Head-to-head reliability
Lexus RX vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Lexus RX 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 RX vs Chevrolet Silverado: The Lexus RX averages about 64 complaints per year with 17 recalls and 0 deaths, while the Silverado averages about 823 complaints per year with 101 recalls and 3 deaths. The RX has fewer reported issues overall, but both have safety-related complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lexus RX or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lexus RX
The Lexus RX is a luxury SUV that averages about 64 complaints per year over the past decade, with 17 recalls and no reported deaths in that period. The most common owner complaints involve air bags, electrical system glitches, and engine issues, often described as unintended acceleration, battery drain, or warning lights. While the overall complaint rate is relatively low, the severity of some incidents—like sudden acceleration—means buyers should pay close attention to specific model years and service history.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup that generates roughly 823 complaints per year, with 101 recalls and 3 deaths reported over the same 10-year span. Owner complaints heavily focus on engine and powertrain failures, electrical problems, and brake issues, with many reports of stalling, loss of braking, and transmission shifting into neutral. The much higher complaint volume suggests that living with a Silverado may involve more frequent trips to the dealer for repairs.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lexus RX | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 635 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 17 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 73 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 63.5 Better | 822.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 67 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 RX
- 01AIR BAGS260
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER107
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM83
- 04ENGINE51
- 05STRUCTURE37
Owners report unintended acceleration leading to crashes, as well as failure to alert when rear seat belts are unbuckled. These issues matter because they directly affect crash safety and could lead to injuries if not addressed.
Complaints include 12V battery parasitic drain that can leave the vehicle dead overnight, and sudden loss of power when using accessories like seat coolers. This can strand a driver and requires costly diagnostics.
Some owners experience unintended acceleration events and check engine lights with turbocharger wastegate actuator faults. These can cause loss of power or unexpected acceleration, posing a safety risk.
Reports describe sudden power loss and uncontrollable acceleration in drive-thru or parking situations. These unpredictable events are hard to diagnose and can be frightening for drivers.
“The contact owns a 2025 Lexus RX 350. The contact stated that while driving into a parking space, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration and drove forward at a high rate of speed before crashing into the brick wall of an office building. Dur…”
“The car does not alert when a seat belt is not worn in the back seats. This feature is mentioned in the owner's manual, but the car fails to alert when a rear passenger does not buckle their seat belt. I have raised the complaint twice and proved to lexus ser…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Owners report engine shutdowns while driving, excessive diesel particulate filter soot accumulation, and rough running. These can leave you stranded and lead to expensive repairs, especially on diesel models.
Complaints include the vehicle suddenly shifting into neutral and losing power, even at low speeds. This can cause loss of control and is a serious safety concern.
Reports describe sudden loss of braking assist and engine shut-off with warning messages like 'Return to Neutral'. These electrical glitches can disable critical systems while driving.
Owners experience a firm brake pedal with reduced braking effect, and in some cases the truck shuts off entirely during braking. This significantly increases stopping distances and crash risk.
“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 RX — 17 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Camry, 2019 Lexus NX300, and 2019 RX350L vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 12, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TA01 and 25LA01.
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 2022-2025 Lexus NX350, NX250, 2023-2026 RX350, and 2024-2026 TX350 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federa…
The risk: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera software or replace the rearview camera, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 15, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's nu…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2026 Lexus TX350, RX350 Hybrid, RX350, RX500 Hybrid, TX500 Hybrid, Toyota Grand Highlander, and Grand Highlander Hybrid vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the front steering knuckles may crack and break, which can result in…
The risk: A loss of vehicle steering control increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the front steering knuckles, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's num…
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 RX or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Lexus RX has far fewer complaints per year (about 64 vs. 823 for the Silverado) and fewer recalls (17 vs. 101). In practice, this means a used RX is likely to spend less time in the shop for major repairs, while the Silverado may require more frequent attention to engine, transmission, and brake issues.
Key differences
- The Lexus RX averages about 64 complaints per year, while the Silverado averages about 823—a 13-fold difference in reported issues.
- Silverado owners frequently report engine and powertrain failures like stalling and sudden neutral shifts, whereas Lexus RX complaints more often involve air bag and electrical glitches.
- The Silverado has 101 recalls over 10 years versus 17 for the Lexus RX, indicating more widespread safety fixes.
- Lexus RX has 0 deaths in the data, while Silverado has 3 deaths, though these numbers alone don't prove fault.
- Check for any history of unintended acceleration or sudden power loss, especially in 2023-2026 models; test drive at low speeds and in parking situations.
- Inspect the 12V battery health and ask if any parasitic drain repairs were done, as this is a common complaint.
- Look for signs of engine stalling or transmission issues; test drive at various speeds and listen for unusual noises or hesitation.
- Check for brake performance and any warning lights related to electrical or brake systems; a firm pedal with poor stopping is a red flag.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic, focusing on the specific problem areas for each model.
- Test drive the vehicle in conditions that mimic your daily routine, including highway, parking lots, and stop-and-go traffic.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for battery, brake, and engine repairs.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been performed and get documentation.
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 RX | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 9 | 120 |
| 2025 | 24 | 157 |
| 2024 | 59 | 527 |
| 2023 | 66 | 450 |
| 2022 | 42 | 1390 |
| 2021 | 281 | 961 |
| 2020 | 154 | 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 RX or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lexus RX vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Lexus RX total complaints
- 635
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- Lexus RX total recalls
- 17
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- Lexus RX avg complaints/year
- 63.5
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- Lexus RX
- Lexus RX top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE