Head-to-head reliability
Mercedes BENZ CLA Class vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Mercedes BENZ CLA Class 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
Mercedes BENZ CLA Class vs Chevrolet Silverado: the CLA has 166 complaints over 10 years (about 17 per year) and 0 recalls, while the Silverado has 8,227 complaints (about 823 per year) and 101 recalls. The CLA’s reports include sunroof shattering and engine power loss; the Silverado’s include engine shut-offs and brake loss. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercedes BENZ CLA Class or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mercedes BENZ CLA Class
The Mercedes-Benz CLA Class is a compact luxury car with a relatively low complaint volume—about 17 per year over the past decade—but the pattern shows a mix of electrical gremlins and occasional serious failures. Owners report sunroofs shattering, trunk latches opening on their own, instrument clusters going blank, and engines losing power on the highway. With zero recalls on record, any fix tends to come out of your pocket, so a thorough pre-purchase inspection is essential.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup with a massive complaint count—over 800 per year—and 101 recalls, reflecting its huge sales volume and complex systems. Owners describe engines shutting off while driving, brakes losing effectiveness, transmissions slipping into neutral, and repeated diesel particulate filter problems. The sheer number of reports and recalls means many issues are known and sometimes covered, but the frequency of breakdowns is high.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercedes BENZ CLA Class | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 166 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 13 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 16.6 Better | 822.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 15 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.
Mercedes BENZ CLA Class
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER32
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM32
- 03ENGINE25
- 04POWER TRAIN22
- 05AIR BAGS21
Owners report the trunk latch releasing unexpectedly and the instrument cluster display flickering or going blank while driving. These failures can distract the driver and leave you without critical vehicle information.
Complaints include a yellow check-engine light with delayed throttle response, and in some cases the car loses power to accelerate on the highway. That kind of sudden loss of power is a serious safety concern.
A partial-load ventilation valve in the crankcase system has failed, and some owners report the car losing acceleration on multiple occasions. The same loss-of-power symptom appears under both engine and power train, suggesting a recurring drivability issue.
The panoramic sunroof can shatter without warning, and the SOS emergency call system may become unresponsive. Both are alarming because they affect safety and emergency response.
“On Friday, September 27, around 12 pm, while driving on i880S near Union City, California, something horrific happened. The sunroof of my 2021 Mercedes CLA 250, with just 49,000 miles, suddenly exploded without any warning. The sound was so loud and violent,…”
“My 2021 CLA 250 that I reached purchased as a used vehicle in the last three months and now is saying SOS unresponsive so in my vehicle where to get a motor vehicle accident, it will not be alerting any emergency personnel authorities and I think it’s really…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Owners of newer Silverados report the engine shutting off while driving, with messages like 'Return to Neutral' appearing, and diesel models suffer repeated excessive soot buildup in the particulate filter. An engine that quits on the road is dangerous and can strand you.
Complaints describe the transmission suddenly shifting into neutral while driving slowly, such as in a parking garage, leaving the vehicle without power. This loss of drive can happen at low speeds but still creates a risk of rolling or blocking traffic.
Drivers report a sudden, severe loss of normal braking with a firm pedal but reduced stopping power. Brake failure is among the most critical safety issues a vehicle can have.
The electrical system is linked to both the braking loss and the engine shut-off complaints, with screens going blank and the truck refusing to accelerate. These electrical glitches can disable multiple safety systems at once.
“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.
Mercedes BENZ CLA Class
No recalls on record.
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
Mercedes BENZ CLA Class or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Mercedes-Benz CLA Class has far fewer complaints per year—about 17 versus roughly 823 for the Silverado—and no recalls, while the Silverado has 101 recalls. In practice, the CLA is less likely to leave you stranded by a sudden breakdown, but its problems are often expensive electrical or engine faults; the Silverado’s issues are more frequent but may be better documented and sometimes covered by recalls.
Key differences
- The CLA averages about 17 complaints per year with zero recalls, while the Silverado averages over 800 per year with 101 recalls—a huge gap in reported problem frequency.
- CLA owners report sunroofs shattering and emergency SOS systems failing, whereas Silverado owners report engines shutting off while driving and brakes losing effectiveness.
- The Silverado has 3 deaths and 160 injuries in its complaint data; the CLA has 0 deaths and 15 injuries, though these counts are not risk rates.
- Both vehicles show loss-of-power complaints, but the CLA’s are tied to engine and crankcase ventilation, while the Silverado’s involve transmission neutral shifts and engine shut-offs.
- Inspect the panoramic sunroof for cracks or prior replacement, and test the SOS emergency call button to confirm it connects.
- Check the trunk latch for spontaneous opening and scan the instrument cluster for flickering or blank displays during a test drive.
- Test the brakes for firmness and stopping power, and ask for any records of brake system repairs or recalls.
- On a test drive, watch for the engine shutting off or the transmission slipping into neutral, and check for diesel particulate filter warning lights on diesel models.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm whether any open recalls apply—especially important for the Silverado with 101 recalls.
- Have a mechanic inspect the specific systems named in complaints: sunroof and electricals on the CLA; engine, transmission, and brakes on the Silverado.
- During the test drive, deliberately test the trunk latch, instrument cluster, and emergency call system on the CLA.
- For the Silverado, drive at low speed in a parking lot and on the highway to check for unexpected neutral shifts or engine shut-offs.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and any warranty or recall repair documentation before negotiating.
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 | Mercedes BENZ CLA Class | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 120 |
| 2025 | 0 | 157 |
| 2024 | 0 | 527 |
| 2023 | 6 | 450 |
| 2022 | 4 | 1390 |
| 2021 | 7 | 961 |
| 2020 | 24 | 868 |
| 2019 | 52 | 2003 |
| 2018 | 46 | 597 |
| 2017 | 27 | 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 Mercedes BENZ CLA Class or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercedes BENZ CLA Class vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Mercedes BENZ CLA Class total complaints
- 166
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- Mercedes BENZ CLA Class total recalls
- 0
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- Mercedes BENZ CLA Class avg complaints/year
- 16.6
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- Mercedes BENZ CLA Class
- Mercedes BENZ CLA Class top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE