Head-to-head reliability
Lexus LX vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Lexus LX 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
Lexus LX vs Chevrolet Silverado: The Lexus LX has 25 complaints over 10 years with 0 crashes, while the Chevrolet Silverado has 8,227 complaints, 233 crashes, and 3 deaths. The LX averages 2.5 complaints per year versus 822.7 for the Silverado. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lexus LX or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lexus LX
The Lexus LX is a low-volume luxury SUV with only 25 complaints over 10 years, averaging 2.5 per year. Most complaints center on engine issues, including a recall for stalling and power loss, and brake noise or warning lights. There are no reported crashes, injuries, or deaths in the data, but owners do report serious drivability problems like sudden power loss and brake system warnings.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a high-volume pickup with 8,227 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 823 per year. Complaints span engine, power train, electrical, and brake systems, with reports of sudden engine shutdown, transmission failure, and brake loss. The data includes 233 crash-related complaints, 160 injuries, and 3 deaths, indicating more severe outcomes reported by owners.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lexus LX | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 25 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 17 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 2.5 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.
Lexus LX
- 01ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING8
- 02ENGINE8
- 03SERVICE BRAKES3
- 04BACK OVER PREVENTION2
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
Owners report stalling and power loss while driving, often linked to a recall for engine issues. Some complaints mention waiting for recall parts, leaving them driving a vehicle that may shut down unexpectedly.
Specific complaints include a dashboard alert saying 'Pull Over - Vehicle Losing Power and Shutting Down' at highway speeds. This can leave a driver stranded or in a dangerous situation.
Owners describe abnormal humming noises when braking and warning lights illuminating. One complaint mentions anxiety that the brakes might not work, though no crash is reported in the sample.
Complaints include distorted rearview camera images and the vehicle turning off while still in drive or reverse, which could be dangerous when parking on a hill.
“The contact owns a 2024 Lexus LX 600. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V767000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer because the contact w…”
“The contact owns a 2023 Lexus LX 600. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V767000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact called the dealer and the manufacturer and was informed that the remedy was not yet available. The contact sta…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Owners report engine shutdown while driving, sometimes with messages like 'Return to Neutral' and 'Press Start.' Others describe diesel particulate filter soot accumulation requiring dealer service.
Complaints include sudden shifting into neutral while driving slowly uphill, causing loss of power. This can happen at low speeds in parking garages or traffic.
Reports include sudden loss of normal braking, with a firm brake pedal but reduced stopping power. Also, engine shut-off while driving with screens going blank.
Owners describe severe loss of braking shortly after starting a trip, and the truck shutting off completely in parking lots, requiring a restart.
“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.
Lexus LX — 17 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Tundra, Tundra Hybrid, Lexus LX600, and 2023-2024 Sequoia Hybrid vehicles. Unexpected vehicle movement may occur when the vehicle is in neutral and the brakes are not applied.
The risk: Unexpected vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the transmission control ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 8, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TA02 and…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Tundra and Lexus LX600 vehicles equipped with a V35A engine. Debris from the manufacturing process may contaminate the engine and cause the main bearings to fail, which can result in an engine stall and loss of drive p…
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the engine assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed between December 17, 2024 and February 19, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB07/…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or d…
The risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's nu…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Toyota Tundra, Lexus LX, and 2024 Lexus GX vehicles equipped with a V35A engine. Debris from the manufacturing process may contaminate the engine and cause the main bearings to fail, which can result in an engine stall…
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will perform an inspection on the #1 main bearing using vehicle inspection software and drive data, and if necessary, replace the engine. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 28, 2026. Owners m…
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
Lexus LX or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Lexus LX has far fewer issues per year (2.5 vs. 822.7) and no reported crashes, injuries, or deaths in the data, while the Silverado has many more complaints and severe outcomes. In practice, the LX owner reports fewer problems, but the ones that occur can be serious, like power loss. The Silverado's higher volume means more reported failures, including crashes and fatalities.
Key differences
- The Lexus LX has 25 complaints over 10 years, while the Silverado has 8,227, a massive difference in reported problems per vehicle.
- Lexus LX complaints often involve engine stalling and brake noise, but no crashes or injuries are reported in the data; Silverado complaints include 233 crash-related, 160 injuries, and 3 deaths.
- Silverado owners report sudden engine shutdown and transmission failure, while Lexus LX owners report power loss and brake warning lights.
- Both have recalls, but the Silverado has 101 recalls versus 17 for the Lexus LX, covering more systems like fuel pumps and forward collision warnings.
- Check for open recall 25V767 on the engine and engine cooling system, which can cause power loss; ensure the remedy has been performed.
- Listen for abnormal humming or grinding noises when braking, and check for brake system warning lights on the dashboard.
- Test drive at low speeds and uphill to check for sudden shifting into neutral or engine shutdown, as reported by owners.
- Inspect for brake performance issues, including a firm pedal with reduced stopping power, and check for any electrical glitches like blank screens.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to check for open recalls on both vehicles and confirm they have been fixed.
- Take a long test drive including highway speeds, braking, and parking maneuvers to feel for stalling, brake noise, or transmission issues.
- Ask for a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic, focusing on engine, transmission, and brake systems.
- Review the owner's complaint history on NHTSA for the specific model year you are considering.
- For the Silverado, check for diesel particulate filter issues if equipped with a Duramax diesel, and ask about any engine shutdown repairs.
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 | Lexus LX | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 120 |
| 2025 | 2 | 157 |
| 2024 | 3 | 527 |
| 2023 | 13 | 450 |
| 2022 | 5 | 1390 |
| 2021 | 0 | 961 |
| 2020 | 1 | 868 |
| 2019 | 0 | 2003 |
| 2018 | 0 | 597 |
| 2017 | 0 | 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 Lexus LX or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lexus LX vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Lexus LX total complaints
- 25
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- Lexus LX total recalls
- 17
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- Lexus LX avg complaints/year
- 2.5
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- Lexus LX
- Lexus LX top complaint area
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE