Vehicle 1

LAND Rover Defender

46 complaints · 35 recalls

VS

Vehicle 2

Chevrolet Silverado

6,878 complaints · 98 recalls

📊 Based on NHTSA owner complaint & recall data
Which Should I Buy?

LAND Rover Defender vs Chevrolet Silverado: The Defender has 46 total complaints (6.6/year) and 35 recalls, while the Silverado has 6878 complaints (687.8/year) and 98 recalls. The Silverado has 206 crash complaints versus 1 for the Defender. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

Category Wins

Lower numbers are better for complaints, recalls, and crashes.

4
LAND Rover Defender
wins all 4 categories
0
Chevrolet Silverado
no category wins
CategoryLAND Rover DefenderChevrolet Silverado
Total Complaints
All years combined
46
✓ lower
6,878
Safety Recalls
Federal campaigns
35
✓ lower
98
Crash Reports
Crash-related complaints
1
✓ lower
206
Avg / Year
Complaints per model year
6.6
✓ lower
687.8

Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records. Lower is better.

Top Problem Areas

Most frequently reported components across all model years.

LAND Rover Defender

1. EXTERIOR LIGHTING14
2. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM8
3. ENGINE7
4. STEERING7
5. VISIBILITY/WIPER6

Chevrolet Silverado

1. ENGINE2,056
2. POWER TRAIN1,925
3. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,263
4. SERVICE BRAKES1,077
5. UNKNOWN OR OTHER735
🤖
AI Buyer Analysis
DeepSeek interpretation of NHTSA data · cached result
The Verdict

The Chevrolet Silverado has far more complaints per year (687.8 vs 6.6) and a higher number of crash complaints (206 vs 1), suggesting it may have more frequent issues. However, the Land Rover Defender has a higher recall rate per vehicle sold, so neither is without concerns.

💡 Buyer Recommendation

If you prioritize fewer reported problems and lower complaint volume, the Land Rover Defender may be less risky. If you need a vehicle with a larger service network and more common parts, the Silverado might be easier to maintain despite higher complaint numbers.

Key Differences
  • Silverado has 687.8 complaints per year vs Defender's 6.6.
  • Silverado has 206 crash complaints; Defender has 1.
  • Defender's top issue is exterior lighting (14); Silverado's top is engine (2056).
  • Silverado has 98 recalls; Defender has 35.
⚠ Watch on LAND Rover Defender
  • Check for exterior lighting failures, as 14 complaints were reported.
  • Inspect electrical system and steering components due to 8 and 7 complaints respectively.
⚠ Watch on Chevrolet Silverado
  • Engine and powertrain issues are very common (2056 and 1925 complaints).
  • Electrical system problems are frequent (1263 complaints).
✓ Before You Buy — Checklist
  • Check NHTSA recall status for both vehicles.
  • Have a mechanic inspect the engine and transmission on the Silverado.
  • Test all exterior lights on the Defender.
  • Review service history for any electrical repairs.
  • Look for open recalls and ensure they were fixed.

Complaints by Model Year

Years available for both vehicles (lower is better).

LAND Rover DefenderChevrolet Silverado
2026
0
45
2025
0
115
2024
0
460
2023
0
375
2022
0
1172
2021
0
844
2020
46
787
LAND Rover Defender vs Chevrolet Silverado — comparison facts
Comparison
LAND Rover Defender vs Chevrolet Silverado
LAND Rover Defender total complaints
46
Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
6,878
LAND Rover Defender total recalls
35
Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
98
LAND Rover Defender avg complaints/year
6.6
Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
687.8
More reliable overall
LAND Rover Defender
LAND Rover Defender top complaint area
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
ENGINE
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

Full Reliability Reports

Full Report →

LAND Rover DefenderReliability & Problems

46 complaints · All years · NHTSA data

Full Report →

Chevrolet SilveradoReliability & Problems

6,878 complaints · All years · NHTSA data

Buying a specific LAND Rover Defender or Chevrolet Silverado?

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