Head-to-head reliability
Nissan Versa vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Nissan Versa 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
Nissan Versa vs Chevrolet Silverado: The Versa has 479 complaints over 10 years (47.9/yr) versus 5,105 for the Silverado (510.5/yr). Both have 1 death, but the Silverado has more crash and injury reports. Engine and powertrain issues dominate both, with the Versa suffering acceleration loss and the Silverado facing sudden power loss and braking failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan Versa or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan Versa
The Nissan Versa is a budget-friendly subcompact that, in ownership terms, shows a pattern of powertrain and engine troubles that can leave owners stranded or struggling to accelerate. Complaints describe sudden loss of power, fuel injector issues, and even complete inoperability, which for a first-time buyer means potential for unexpected breakdowns. Electrical gremlins and air bag concerns add to the worry, making it a car that demands careful inspection and a solid warranty.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup that, despite its popularity, has a high volume of complaints, especially in the engine and powertrain. Owners report severe issues like sudden loss of motive power, transmission failures, and braking problems that can occur at highway speeds. With a much higher complaint rate per year, the Silverado shows that even a workhorse truck can have serious reliability concerns, particularly with the 6.2L and Duramax engines.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan Versa | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 479 Better | 5,105 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 13 Better | 100 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 48 Better | 117 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 47.9 Better | 510.5 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 43 Better | 104 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 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.
Nissan Versa
- 01ENGINE139
- 02POWER TRAIN134
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER92
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM88
- 05AIR BAGS62
Owners report sudden loss of acceleration, with the car limited to about 35 mph, as if fuel injectors are cut off. This can happen at any time, making the car unsafe in traffic.
Transmission issues include grinding sounds when reversing and the vehicle suddenly becoming inoperable. Some owners report the car breaking down shortly after purchase, indicating potential CVT problems.
Complete electrical shutdowns occur, including engine and hazard lights failing, which can leave the driver stranded at intersections. This points to serious wiring or battery issues.
With 62 complaints, air bag system failures are a concern, though specific details are not provided. This could mean warning lights or non-deployment, which is critical for safety.
“I’m [XXX] with health issues and my mother is [XXX] we bought a car at ( Drive Time ) hoping we would get a good car to go to the dr , I have a [XXX] I can’t afford it though,in my opinion I felt drive time took advantage of us because I look Mexican and indi…”
“Driving down the road, the car enters a phase where you can not accelerate at all. It seems like the fuel injectors are cut off by 90% and you can only accelerate to about 35 mph. Although this has happened the whole life of the car 26,000 miles, today I was…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE1,698
- 02POWER TRAIN1,453
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM982
- 04SERVICE BRAKES691
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER542
Owners of 6.2L and Duramax engines report catastrophic failures, including sudden loss of power and excessive soot accumulation in diesel particulate filters, requiring dealer intervention multiple times.
Transmission problems include the vehicle suddenly shifting into neutral while driving, and loss of motive power at highway speeds, which can be terrifying and dangerous.
Electrical failures can cause loss of braking and steering, as reported in one incident at 70 mph. This suggests a critical system failure that could lead to crashes.
Brake issues include sudden severe loss of braking effectiveness, even with a firm pedal, which is a major safety concern. This could be related to electrical or hydraulic problems.
“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.
Nissan Versa — 13 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Titan, Titan XD, and Versa vehicles. The front right and/or left turn signal bulb can crack and fail to illuminate.
The risk: Inoperable front turn signals cannot alert on-coming drivers and/or pedestrians that the vehicle will be turning, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the bulbs as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 20, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PM986 and P…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Versa and Kicks vehicles. An intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor can disable the power steering assist.
The risk: Loss of power steering assist can increase the steering effort required, especially at low speeds, and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the steering column torque sensor lot code, and replace the column, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 9, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Versa and Kicks vehicles. An intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor can disable the power steering assist.
The risk: Loss of power steering assist can increase the steering effort required, especially at low speeds, and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the steering column torque sensor lot code and replace the steering column assembly, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's cus…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Nissan NV200, Sentra, NV3500 Van, NV3500 Bus, NV200 Taxi, NV1500, NV2500 Van, Chevrolet City Express, 2017-2018 Frontier, Versa Note, and Versa Sedan vehicles that have a mechanical (physical) key ignition system. In these models, over t…
The risk: If the vehicle stalls, it can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the production information on the ignition switch, and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7…
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
Nissan Versa or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Nissan Versa has far fewer complaints per year (47.9) compared to the Chevrolet Silverado (510.5), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, both vehicles have serious problems that can affect safety and reliability, so neither is without risk.
Key differences
- The Versa has a much lower complaint rate (47.9/yr) than the Silverado (510.5/yr), suggesting fewer reported problems per vehicle.
- Versa issues are often related to acceleration loss and electrical shutdowns, while Silverado issues include sudden loss of power and braking failures at speed.
- Silverado has a higher number of recalls (100) compared to Versa (13), indicating more widespread safety campaigns.
- Both have reported deaths (1 each), but Silverado has more crash-related complaints (117 vs 48) and injuries (104 vs 43).
- Test drive at various speeds to check for hesitation or loss of power, especially when accelerating from a stop or on the highway.
- Inspect the electrical system by testing all lights, windows, and infotainment, and watch for any flickering or shutdowns.
- Listen for abnormal engine noises and check for warning lights, especially related to the diesel particulate filter if it's a Duramax.
- Test the brakes at low and high speeds, and be alert for any loss of braking power or unusual pedal feel.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the engine, transmission, and electrical systems.
- For the Versa, specifically test the CVT for smooth acceleration and any unusual noises.
- For the Silverado, check the brake system thoroughly, including fluid levels and brake response.
- Consider purchasing an extended warranty to cover potential major 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 | Nissan Versa | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | 150 |
| 2024 | 95 | 0 |
| 2023 | 37 | 0 |
| 2022 | 20 | 1340 |
| 2021 | 31 | 934 |
| 2020 | 64 | 0 |
| 2019 | 24 | 1992 |
| 2018 | 55 | 591 |
| 2017 | 62 | 0 |
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 Nissan Versa or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan Versa vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Nissan Versa total complaints
- 479
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 5,105
- Nissan Versa total recalls
- 13
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 100
- Nissan Versa avg complaints/year
- 47.9
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 510.5
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Versa
- Nissan Versa top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE