Head-to-head reliability
Toyota C HR vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Toyota C HR 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
Toyota C HR vs Chevrolet Silverado: The C-HR has 87.5 complaints per year, mostly about CVT failures, while the Silverado has 510.5 per year, with engine and brake issues. The C-HR has 6 recalls, the Silverado 100. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Toyota C HR or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Toyota C HR
The Toyota C-HR is a subcompact crossover that, in ownership terms, has a relatively low complaint volume but a very concentrated problem area: the continuously variable transmission (CVT). Owners describe sudden loss of power, stalling, and whining noises, often leading to complete transmission replacement. While the overall number of complaints is modest, the severity of the powertrain issues and the fact that they can occur at highway speeds make them a significant concern for potential buyers.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint volume, reflecting its popularity and longer production run. The complaints are spread across engine, transmission, electrical, and brake systems, with owners reporting issues like engine failures, loss of power, and sudden brake problems. The sheer number of complaints and recalls suggests a more complex and potentially costly ownership experience, especially for those who rely on the truck for work or towing.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Toyota C HR | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 525 Better | 5,105 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 6 Better | 100 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 16 Better | 117 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 87.5 Better | 510.5 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 15 Better | 104 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 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.
Toyota C HR
- 01POWER TRAIN328
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER89
- 03ENGINE54
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM51
- 05FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE29
The CVT transmission is the most reported issue, with owners describing sudden loss of acceleration, stalling, and whining noises. Many report needing a full transmission replacement, which is a costly repair.
Engine-related complaints often tie back to the transmission, such as motor mounts breaking and causing wiring harness damage that leads to shifting issues. Owners also report engine stalling or seizing, which can be dangerous in traffic.
Electrical issues are frequently linked to the transmission, with check engine lights coming on and the vehicle seizing. Some owners report wiring harness damage from broken motor mounts, leading to transmission failure.
“I have a K114 CVT internal bearing defect. It is available for inspection upon request. Transmission issues are unsafe because it can cause sudden loss of acceleration, unexpected vehicle stalling in traffic, and delayed shifting or gear slippage. These sudde…”
“While taking off in my 2020 Toyota C-HR on the highway, the CVT transmission suddenly failed, resulting in an immediate and significant loss of propulsion power. The vehicle did not fully shut off but lost the ability to maintain normal highway speed, requiri…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE1,698
- 02POWER TRAIN1,453
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM982
- 04SERVICE BRAKES691
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER542
Engine problems are the most common, with owners reporting failures in the 6.2L and 6.6L Duramax diesel engines. Issues include excessive soot accumulation in the diesel particulate filter, requiring dealer intervention, and sudden loss of power.
Transmission issues are also frequent, with reports of the vehicle suddenly shifting into neutral and losing power, especially at low speeds. Some owners have experienced complete transmission failure.
Electrical problems often manifest as warning lights and loss of power to brakes and steering. Owners describe sudden braking failure and the vehicle becoming inoperable, which is a serious safety concern.
Brake-related complaints include sudden loss of braking effectiveness, with the pedal remaining firm but the vehicle not stopping. This can occur without warning, posing a high risk of accidents.
“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.
Toyota C HR — 6 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019-2020 C-HR and 2020 Corolla and Corolla Hybrid vehicles equipped with rear seat belt assemblies with a dual-mode locking mechanism. The seat belt webbing sensor locking mechanism may not lock as intended.
The risk: In the event of a crash involving multiple impacts, the seat belt may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear seat belt assembly production dates, and replace the assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 7, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021 C-HR vehicles. The radar sensor may not have been activated during production, making the pre-collision system (PCS) inoperative.
The risk: An inoperative PCS that does not provide a malfunction indicator to the driver, or braking assist as expected, can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and activate the radar sensor as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 22, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 22TA02.
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019-2020 C-HR and 2020 Corolla and Corolla Hybrid vehicles equipped with rear seat belt assemblies with a dual-mode locking mechanism. The seat belt webbing sensor locking mechanism may not lock as intended.
The risk: In the event of a crash involving multiple impacts, the seat belt may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear seat belt assembly production dates, and replace the assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 7, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019 Toyota C-HR vehicles. The rear axle hub bearing bolts may have been insufficiently tightened, causing the bolts to loosen and damage the rear brake components or cause a rear wheel to detach.
The risk: If the bolts loosen and damage the rear brake components, or cause a rear wheel to detach, it would increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear axle hub bearing bolts. If a bolt is found to be loose or detached, the dealer will replace the rear axle hub bearing assembly and rear axle carrier sub-assembly, free of charge.…
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
Toyota C HR or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Toyota C-HR has far fewer complaints per year (87.5) compared to the Chevrolet Silverado (510.5), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the C-HR's problems are heavily concentrated in the CVT, which can be a major expense. The Silverado's issues are more varied and frequent, suggesting a higher likelihood of encountering problems, but they are spread across different systems.
Key differences
- The C-HR has a single dominant problem (CVT), while the Silverado has multiple problem areas (engine, transmission, brakes, electrical).
- The C-HR's complaints are fewer but often involve sudden loss of power, which can be dangerous. The Silverado's complaints include similar sudden failures but also more gradual issues like diesel particulate filter clogging.
- The Silverado has a much higher number of recalls (100 vs 6), indicating a broader range of safety-related defects.
- The C-HR's issues are mostly mechanical (transmission), while the Silverado's include electrical and brake failures that can affect safety systems.
- Inspect the CVT for any signs of whining, shuddering, or delayed engagement during a test drive, as these are common precursors to failure.
- Check for any open recalls, especially those related to the rear seat belt buckles and forward collision avoidance radar, and ensure they have been addressed.
- Listen for abnormal engine noises and check for any warning lights, as engine and transmission failures are common. Also, test the brakes at various speeds to ensure they respond properly.
- Review the vehicle's service history for any diesel particulate filter issues if it's a Duramax diesel, and check for open recalls, particularly those related to brakes and tailgate latches.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for any open recalls on both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the transmission (C-HR) and engine/brakes (Silverado).
- Test drive both vehicles under various conditions, including highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic, to feel for any hesitation or unusual noises.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes (C-HR) and oil changes/filter replacements (Silverado).
- Consider the cost of potential repairs: CVT replacement for the C-HR can be expensive, while Silverado engine or brake repairs may also be costly.
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 | Toyota C HR | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 | 98 |
| 2022 | 2 | 1340 |
| 2021 | 32 | 934 |
| 2020 | 60 | 0 |
| 2019 | 107 | 1992 |
| 2018 | 317 | 591 |
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 Toyota C HR or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Toyota C HR vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Toyota C HR total complaints
- 525
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 5,105
- Toyota C HR total recalls
- 6
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 100
- Toyota C HR avg complaints/year
- 87.5
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 510.5
- More reliable overall
- Toyota C HR
- Toyota C HR top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE