping, and engine shut-off while driving with dashboard messages. These electrical faults can disable critical safety systems.
Owners report the truck completely shutting off with all screens blank and no acceleration, requiring a restart. Braking performance is also described as suddenly ineffective, which is a major safety concern.
“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.
Isuzu I 290 — 2 recalls
The defect: GM IS RECALLING 185,903 MODEL YEAR 2004-2009 COLORADO, GMC MODEL YEAR 2009-2004 CANYON, MODEL YEAR 2006 I-280, I-350, MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 I-290, AND I-370, PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSI…
The risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE SIMULTANEOUS LOSS OF ALL BRAKE LAMPS OR CAUSE ALL OF THE BRAKE LAMPS TO STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY. BOTH OF THESE CONDITIONS COULD FAIL TO WARN OTHERS OF THE DRIVER'S INTENTIONS AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS AS SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL BULLETIN FREE OF CHARGE. GM ANTICIPATES THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE BY JUNE 2010. A SPECIAL COVERAGE FOR VEHICLES REGISTERED IN ALL OTHER STATES WILL BE…
The defect: GM IS RECALLING 185,903 MODEL YEAR 2004-2009 COLORADO, GMC MODEL YEAR 2009-2004 CANYON, MODEL YEAR 2006 I-280, I-350, MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 I-290, AND I-370, PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSI…
The risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE SIMULTANEOUS LOSS OF ALL BRAKE LAMPS OR CAUSE ALL OF THE BRAKE LAMPS TO STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY. BOTH OF THESE CONDITIONS COULD FAIL TO WARN OTHERS OF THE DRIVER'S INTENTIONS AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS AS SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL BULLETIN FREE OF CHARGE. GM ANTICIPATES THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE BY JUNE 2010. A SPECIAL COVERAGE FOR VEHICLES REGISTERED IN ALL OTHER STATES WILL BE…
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
Isuzu I 290 or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Isuzu I 290 has far fewer complaints per year (7.5 vs. 822.7 for the Silverado), but its issues tend to be intermittent no-start and stalling problems. The Silverado's much higher volume includes more severe failures like sudden power loss and brake problems, with some crashes and injuries reported. In practice, the Isuzu may be simpler but still risky if the electrical faults strike; the Silverado demands more vigilance and potentially costly repairs.
Key differences
- The Isuzu I 290 averages 7.5 complaints per year, while the Silverado averages 822.7—over 100 times more, though the Silverado is far more common on the road.
- Isuzu complaints center on no-start and stalling from Passlock and engine issues; Silverado complaints include sudden engine shutdown, unintended neutral shifts, and brake loss.
- The Silverado has 233 crash-related complaints, 160 injuries, and 3 deaths reported, while the Isuzu has none in the provided data.
- Isuzu recalls are limited to brake light switches; Silverado recalls cover fuel pumps, tire monitors, and forward collision alerts, indicating a wider range of safety-related fixes.
- Check for intermittent no-start or ignition lockout—test the Passlock II system by trying multiple starts and asking the seller about any starting issues.
- Look for a 'Reduced Power' light or history of stalling; scan for stored engine codes and test-drive at low speeds and idle to see if the engine dies.
- Test for sudden engine shutdown or unintended neutral shifts during a slow-speed drive, especially in parking lots or uphill; also check for dashboard messages like 'Return to Neutral'.
- Inspect brake function carefully—look for a firm but ineffective pedal and any reports of sudden braking loss; have the brake system and electrical components scanned for faults.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models, especially the Isuzu brake light switch and Silverado fuel pump recalls.
- Have a mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the Isuzu's Passlock/ignition system and the Silverado's transmission and brake systems.
- During the test drive, simulate stop-and-go traffic and slow uphill driving to check for stalling or unintended gear changes.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and any repair invoices related to starting, stalling, or brake issues.
- Scan the OBD-II system for stored codes and pending codes, even if no warning lights are on.
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 Isuzu I 290 or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Isuzu I 290 vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Isuzu I 290 total complaints
- 15
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- Isuzu I 290 total recalls
- 2
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- Isuzu I 290 avg complaints/year
- 7.5
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- Isuzu I 290
- Isuzu I 290 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE