Head-to-head reliability
Suzuki Gsx250r vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Suzuki Gsx250r 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
Suzuki Gsx250r vs Chevrolet Silverado: The Suzuki has 0 complaints over 9 years and 3 lighting recalls, while the Silverado has 8,227 complaints over 10 years, 101 recalls, and 233 crash-related reports. The Silverado also shows 160 injuries and 3 deaths in the data. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Suzuki Gsx250r or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Suzuki Gsx250r
The Suzuki GSX250R is a small-displacement sport motorcycle with a remarkably clean reliability record in NHTSA data: zero owner complaints over nine years. The only federal actions on file are three recalls, all for exterior lighting—two for brake lights and one for headlights. For a buyer, that suggests very few reported problems in service, but it also means there is no complaint text to reveal real-world failure symptoms. The main ownership concern is making sure those lighting recalls were performed.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup with a very high volume of owner complaints—8,227 over ten years, or about 823 per year—plus 101 recalls and 233 crash-related reports. The most common complaint areas are the engine, power train, electrical system, and service brakes. Sample complaints describe serious symptoms: engines shutting off while driving, sudden loss of normal braking, transmissions going into neutral, and diesel particulate filter soot accumulation. This is a vehicle where a thorough pre-purchase inspection and recall check are essential.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Suzuki Gsx250r | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 3 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 Better | 822.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Suzuki Gsx250r
No component data available.
Two of the three recalls on the GSX250R involve the brake lights. A brake light that does not work as intended can reduce your visibility to drivers behind you, so a buyer should confirm the recall repair was completed and test the brake light before purchase.
One recall covers the headlights. A headlight fault can affect your ability to see and be seen at night. There are no owner complaints describing the exact symptom, so the practical step is to verify the recall was done and check that the headlight works on both low and high beam.
NHTSA shows zero complaints for this model over nine years. That is a positive sign, but it does not prove the bike is problem-free—it only means no owners filed federal complaints. A mechanical inspection is still wise.
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Engine complaints are the largest category, with 2,521 reports. Owners describe engines shutting off while driving, sometimes with a 'Return to Neutral' or 'Press Start' message, and diesel models experiencing repeated excessive soot accumulation in the particulate filter. An engine that can cut out in traffic is a serious safety concern.
Power train complaints total 2,347. Sample reports include a truck suddenly going into neutral while driving slowly uphill in a parking garage, leaving the driver unable to accelerate. Transmission or drivetrain faults like this can leave you stranded or create a hazard.
Electrical complaints number 1,513. Owners report sudden, severe loss of normal braking even though the brake pedal stayed firm, as well as engines shutting off and screens going blank. Electrical glitches that affect braking or engine operation are high-risk.
Brake complaints total 1,222. The sample text describes a Silverado that would not stop normally at a stop sign, with the pedal firm but braking ineffective. Brake problems are among the most dangerous a buyer can face, so a brake inspection is critical.
“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.
Suzuki Gsx250r — 3 recalls
The defect: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2018-2019 GSX250R motorcycles. Water intrusion may corrode the rear brake light switch causing the rear brake light to fail to illuminate or remain illuminated continuously when the brake is not applied.
The risk: A failure of the brake light to illuminate, or continued illumination when the brakes are not being applied, can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear brake stop light switch, free of charge. The recall began June 28, 2019. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's number for this recall is 2A90.
The defect: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2018 GSX250R and GSX250RZ motorcycles. The low and/or high beam headlight may fail.
The risk: The sudden loss of low and/or high beams can reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the headlight bulb and install a bulb retention spring clip, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2021. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-844-352-4921.
The defect: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2018-2019 GSX250R motorcycles. Water intrusion may corrode the rear brake light switch causing the rear brake light to fail to illuminate or remain illuminated continuously when the brake is not applied.
The risk: A failure of the brake light to illuminate, or continued illumination when the brakes are not being applied, can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear brake stop light switch, free of charge. The recall began June 28, 2019. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's number for this recall is 2A90.
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
Suzuki Gsx250r or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Suzuki GSX250R has far fewer issues per year: 0 complaints annually versus about 823 for the Chevrolet Silverado. In practice, that means the Suzuki owner is much less likely to file a federal complaint, while the Silverado owner faces a much higher chance of encountering engine, transmission, electrical, or brake problems. The Silverado also has 101 recalls and 233 crash-related reports, compared with 3 recalls and 0 crash-related reports for the Suzuki.
Key differences
- The Suzuki GSX250R has 0 complaints over 9 years, while the Chevrolet Silverado has 8,227 complaints over 10 years—about 823 per year.
- Suzuki's only recalls are for exterior lighting (brake lights and headlights), whereas Silverado recalls cover fuel pump control, tire pressure monitoring, forward collision warnings, and more.
- Silverado owners report engines shutting off while driving and sudden loss of normal braking; Suzuki has no complaint text describing any failure symptom.
- The Silverado has 233 crash-related reports, 160 injuries, and 3 deaths in the data; the Suzuki has 0 in each of those categories.
- Confirm the three lighting recalls (two brake light, one headlight) were completed—check the VIN with a Suzuki dealer or NHTSA.
- Test the brake light and both headlight beams before purchase, since those are the only reported recall areas.
- During a test drive, watch for the engine shutting off, a 'Return to Neutral' message, or any sudden loss of braking—these are reported symptoms.
- Ask for proof that the 101 recalls were performed, especially fuel pump control, tire pressure monitoring, and forward collision warning fixes.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on both vehicles through NHTSA to see open recalls—Suzuki has 3, Silverado has 101.
- For the Silverado, have a mechanic scan for engine, transmission, and electrical fault codes and inspect the brake system.
- For the Suzuki, verify the brake light and headlight recalls were done and test both lights.
- On a Silverado test drive, include slow uphill driving and stop-and-go braking to check for stalling, neutral drop-out, or brake loss.
- Ask for service records; on the Silverado, look for repeated diesel particulate filter or engine shut-off 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 | Suzuki Gsx250r | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 120 |
| 2025 | 0 | 157 |
| 2024 | 0 | 527 |
| 2023 | 0 | 450 |
| 2022 | 0 | 1390 |
| 2021 | 0 | 961 |
| 2020 | 0 | 868 |
| 2019 | 0 | 2003 |
| 2018 | 0 | 597 |
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 Suzuki Gsx250r or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Suzuki Gsx250r vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Suzuki Gsx250r total complaints
- 0
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- Suzuki Gsx250r total recalls
- 3
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- Suzuki Gsx250r avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- Suzuki Gsx250r
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE