Head-to-head reliability
Mazda CX 70 vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Mazda CX 70 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
Mazda CX 70 vs Chevrolet Silverado: The CX 70 averages 28 complaints per year with 4 recalls, while the Silverado averages 510.5 complaints per year with 100 recalls. CX 70 owners report false collision alerts and steering pulls, while Silverado owners face engine failures and brake loss. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mazda CX 70 or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mazda CX 70
The Mazda CX 70 is a relatively new model, with complaints concentrated in its first two years. Owners report persistent issues with driver-assistance systems, particularly lane departure and forward collision avoidance, which can cause false alerts or unexpected steering inputs. There are also reports of powertrain jerkiness and engine surging at low speeds, which can be unnerving in daily driving. While the number of complaints is lower than the Silverado's, the nature of these issues—especially those affecting steering and acceleration—raises safety concerns for a new vehicle.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado has a long history with a high volume of complaints, averaging over 500 per year. The most frequent issues involve the engine, powertrain, and electrical system, with many owners reporting sudden loss of power, transmission failures, and brake problems. These are serious reliability concerns that can lead to breakdowns and potential safety hazards. The Silverado's extensive recall history (100 recalls) further underscores its pattern of systemic issues across multiple model years.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mazda CX 70 | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 56 Better | 5,105 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 4 Better | 100 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 2 Better | 117 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 28.0 Better | 510.5 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 4 Better | 104 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
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.
Mazda CX 70
- 01LANE DEPARTURE23
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE9
- 03POWER TRAIN7
- 04ENGINE5
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
Owners report the lane departure system malfunctioning, causing false alerts when no car is near, and in some cases, the steering stiffens and pulls the vehicle left or right without driver input. This can be alarming and potentially dangerous, especially at highway speeds.
The forward collision avoidance system may alert or brake unexpectedly, even when there is no imminent collision. Some owners have experienced repeated failures despite software updates, indicating a persistent issue that undermines trust in the safety features.
At low speeds (10-20 mph), the transmission or motor can feel jerky and sluggish, making it difficult to accelerate smoothly from stops or in stop-and-go traffic. This can be frustrating and may pose a risk when pulling into traffic.
There are reports of involuntary acceleration at very low speeds (1-5 mph), where the engine revs and the car lurches forward without the driver pressing the accelerator. This can lead to loss of control in tight spaces like garages or parking lots.
“Within 100 days of purchasing the CX70 new ,we noticed that the collision avoidance system was malfunctioning . It would alert when no car was near us . It did not alert every time a car was actually in our right blind spot or moving through our right blind s…”
“I purchased a Certified Pre-Owned Mazda CX-70 that exhibits intermittent and unpredictable steering behavior, creating a significant safety concern. The steering will intermittently stiffen and then pull the vehicle left or right without driver input, at time…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE1,698
- 02POWER TRAIN1,453
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM982
- 04SERVICE BRAKES691
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER542
Owners report catastrophic engine failures, such as sudden loss of power while driving, often with no warning. Some have experienced excessive soot accumulation in diesel particulate filters, requiring frequent dealer visits and repairs, which can be costly and inconvenient.
Transmission issues are common, including sudden shifts into neutral while driving, which can leave you stranded or cause a loss of power. This is especially dangerous in traffic or on hills.
Electrical failures can lead to a complete loss of braking and steering, as reported by some owners. These sudden, severe malfunctions are critical safety hazards that require immediate attention.
Brake problems include a sudden loss of normal braking, where the pedal remains firm but the vehicle does not stop effectively. This can lead to crashes, especially in emergency situations.
“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.
Mazda CX 70 — 4 recalls
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024-2025 CX-90 and 2025 CX-70 vehicles equipped with a Dash Electrical Supply Unit (ESU). During vehicle startup, the defroster, seat belt warning, 360° view monitor functions, and the PHEV high-voltage battery cooling system may not fun…
The risk: An ESU that does not function properly, increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the Dash ESU with improved software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 18, 2024. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 7…
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024 CX-90 and 2025 CX-70 vehicles. The powertrain control module (PCM) and engine control modules (ECM) software may cause malfunction indicator lights to illuminate and a loss of drive power.
The risk: Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the PCM and ECM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 7024J.
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024 CX-90 and 2025 CX-70 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Improper inverter software may cause the malfunction indicator lights to illuminate, and a loss of drive power may occur while in electric vehicle (EV) mode.
The risk: Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install improved inverter software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 7024J.
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024-2025 CX-90 and 2025 CX-70 mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEV). The fuel gauge in the instrument cluster may display an inaccurate fuel reading.
The risk: An inaccurate fuel gauge may result in the vehicle unexpectedly running out of fuel and stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the body control module (BCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 24, 2025. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 6. The manufacturer's number for this r…
Chevrolet Silverado — 100 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with power-unlatching tailgates. The tailgate's electronic gate-release switch may short circuit due to water intrusion, which can result in the tailgate inadvertently…
The risk: An unlatched tailgate may open while driving and result in a loss of unsecured cargo, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised to check that the tailgate is closed and latched before driving. Dealers will replace the exterior touchpad switch assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2024. Owners may contact Chevr…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 vehicles. The steering gear shaft may fracture and disconnect from the steering arm.
The risk: A steering arm that disconnects may result in a total loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the steering gear, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 22, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-4…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra HD 2500, 3500 vehicles equipped with power-unlatching tailgates. The tailgate's electronic gate-release switch may short circuit due to water intrusion, which can result in the tailgate inadvertentl…
The risk: An unlatched tailgate may open and result in a loss of unsecured cargo, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised to check that the tailgate is closed and latched before driving. Dealers will replace the exterior touchpad switch assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 17, 2024. Owners may contact…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023-2024 GMC Hummer EV pick up, 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV, and 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV vehicles. The left or right front seat belt buckle attachment bolts may not be tightened properly.
The risk: An improperly tightened seat belt buckle may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will tighten the left and right front seat belt buckle attachment bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 21, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-833-EVCHEVY (1-833-382-4389) (TTY 711 /…
Buyer analysis
Mazda CX 70 or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Mazda CX 70 has far fewer complaints per year (28 vs 510.5) and fewer recalls, indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the CX 70's problems are concentrated in safety-critical systems like lane departure and collision avoidance, which can be just as concerning. In practice, the CX 70 may offer a more reliable ownership experience overall, but buyers should be aware of the specific electronic gremlins that could affect its advanced safety features.
Key differences
- The Mazda CX 70 has significantly fewer complaints per year (28 vs 510.5) and fewer recalls (4 vs 100), indicating a lower rate of reported issues.
- The CX 70's top complaints are about advanced driver-assistance systems (lane departure, forward collision avoidance) causing false alerts or unintended steering, while the Silverado's top complaints are about engine and powertrain failures leading to loss of power.
- The Silverado has a higher number of crash-related complaints (117 vs 2) and injuries (104 vs 4), suggesting more severe consequences from its failures.
- The CX 70 is a newer model with a shorter complaint history, so long-term reliability is less proven, whereas the Silverado has a decade of data showing persistent issues.
- Test the lane departure and forward collision avoidance systems thoroughly, including on a highway, to ensure they do not activate falsely or cause unexpected steering inputs.
- Check for any signs of engine surging or jerky transmission behavior at low speeds, especially when accelerating from a stop.
- Ask for service records related to engine or transmission repairs, and be wary of any history of sudden power loss or transmission shifting into neutral.
- Inspect the brake system for any signs of malfunction, and ask if the brake fluid low warning sensor has been replaced or if there have been any brake-related recalls.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models; ensure all recalls have been addressed.
- For the Mazda CX 70, test all driver-assistance features (lane keep, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning) in various driving conditions to ensure they function correctly.
- For the Chevrolet Silverado, have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the engine, transmission, and electrical system, and check for any signs of oil leaks or unusual noises.
- Ask for a detailed service history and look for repeated visits for the same issue, which may indicate an unresolved problem.
- Consider purchasing an extended warranty, especially for the Silverado, given its higher rate of major component failures.
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 | Mazda CX 70 | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | 98 |
| 2025 | 50 | 150 |
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 Mazda CX 70 or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mazda CX 70 vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Mazda CX 70 total complaints
- 56
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 5,105
- Mazda CX 70 total recalls
- 4
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 100
- Mazda CX 70 avg complaints/year
- 28.0
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 510.5
- More reliable overall
- Mazda CX 70
- Mazda CX 70 top complaint area
- LANE DEPARTURE
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE