Head-to-head reliability
Lincoln MKS vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Lincoln MKS 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
Lincoln MKS vs Chevrolet Silverado: The MKS averages about 47 complaints per year, while the Silverado averages about 823. The MKS has 19 recalls and 23 crash-related complaints; the Silverado has 101 recalls and 233 crash-related complaints. Both have serious safety issues, but the Silverado's complaint volume is far higher. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lincoln MKS or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lincoln MKS
The Lincoln MKS is a full-size luxury sedan that, based on owner complaints, can be demanding to own as it ages. The most common trouble spot is the electric power steering, which owners say can fail suddenly and make the car very hard to steer. Engine overheating and brake issues also show up, and some complaints mention multiple warning lights coming on at once. With an average of about 47 complaints per year, it's not the most problematic vehicle, but the steering failures are a serious safety concern.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup that, according to NHTSA data, generates a very high volume of complaints—over 800 per year on average. Owners report a wide range of problems, especially with the engine, transmission, and electrical system. Many complaints involve stalling, loss of power, and braking issues, sometimes on brand-new trucks. With 101 recalls and thousands of complaints, it's clear that many Silverado owners experience significant reliability problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lincoln MKS | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 373 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 19 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 23 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 46.6 Better | 822.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 54 Better | 160 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 59 | 3 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.
Lincoln MKS
- 01STEERING120
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM55
- 03ENGINE47
- 04SERVICE BRAKES33
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER27
Owners frequently report the power steering assist failing, often signaled by a 'Power Steering Assist Fault' message. The steering becomes very hard to turn, especially at low speeds, and some say it can lock up entirely, which is dangerous.
Complaints include warning messages about the power steering and other systems, as well as instances where the vehicle stalls after a health report scan. These electrical glitches can leave drivers stranded or cause sudden loss of control.
Owners describe overheating, with the temperature gauge rising and the car smoking, sometimes without warning. In some cases, the engine loses power, which can be frightening in traffic.
Reports include brake pedal vibration and, in at least one case, the steering locking up along with brake and traction control malfunctions. These combined failures can make the car difficult to control during turns.
“What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Power Steering While driving yesterday, doing shopping and online order deliveries, the steering wheel started having slight resistance during turns. It became…”
“In 2015 a recall was done to repair the power steering failure issue. In October of 2021, while driving the vehicle down the highway, the power steering went out making the vehicle almost impossible to steer. Had the vehicle towed to the dealership where they…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Many owners report engine problems, including stalling while driving, excessive soot accumulation in the diesel particulate filter, and loss of power. Some of these issues occur on brand-new trucks with very low mileage.
Complaints include the transmission suddenly shifting into neutral while driving, leaving the driver unable to accelerate. This can happen at low speeds, such as in parking garages, and is a serious safety risk.
Owners describe sudden loss of braking, engine shutdown while driving, and messages like 'Return to Neutral' appearing on the display. These electrical faults can cause the vehicle to become uncontrollable.
Reports include a severe loss of normal braking, where the brake pedal remains firm but braking is ineffective. In some cases, the truck shuts off completely, leaving the driver unable to stop or accelerate.
“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.
Lincoln MKS — 19 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Ford Taurus vehicles manufactured December 1, 2009, to July 31, 2010, and 2011-2013 Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured June 1, 2011, to October 31, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the interior door handle return spring may unseat, r…
The risk: If the interior door handle return spring is unseated, the door may unlatch in the event of a side impact crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four of the interior door handles and either repair or replace them, free of charge. The recall began March 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine and 2013 For…
The risk: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). If dealers find any loss of steering assist DTCs, the steering gear will be replaced, free of charge. If, no codes…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high spe…
The risk: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Ford Taurus vehicles manufactured December 1, 2009, to July 31, 2010, and 2011-2013 Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured June 1, 2011, to October 31, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the interior door handle return spring may unseat, r…
The risk: If the interior door handle return spring is unseated, the door may unlatch in the event of a side impact crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four of the interior door handles and either repair or replace them, free of charge. The recall began March 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's…
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
Lincoln MKS or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Lincoln MKS has far fewer complaints per year (about 47) compared to the Chevrolet Silverado (about 823). In practice, this means MKS owners report fewer problems overall, but the steering failures are a major safety concern. The Silverado's much higher complaint rate suggests a wider range of issues that could affect reliability and safety.
Key differences
- The Lincoln MKS has about 47 complaints per year, while the Chevrolet Silverado has about 823 per year—a huge difference in reported problem frequency.
- MKS owners most often report power steering failures that make steering difficult or impossible, a critical safety issue.
- Silverado owners report a broader range of problems, including engine stalling, transmission slipping into neutral, and sudden loss of braking.
- The Silverado has 101 recalls versus 19 for the MKS, indicating more widespread safety-related defects.
- Check for any history of power steering assist faults or warning messages; test the steering at low speeds for resistance or noise.
- Look for signs of overheating, such as coolant leaks or a history of temperature gauge spikes, and inspect the coolant reservoir.
- Test drive at various speeds and listen for engine stalling or hesitation; check for transmission slipping or sudden neutral engagement.
- Inspect for brake performance issues, including a firm pedal with poor stopping power, and check for any electrical glitches or warning lights.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the steering system for the MKS and the engine/transmission for the Silverado.
- During the test drive, pay attention to any warning lights, unusual noises, or changes in steering and braking feel.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for any prior repairs related to the common complaints.
- For the Silverado, verify that any diesel particulate filter issues have been addressed if equipped with a diesel engine.
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 Lincoln MKS or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lincoln MKS vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Lincoln MKS total complaints
- 373
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- Lincoln MKS total recalls
- 19
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- Lincoln MKS avg complaints/year
- 46.6
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- Lincoln MKS
- Lincoln MKS top complaint area
- STEERING
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE