Head-to-head reliability
Toyota FJ Cruiser vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Toyota FJ Cruiser 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 FJ Cruiser vs Chevrolet Silverado: The FJ Cruiser averaged 113 complaints per year over 8 years, with rust and brake issues, while the Silverado averaged 823 per year over 10 years, with engine and transmission problems. The Silverado also had 3 deaths and 233 crash-related complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Toyota FJ Cruiser or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Toyota FJ Cruiser
The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a body-on-frame SUV with a loyal following, but its age means rust and corrosion are common. Over 8 years, it averaged 113 complaints per year, with structure, brakes, and suspension topping the list. Many complaints describe severe frame and underbody rust, which can lead to costly repairs or safety concerns. Buyers should prioritize a thorough rust inspection, especially in states that use road salt.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup that sells in huge numbers, and its complaint volume reflects that popularity. Over 10 years, it averaged 823 complaints per year, with engine, powertrain, and electrical issues dominating. Owners report serious problems like engine shutdowns, transmission failures, and brake loss, often at low mileage. While not every truck will have these issues, the frequency and severity of complaints suggest a higher risk of major repairs.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Toyota FJ Cruiser | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 906 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 65 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 26 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 113.3 Better | 822.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 18 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.
Toyota FJ Cruiser
- 01STRUCTURE331
- 02SERVICE BRAKES139
- 03SUSPENSION121
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER112
- 05VISIBILITY84
Owners report severe frame and underbody rust, sometimes causing brake lines and suspension mounts to corrode. This can lead to fluid leaks and structural weakness, making pre-purchase rust checks critical.
Complaints include cruise control overspeeding and brake-line corrosion. Corroded brake lines can fail suddenly, reducing stopping ability and increasing crash risk.
Rusty control arms and struts are common, and some owners report excessive rocking over bumps. Worn suspension can affect handling and tire wear, and repairs can be expensive.
Some complaints describe vehicles rolling away after being placed in park, and others mention rust upon purchase. These suggest potential parking brake or transmission issues that need checking.
“Please consider opening or expanding an investigation into frame, underbody, brake-line, and suspension-mount corrosion affecting Toyota FJ Cruisers. I own a 2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser 4WD. A professional inspection found multiple fluid leaks, heavy rust, rusted…”
“AT 55,000 MILES (6 YEARS OLD) MY FRONT GRAVEL SHIELD HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED OFF AND WAS FOUND IN MY DRIVEWAY. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER AND THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT BOTH CONTROL ARMS AND BOTH FRONT STRUTS WERE VERY BADLY RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE RE…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Owners report engine shutdowns while driving, diesel particulate filter soot accumulation, and other stalling issues. These can leave you stranded and may require major engine repairs.
Complaints include sudden shifting into neutral and transmission failures at low mileage. This can cause loss of power and control, especially in traffic or parking situations.
Reports describe sudden loss of braking assist, engine shut-off, and blank screens. Electrical glitches can disable critical safety features and are often hard to diagnose.
Some owners experience a firm brake pedal with reduced braking effect, and others report the truck shutting off during braking. Brake problems are a serious safety concern.
“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 FJ Cruiser — 65 recalls
The defect: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affec…
The risk: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
The fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may con…
The defect: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Pri…
The risk: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2014 FJ Cruiser and Tacoma vehicles equipped with accessory wheels and tires installed by Toyota or dealers prior to the vehicle's first sale. The affected vehicles may list incorrect spare tire size and/or cold…
The risk: If the spare tire is inflated to the incorrect pressure provided on the placard, tire failure may occur while it is being driven on, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: For the involved vehicles, overlay stickers to correct the tire placard will either be mailed to owners or provided to dealers for placement over the incorrect information on the placard. The recall is expected to begin in September 2014.…
The defect: TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2011 FJ CRUISER, LAND CRUISER, TACOMA, SEQUOIA AND TUNDRA VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 138, "TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS)." WHEN FACTORY-INSTALLED WHEELS AND TIRES WERE…
The risk: FAILURE TO WARN OF TIRE DEFLATIONS IS A NON-COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 138 AND COULD LEAD TO TIRE FAILURE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: FOR THE LAND CRUISER, SEQUOIA, TACOMA AND TUNDRA VEHICLES, THE DEALER WILL RE-CALIBRATE THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM ON AFFECTED VEHICLES AND INSTALL AN UPDATED TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION LABEL AT NO CHARGE. FOR THE FJ CRUISER VEH…
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
Toyota FJ Cruiser or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Toyota FJ Cruiser has far fewer complaints per year (113 vs. 823), but its issues are often age-related rust and corrosion. The Chevrolet Silverado's higher complaint rate includes many severe engine, transmission, and electrical failures, sometimes at very low mileage. In practice, the FJ Cruiser may be simpler to maintain if rust is addressed, while the Silverado carries a higher risk of costly breakdowns.
Key differences
- The FJ Cruiser's top complaint is structure (rust), while the Silverado's is engine problems like shutdowns and soot buildup.
- Silverado complaints include sudden loss of braking and transmission failures, which are less common in FJ Cruiser reports.
- FJ Cruiser has 0 deaths in the data, while Silverado has 3 deaths and more crash-related complaints (233 vs. 26).
- Silverado averages over 7 times more complaints per year, but it also sells in much higher volumes, so rates per vehicle may differ.
- Check the frame and underbody for heavy rust, especially around suspension mounts and brake lines; rust can compromise safety and lead to expensive repairs.
- Test the parking brake and transmission engagement; some owners report vehicles rolling away after being placed in park.
- Look for signs of engine stalling or shutdowns; test drive and check for stored codes related to fuel or electrical issues.
- Inspect brake function carefully; some owners report a firm pedal with reduced braking, which could indicate a serious problem.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and look for rust-related repairs or repeated engine/transmission work.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the specific trouble areas for each model.
- For the FJ Cruiser, inspect the frame, brake lines, and suspension components for corrosion.
- For the Silverado, scan for diagnostic trouble codes and test drive at various speeds to check for stalling or shifting issues.
- Verify that all recalls have been addressed by checking the NHTSA website with the VIN.
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 FJ Cruiser or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Toyota FJ Cruiser vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Toyota FJ Cruiser total complaints
- 906
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- Toyota FJ Cruiser total recalls
- 65
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- Toyota FJ Cruiser avg complaints/year
- 113.3
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- Toyota FJ Cruiser
- Toyota FJ Cruiser top complaint area
- STRUCTURE
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE