Head-to-head reliability
Tesla SEMI vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Tesla SEMI 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
Tesla SEMI vs Chevrolet Silverado: The SEMI has 3 complaints over 4 years and 0 recalls, while the Silverado has 8,227 complaints over 10 years and 101 recalls. Silverado reports include 233 crashes, 160 injuries, and 3 deaths; the SEMI has none. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Tesla SEMI or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Tesla SEMI
The Tesla SEMI is a heavy-duty electric truck with very few owner complaints filed over four years, averaging less than one per year. The reported issues cluster around body hardware, steering, and electrical/charging problems, often appearing soon after delivery. There are no recalls on record, and no crashes, injuries, or deaths are linked to these complaints. For a buyer, this suggests a vehicle with limited real-world complaint data, but the few reports point to early build-quality and charging quirks.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup with thousands of owner complaints over ten years, averaging over 800 per year. The most common trouble spots are the engine, power train, electrical system, and service brakes, with many reports describing sudden stalling, loss of braking, and transmission problems. There are 101 recalls and a notable number of crashes, injuries, and deaths recorded. For a buyer, this means a widely used truck with a long list of documented, sometimes serious, failure patterns to watch for.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Tesla SEMI | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.8 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.
Tesla SEMI
- 01STRUCTURE2
- 02STEERING1
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
- 04VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
- 05LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES1
Owners report the driver door striker latch coming loose and nearly detaching from the body, creating a panel gap and the risk of the door opening while driving. This matters because a door that opens unexpectedly can be a safety concern and may indicate poor body assembly.
One owner described a steering-related issue that appeared within days of delivery and about 250 miles, alongside a home charging failure. Steering problems at low mileage can be alarming and may require dealer attention.
The same owner reported that the home charger failed about 20 seconds into each charging attempt, though it worked at a Supercharger. Charging faults can make the vehicle inconvenient or unusable for daily driving if not resolved.
The complaint tied to speed control also came from the same early-ownership report, suggesting a possible electronic or software glitch affecting acceleration or speed regulation. Buyers should verify any related software updates or service bulletins.
“The driver door striker latch came loose and was close to completely disconnecting from the vehicle body. This led to a body panel gap and the possibility of the door opening while in motion. Elon Musk on twitter is saying that a number of vehicles from the f…”
“The contact owns a 2024 Tesla Cyber Truck. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed during daylight, the dashboard accent would reflect in the side mirrors. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic and taken to a local dealer…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Owners of 2026 Silverado models with the 6.2L gas engine and 6.6L Duramax diesel report severe issues like engine shutdowns and repeated diesel particulate filter soot accumulation requiring dealer service. These can leave a driver stranded and lead to costly repairs.
Complaints describe the vehicle suddenly shifting into neutral or losing power while driving, sometimes with less than 300 miles on the odometer. Such failures can be dangerous in traffic and point to transmission or control module problems.
Reports include sudden loss of normal braking with a firm pedal, and the engine shutting off while driving with messages like 'Return to Neutral' and 'Press Start'. Electrical glitches that affect braking or engine operation are serious safety concerns.
Owners describe braking that does not stop the truck normally, even though the pedal feels firm, and instances where the truck shuts off completely in a parking lot. Brake-related failures are among the most critical for any buyer to check.
“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.
Tesla SEMI
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
Tesla SEMI or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Tesla SEMI has far fewer issues per year (0.8 vs. 822.7) and no recalls, crashes, injuries, or deaths in the data, while the Chevrolet Silverado has thousands of complaints, many recalls, and a record of serious outcomes. In practice, the SEMI's complaint pattern is sparse and mostly early build-quality or charging issues, whereas the Silverado's pattern includes frequent engine, transmission, electrical, and brake failures that can strand or endanger drivers.
Key differences
- The Tesla SEMI has 3 complaints over 4 years and 0 recalls, while the Silverado has 8,227 complaints over 10 years and 101 recalls.
- Silverado complaints include serious engine shutdowns, transmission slipping into neutral, and sudden loss of braking; SEMI complaints focus on door latch, steering, and home charging failures.
- The Silverado data includes 233 crash-related reports, 160 injuries, and 3 deaths; the SEMI data shows none of these.
- Silverado issues often appear at very low mileage (under 300 miles in some cases), while SEMI issues also appear soon after delivery but are far fewer in number.
- Check the driver door striker latch and surrounding body panels for looseness, gaps, or signs of repair, as owners report the latch coming loose.
- Test home charging and steering response at low speed; one owner had a charger fail after 20 seconds and a steering issue within 250 miles.
- Look for any history of engine stalling, transmission neutral drops, or brake performance issues; test drive at low speed and listen for unusual noises or warnings.
- Check for diesel particulate filter soot accumulation on Duramax models and confirm all recalls have been performed, especially fuel pump and brake-related recalls.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls are closed, especially for the Silverado's fuel pump, brakes, and forward collision warnings.
- For the Tesla SEMI, inspect door latches, body panel gaps, and test charging at both home and public stations.
- For the Chevrolet Silverado, test drive at low speeds and on hills, checking for sudden neutral shifts, engine shutoff, and brake pedal feel.
- Ask for service records showing any engine, transmission, electrical, or brake repairs, and verify warranty coverage remains.
- Have a qualified mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focused on the specific complaint areas: structure/steering for the SEMI, engine/powertrain/brakes for the Silverado.
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 | Tesla SEMI | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 120 |
| 2025 | 0 | 157 |
| 2024 | 3 | 527 |
| 2023 | 0 | 450 |
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 Tesla SEMI or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Tesla SEMI vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Tesla SEMI total complaints
- 3
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- Tesla SEMI total recalls
- 0
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- Tesla SEMI avg complaints/year
- 0.8
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- Tesla SEMI
- Tesla SEMI top complaint area
- STRUCTURE
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE