Head-to-head reliability
KIA Forte vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the KIA Forte 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
KIA Forte vs Chevrolet Silverado: The Forte averages 121.4 complaints per year with 6 deaths, while the Silverado averages 134.0 with 0 deaths. The Forte's engine and electrical failures are severe; the Silverado has more recalls but predictable issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the KIA Forte or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
KIA Forte
The KIA Forte is a compact sedan that, based on NHTSA data, shows a troubling pattern of engine and electrical failures, often occurring at low mileage. Owners report engines that won't start or accelerate, metal particles in oil, and sudden shutdowns on the highway. With 121.4 complaints per year and 6 deaths, the Forte's reliability is a significant concern for long-term ownership.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup with a high complaint rate of 134 per year and 100 recalls, but zero reported deaths. Owners frequently report transmission fluid line failures causing sudden loss of drive, brake system malfunctions, and engine knocking requiring replacement. While the Silverado has more recalls, its failure patterns are more predictable and often covered under warranty.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | KIA Forte | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,214 Better | 1,340 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 16 Better | 100 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 116 | 80 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 121.4 Better | 134.0 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 79 | 33 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 6 | 0 Better |
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.
KIA Forte
- 01ENGINE513
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER211
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM169
- 04POWER TRAIN134
- 05AIR BAGS99
Owners report engines that fail to start or accelerate, metal particles in oil (indicating internal damage), and complete engine failure at low miles. This can leave you stranded and requires costly repairs.
Sudden shutdowns while driving, headlights turning off at night, and intermittent electrical gremlins are common. These pose serious safety risks, especially on highways.
Stalling upon acceleration and transmission issues are reported, often accompanied by other failures like wipers getting stuck. This affects drivability and safety.
Steering looseness and alignment problems, as well as A/C failure, are frequent complaints. These issues can be frustrating and expensive to diagnose.
“While the vehicle was approximately ten months old with approximately 11K miles, it was continuously not functioning properly and would not start/accelerate. My 2024 KIA Forte, which was purchased new from a KIA dealership, has continuously failed to function…”
“In early 2025, I encountered a serious issue with my 2022 Kia Forte GT, a manual car with 76,000 miles and a 1.6L turbo Gamma engine. I took it for a routine oil change at a local non-Kia shop, but they refused, finding metal particles in the oil, suggesting…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01POWER TRAIN339
- 02SERVICE BRAKES300
- 03ENGINE257
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM214
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER146
Transmission fluid line failures cause rapid fluid loss and loss of drive at highway speeds, often without warning. This is a critical safety issue that can lead to accidents.
Brake system malfunctions, including loss of braking power and unexpected engagement, are reported. Some incidents involve high-voltage battery faults in EV models, leading to loss of vehicle control.
Loud knocking noises and complete engine failure occur at low mileage (under 3,000 miles in some cases), often without warning lights. This requires full engine replacement.
Electrical issues often accompany brake and battery faults, including sudden loss of power and control. These can be intermittent and hard to replicate for diagnosis.
“Vehicle: 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Incident Description: While driving at highway speed, the transmission fluid line failed and transmission fluid rapidly leaked from the vehicle. There were no warning lights, alerts, or messages before the failure occurr…”
“On XXX I was driving from [XXX] to my sister's house in [XXX]. I was relocating to [XXX] for a job. I was pulling a U-haul trailer (6x12) that contained significantly less weight than the truck can handle. About halfway there, on back roads, the truck suddenl…”
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.
KIA Forte — 16 recalls
The defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Forte vehicles. The right front lower control arm may have been improperly welded, which can cause it to fail.
The risk: Front lower control arm failure can cause a sudden loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will replace the right front lower control arm, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 17, 2024. Owners may contact Kia custo…
The defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Forte vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the front left steering knuckle may crack, which can result in a loss of steering control.
The risk: A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the front left steering knuckle, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 12, 2023. Owner may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall…
The defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Rio and Forte vehicles. A bolt in the steering column may not be secured properly, which can cause the steering column to detach from the steering rack and result in a loss of steering control.
The risk: Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will tighten the lower steering column u-joint retention bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall SC235.
The defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Forte vehicles. The right front lower control arm may have been improperly welded, which can cause it to fail.
The risk: Front lower control arm failure can cause a sudden loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will replace the right front lower control arm, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 27, 2023. Owners may contact Kia c…
Chevrolet Silverado — 100 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500 and 2017-2019 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with a Duramax diesel 6.6 liter engine and an optional engine-block heater cord. An electrical short-circuit may occur in the engine-block heater cable or…
The risk: An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will replace engine block heaters and heater cords. Vehicles that have this feature disabled as a remedy to the safety condition will be contacted and offered replacement block heaters and heater cords under a separate customer sat…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500, 5500 and 6500 vehicles and 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 vehicles and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with Duramax 6.6 liter diesel engines and an optional engine-block heater. The engine block heat…
The risk: A short-circuit may damage the engine components and increase the risk of fire.
The fix: GM will contact owners, dealers will replace the engine block heater, free of charge. Additionally, in Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 vehicles, dealers will install a new rerouted heater cord. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2018-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 Crew Cab trucks. The left or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall m…
The risk: A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2024. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC Customer Service at 888-988-7267.…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 vehicles equipped with a dual fuel tank option. The rear fuel tank may collapse and prevent the fuel pump from transferring fuel to the front tank, resulting in an engine stall.
The risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the fuel tank and fuel pump module, replacing them as necessary. Dealers will also add a vent hose to the rear tank assembly. Repairs will be performed free of charge. An interim owner notification letter informing own…
Buyer analysis
KIA Forte or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The KIA Forte has fewer complaints per year (121.4 vs 134.0) but a higher severity with 6 deaths and 79 injuries. The Silverado has more recalls but zero deaths. In practice, the Forte's engine and electrical failures are more unpredictable and dangerous, while the Silverado's issues are more mechanical and often covered by warranty.
Key differences
- The Forte has 6 deaths and 79 injuries; the Silverado has 0 deaths and 33 injuries.
- The Forte's top issue is engine failure (513 complaints); the Silverado's top is power train (339 complaints).
- The Silverado has 100 recalls vs the Forte's 16, but many Silverado recalls address known issues.
- Forte owners report sudden shutdowns and headlight failures; Silverado owners report transmission fluid leaks and brake loss.
- Check for engine starting issues and metal particles in oil, especially on 2022-2024 models.
- Inspect for steering looseness and alignment problems, and test all electrical systems including headlights.
- Look for transmission fluid leaks and check the fluid lines for damage, especially on 2026 models.
- Test brakes thoroughly for any sponginess or unexpected engagement, and check for engine knocking at low mileage.
Before you buy
- Request a full service history and check for any engine or transmission repairs on the Forte.
- On the Silverado, inspect the transmission fluid lines and ask about any brake system recalls.
- Test drive both vehicles at highway speeds to check for stalling, shutdowns, or transmission issues.
- Check NHTSA recall status for both VINs and ensure all recalls are performed.
- For the Forte, ask about the steering column recall and check for any A/C condenser issues.
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 | KIA Forte | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 23 | 0 |
| 2023 | 56 | 0 |
| 2022 | 25 | 0 |
| 2021 | 67 | 0 |
| 2020 | 71 | 0 |
| 2019 | 146 | 0 |
| 2018 | 134 | 0 |
| 2017 | 300 | 1152 |
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 KIA Forte or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- KIA Forte vs Chevrolet Silverado
- KIA Forte total complaints
- 1,214
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 1,340
- KIA Forte total recalls
- 16
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 100
- KIA Forte avg complaints/year
- 121.4
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 134.0
- More reliable overall
- KIA Forte
- KIA Forte top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN