Head-to-head reliability
JEEP Renegade vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the JEEP Renegade 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
JEEP Renegade vs Chevrolet Silverado: The Renegade averages 245 complaints per year with 24 recalls, while the Silverado averages 823 complaints per year with 101 recalls. Both have serious engine and brake issues, but the Silverado has more frequent and severe safety complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the JEEP Renegade or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
JEEP Renegade
The Jeep Renegade is a compact SUV that averages about 245 owner complaints per year, with the most complaints about the engine, electrical system, and power train. Owners describe sudden bangs from underneath during acceleration or turns, shuddering and hesitation, and warning lights that trigger on curves. With 24 recalls and 62 injuries reported, it's a vehicle that demands careful inspection of its engine, transmission, and electronics before purchase.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup that generates roughly 823 complaints per year, with major issues in the engine, power train, brakes, and electrical system. Owners report severe problems like engines shutting off while driving, sudden loss of braking, and transmission failures at very low mileage. With 101 recalls and 3 deaths reported, it's a high-maintenance vehicle where safety-related failures are a real concern.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | JEEP Renegade | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,202 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 24 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 79 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 244.7 Better | 822.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 62 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.
JEEP Renegade
- 01ENGINE850
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM616
- 03POWER TRAIN424
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER419
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM286
Owners report a large bang from underneath during hard acceleration or turns, plus shuddering, lurching, and hesitation when pressing the gas. These symptoms can signal drivetrain or engine mount problems that may worsen over time.
Complaints include lane-keeping and blind-spot warnings that go off on every turn, and headlights or daytime running lights that fail intermittently. Electrical glitches can distract the driver and may be costly to trace.
Reports describe strong fuel odors, vehicle shutdowns, and loss of headlights, suggesting fuel system and electrical integration issues. A sudden shutdown while driving is a serious safety risk.
Owners note fuel vapor odors inside and outside the vehicle, which could indicate leaks or evap system faults. This is a fire hazard and should be inspected immediately.
“First NO WARNINGS Signs of Any Kind were shown at time of 1st & 3rd issues, 1st under hard acceleration or deceleration and sometimes while in turns under acceleration & deceleration you get a Large Bang from underneath the vehicle and it’s not only the sound…”
“The contact owns a 2022 Jeep Renegade. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing difficulty starting. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle shuddered, lurched, and hesitated to res…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Owners of new Silverados report engine shutdowns while driving, requiring a restart, and diesel particulate filter soot accumulation events that need dealer service. These issues can leave you stranded and lead to expensive repairs.
Complaints include the vehicle suddenly shifting into neutral and losing power, even at low speeds in parking lots. Transmission failures at very low mileage are a major reliability concern.
Drivers describe a sudden loss of normal braking with a firm pedal but poor stopping power, which is extremely dangerous. This pattern suggests a brake booster or ABS fault that needs immediate attention.
Reports include the engine shutting off while driving with a 'Return to Neutral' message, and screens going blank. Electrical failures can disable critical safety features and leave you without power.
“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.
JEEP Renegade — 24 recalls
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Renegade vehicles. The incorrect bumper reverse light assembly may have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, an…
The risk: The incorrect reverse lights may have reduced visibility, and not alert pedestrians and other drivers that the vehicle is backing up, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the bumper reverse light assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 30, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this rec…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Renegade vehicles. The incorrect bumper reverse light assembly may have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, an…
The risk: The incorrect reverse lights may have reduced visibility, and not alert pedestrians and other drivers that the vehicle is backing up, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the bumper reverse light assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 30, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this rec…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Renegade vehicles. The incorrect bumper reverse light assembly may have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, an…
The risk: The incorrect reverse lights may have reduced visibility, and not alert pedestrians and other drivers that the vehicle is backing up, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the bumper reverse light assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 30, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this rec…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia, 2018-2025 Alfa Romeo Stelvio, 2019-2023 Fiat 500X, Jeep Renegade, and 2024 Fiat 500E vehicles. A seat belt buckle switch sensor may be improperly connected, preventing the front seat air bag from deploying as intended.
The risk: A front seat air bag that does not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will repair the connection, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning August 27, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 82B.
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
JEEP Renegade or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Jeep Renegade has far fewer complaints per year (about 245) compared to the Chevrolet Silverado (about 823), and fewer recalls (24 vs 101). In practice, the Renegade may be less likely to overwhelm you with frequent repair visits, but both have serious safety-related complaints that require thorough pre-purchase checks.
Key differences
- The Silverado has over three times as many complaints per year as the Renegade, with engine and power train issues dominating.
- Silverado owners report sudden engine shutdowns and brake loss, while Renegade owners report bangs, shuddering, and warning light glitches.
- The Silverado has 101 recalls versus 24 for the Renegade, covering fuel pumps, brakes, and forward collision warnings.
- The Renegade's top complaint is engine (850), but the Silverado's engine complaints (2,521) are nearly three times higher.
- Listen for a loud bang from underneath during test drives with hard acceleration or turns, which could indicate drivetrain or suspension issues.
- Check all exterior lights, including headlights and daytime running lights, for intermittent failures, and test lane-keeping and blind-spot alerts on curves.
- Test the brakes at low speed and look for a firm pedal with poor stopping, which owners report as a sudden loss of braking.
- During a test drive, watch for the engine shutting off or a 'Return to Neutral' message, and check for any transmission hesitation or sudden neutral engagement.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for any open recalls on the NHTSA website for the specific VIN.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on engine, transmission, brakes, and electrical systems.
- During the test drive, deliberately accelerate hard and turn to listen for bangs or feel for shuddering (Renegade) or test braking and watch for shutdowns (Silverado).
- Ask the seller for all maintenance records, especially any related to fuel system, transmission, or brake repairs.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been completed, and get written confirmation from a dealer if possible.
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 | JEEP Renegade | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 20 | 450 |
| 2022 | 26 | 1390 |
| 2021 | 67 | 961 |
| 2020 | 62 | 868 |
| 2019 | 79 | 2003 |
| 2018 | 442 | 597 |
| 2017 | 565 | 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 JEEP Renegade or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- JEEP Renegade vs Chevrolet Silverado
- JEEP Renegade total complaints
- 2,202
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- JEEP Renegade total recalls
- 24
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- JEEP Renegade avg complaints/year
- 244.7
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- JEEP Renegade
- JEEP Renegade top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE