Head-to-head reliability
Subaru Forester vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Subaru Forester 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
Subaru Forester vs Chevrolet Silverado: The Forester averages 305 complaints per year and has 17 recalls, while the Silverado averages 823 complaints per year and has 101 recalls. Forester owners often report windshield and electrical issues; Silverado owners report engine, transmission, and brake problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Subaru Forester or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester is a compact SUV that averages about 305 complaints per year over the past decade, with 17 recalls. The most common owner-reported trouble spots are visibility and wiper issues, electrical glitches, and engine oil leaks. While the overall complaint rate is lower than some rivals, the types of failures—like windshields that shatter or crack and electrical systems that can leave the car dead—can be both dangerous and frustrating.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup that generates roughly 823 complaints per year, with 101 recalls over the same period. Owners frequently report engine problems, transmission and drivetrain issues, electrical failures, and brake concerns. The high volume of complaints and recalls suggests that many Silverado owners experience significant reliability problems, sometimes within the first few thousand miles.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Subaru Forester | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3,050 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 17 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 176 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 305.0 Better | 822.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 99 Better | 160 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 2 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.
Subaru Forester
- 01VISIBILITY/WIPER992
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER544
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM476
- 04ENGINE319
- 05AIR BAGS313
Owners report windshields that shatter or crack unexpectedly, sometimes from small impacts like a thrown bottle or during a rainstorm. This can send glass shards into the cabin and obscure the driver’s view, creating an immediate crash risk.
Complaints include side mirrors melting, the vehicle dying repeatedly with multiple dashboard warnings, and failure to restart. These electrical faults can leave you stranded and may affect critical safety systems like the backup camera or stability control.
Some owners find oil leaks after routine oil changes, and in at least one case, oil leaked onto the catalytic converter and caused a fire that totaled the car. Oil leaks can lead to engine damage or fire if not addressed quickly.
Reports describe a hard plastic HVAC duct in the driver-side footwell that can interfere with pedal operation, and sudden unexpected acceleration while parking. These issues could cause loss of control at low speeds.
“I was driving down the road and a bottle was thrown out of a vehicle going the opposite direction as me. Upon impact my windshield shattered and sent shards of glass flying into the cabin of my vehicle. The shards of glass were thrown into my face and would h…”
“Windshield cracked during rainstorm [XXX] in San Diego in upper right corner, After 3 days crack appeared which has now spread to 4 inches Dealer has confirmed that winsheild needs reapir and is not covered by bumper to bumber warranty Vehicle only has mileag…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Owners of newer Silverados report engine shutdowns while driving, diesel particulate filter soot accumulation requiring dealer service, and in some cases engine fires. These failures can happen at low mileage and leave you without power on the road.
Complaints include the transmission suddenly shifting into neutral while driving slowly, and the engine shutting off with a 'Return to Neutral' message. Such failures can cause a complete loss of motive power, increasing crash risk.
Owners describe severe loss of braking, engine shut-off while driving, and screens going blank. These electrical glitches can disable safety features and make the vehicle uncontrollable.
Reports include a firm brake pedal with reduced braking effect and the truck shutting off during low-speed maneuvers. Brake problems directly affect your ability to stop safely.
“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.
Subaru Forester — 17 recalls
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Forester vehicles. The engine water pipe may have loose attachment bolts, allowing the pipe to lose its seal and leak coolant.
The risk: Leaking coolant can contact a hot exhaust pipe, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Subarus independent distributor processing facilities will tighten the water pipe attachment bolts. The affected vehicles have not been delivered to dealers or sold to owners and therefore, no owner notification letters will be sent. Owne…
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Crosstrek, Impreza, 2023-2024 Forester, and 2023 WRX vehicles. The front driveshaft assemblies' outer race may develop cracks and break.
The risk: A broken driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power while driving or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake engaged. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the left and right front driveshafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for…
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Crosstrek, Impreza, 2023-2024 Forester, and 2023 WRX vehicles. The front driveshaft assemblies' outer race may develop cracks and break.
The risk: A broken driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power while driving or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake engaged. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the left and right front driveshafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for…
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.
The risk: An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WRQ-23.
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
Subaru Forester or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Subaru Forester has far fewer complaints per year (about 305) compared to the Chevrolet Silverado (about 823), and fewer recalls (17 vs. 101). In practice, this means a used Forester is likely to spend less time in the shop for major repairs, though it still has its own notable issues like windshield and electrical problems.
Key differences
- The Silverado has nearly three times as many complaints per year as the Forester, with engine and power train issues dominating its reports.
- Forester owners most often complain about windshields shattering or cracking, while Silverado owners report engine shutdowns and transmission failures that can strand them.
- The Silverado has 101 recalls versus 17 for the Forester, covering systems like fuel pumps, tires, and forward collision warnings.
- Both vehicles have reports of sudden loss of power or braking, but the Silverado’s issues appear more frequent and involve core drivetrain components.
- Inspect the windshield for any chips or cracks, especially near the edges, and ask if it has been replaced—owners report spontaneous cracking and shattering.
- Check for oil leaks around the engine, particularly on the right side, and look for any signs of oil residue on the exhaust or catalytic converter.
- Test drive at low speeds and in parking lots to see if the transmission hesitates or slips into neutral, and listen for any unusual engine noises.
- Ask for service records related to the diesel particulate filter (if diesel) or any engine software updates, and check for brake pedal feel during a stop.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recall repairs have been completed, especially for the Forester’s windshield and electrical recalls and the Silverado’s fuel pump and brake recalls.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the Forester’s windshield, electrical system, and engine oil leaks, and the Silverado’s engine, transmission, and brakes.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any warning lights, unusual shifting, or loss of power, and test all electrical features including mirrors, screens, and backup cameras.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, particularly for oil changes and any engine or transmission repairs, to gauge how well the vehicle has been cared for.
- Check the NHTSA website for any open recalls on the specific vehicle identification number (VIN) before you buy.
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 | Subaru Forester | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 33 | 120 |
| 2025 | 95 | 157 |
| 2024 | 29 | 527 |
| 2023 | 73 | 450 |
| 2022 | 98 | 1390 |
| 2021 | 207 | 961 |
| 2020 | 600 | 868 |
| 2019 | 833 | 2003 |
| 2018 | 496 | 597 |
| 2017 | 586 | 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 Subaru Forester or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Subaru Forester vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Subaru Forester total complaints
- 3,050
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- Subaru Forester total recalls
- 17
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- Subaru Forester avg complaints/year
- 305.0
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- Subaru Forester
- Subaru Forester top complaint area
- VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE