Head-to-head reliability
KIA Sportage vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the KIA Sportage 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 Sportage vs Chevrolet Silverado: The Sportage averages 119 complaints per year with engine stalling and brake failures, while the Silverado averages 134 with transmission line ruptures and engine knocking. The Silverado has 100 recalls versus 25 for the Sportage. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the KIA Sportage or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
KIA Sportage
The KIA Sportage shows a high complaint rate of about 119 per year, with engine issues dominating—owners report stalling, loss of power, and battery terminal fuse block failures. Electrical system problems also cause sudden propulsion loss, while brake issues include unintended acceleration and pedal going to the floor. The panoramic sunroof shattering at highway speed adds a safety concern. Overall, the Sportage has frequent and varied reliability problems that could leave owners stranded or in dangerous situations.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado averages 134 complaints per year, with powertrain and brake issues leading. Transmission fluid line failures at highway speed and sudden loss of power are common, along with brake problems like unintended acceleration and loss of braking. Engine knocking requiring replacement and electrical glitches affecting vehicle control are also reported. With 100 recalls, the Silverado has a high recall count, indicating systemic issues that may require multiple dealer visits.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | KIA Sportage | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,193 Better | 1,340 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 25 Better | 100 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 82 | 80 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 119.3 Better | 134.0 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 70 | 33 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 Sportage
- 01ENGINE500
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER242
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM207
- 04SERVICE BRAKES110
- 05POWER TRAIN98
Owners report the engine stalling on the highway and the check engine light coming on, often requiring a dealership diagnostic. The positive battery terminal fuse block is a common failure point that can cause electrical and starting issues.
Sudden loss of propulsion while driving, with multiple warning lights, is reported. The battery terminal fuse block also falls under this category, leading to no throttle response and potential loss of power.
The car may accelerate when the brake is pressed, or the brake pedal goes to the floor with no resistance, leading to loss of stopping power. These failures can occur without warning.
The panoramic sunroof can shatter unexpectedly while driving at highway speeds, posing a risk of injury from glass debris.
“I am submitting this complaint regarding the positive battery terminal fuse block (battery terminal/fusible link assembly) on my 2022 Kia Sportage. The component is currently installed on the vehicle and is available for inspection upon request. I purchased t…”
“On [XXX] while driving on the highway my vehicle stalled and the engine light came on. I called my local Kia dealership and setup a diagnostic. My vehicle was dropped off 7/22/25 in which I was informed it was still under warranty and a claim would have to be…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01POWER TRAIN339
- 02SERVICE BRAKES300
- 03ENGINE257
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM214
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER146
Transmission fluid lines fail without warning, causing rapid fluid loss and potential transmission damage. Some trucks also lose power suddenly while towing, even with light loads.
Brake issues include unintended acceleration when pressing the brake, and loss of braking power. High-voltage battery faults in EV models can also cause loss of vehicle control.
Engines develop loud knocking noises and require complete replacement as early as 3,000 miles. Some trucks lose power at highway speeds with no warning lights.
Electrical glitches cause the vehicle to not start or behave erratically, and high-voltage battery faults in the Silverado EV can lead to sudden loss of propulsion.
“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 Sportage — 25 recalls
The defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Kia K4, 2025-2026 Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage PHEV, K5, EV9, Carnival, and Carnival Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As suc…
The risk: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer, tire pressure, or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 26, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's…
The defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris a…
The risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification lett…
The defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage and Cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.
The risk: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain fuses in the electrical junction box. Vehicles equipped with an elect…
The defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris a…
The risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification lett…
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 Sportage or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The KIA Sportage has slightly fewer complaints per year (119 vs 134), but its issues are more concentrated on engine and electrical failures that can cause sudden stalling. The Silverado has more recalls (100 vs 25) and serious powertrain and brake problems. In practice, both vehicles have significant reliability concerns, but the Sportage may have fewer overall incidents.
Key differences
- The Sportage has 500 engine complaints vs 257 for the Silverado, but the Silverado's engine failures often require complete replacement.
- The Silverado has 100 recalls compared to 25 for the Sportage, indicating more widespread safety campaigns.
- Brake complaints are higher on the Silverado (300 vs 110), with reports of unintended acceleration and loss of braking.
- The Sportage has a unique sunroof shattering issue, while the Silverado has transmission fluid line failures at highway speed.
- Check for battery terminal fuse block corrosion or damage, as it can cause stalling and electrical failures.
- Inspect the panoramic sunroof for cracks or weakness, as it may shatter without warning.
- Look for transmission fluid leaks around the lines, as failures can occur without warning.
- Listen for engine knocking noises, which may indicate a need for complete engine replacement.
Before you buy
- Request service records for engine and transmission repairs on both vehicles.
- Test drive to check for brake pedal feel and unintended acceleration.
- Inspect the Sportage's battery terminal fuse block and sunroof condition.
- Check the Silverado's transmission fluid level and look for leaks.
- Verify all recalls have been performed using the VIN.
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 Sportage | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 22 | 70 |
| 2025 | 49 | 118 |
| 2024 | 66 | 0 |
| 2023 | 183 | 0 |
| 2022 | 44 | 0 |
| 2021 | 48 | 0 |
| 2020 | 157 | 0 |
| 2019 | 68 | 0 |
| 2018 | 159 | 0 |
| 2017 | 397 | 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 Sportage or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- KIA Sportage vs Chevrolet Silverado
- KIA Sportage total complaints
- 1,193
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 1,340
- KIA Sportage total recalls
- 25
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 100
- KIA Sportage avg complaints/year
- 119.3
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 134.0
- More reliable overall
- KIA Sportage
- KIA Sportage top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN