Head-to-head reliability
Toyota LAND Cruiser vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Toyota LAND 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 LAND Cruiser vs Chevrolet Silverado: The Land Cruiser has 91 complaints over 10 years (9.1/year) and 14 recalls, while the Silverado has 8,227 complaints (822.7/year) and 101 recalls. The Silverado also has 233 crash-related complaints and 160 injuries, versus 3 and 3 for the Land Cruiser. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Toyota LAND Cruiser or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Toyota LAND Cruiser
The Toyota Land Cruiser is a low-volume, expensive SUV with only 91 complaints over 10 years (about 9 per year). Most owner complaints center on brake noises like rattling and squealing, plus infotainment glitches and occasional transmission hesitation. Recalls are relatively few (14) and include airbag inflator and fuel pump issues. Overall, it appears to have fewer reported problems per year than many vehicles, but some issues like brake noise can be annoying.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup with a massive 8,227 complaints over 10 years (about 823 per year). Owners frequently report serious engine and transmission problems, including sudden loss of power, rough running, and transmission failures. There are also many electrical glitches and brake issues. With 101 recalls and 233 crash-related complaints, it has a much higher rate of reported problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Toyota LAND Cruiser | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 91 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 14 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 3 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 9.1 Better | 822.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 3 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 LAND Cruiser
- 01SERVICE BRAKES28
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER17
- 03POWER TRAIN14
- 04AIR BAGS7
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM7
Owners report constant rattling and tapping noises near the rear pillar, and brake squealing when reversing. These noises are annoying and may indicate brake hardware issues, but are not typically safety-critical.
Complaints include infotainment system glitches with SiriusXM metadata not loading, and a sunroof shattering spontaneously. These are inconvenient and potentially costly if the sunroof breaks.
Some owners experience transmission shift shock, hesitation between gears at low speeds, and transmission/EV temperature increases on inclines. This can affect drivability and may lead to costly repairs.
There are complaints about airbag recalls (e.g., campaign 18V887000) where parts were unavailable, causing long waits. This is a safety concern if the recall is not performed.
“2025 Land Cruiser bought 7 months ago constant rattling and tapping noise near passenger rear near pillar B and C. Brought to the dealer for corrective action to identify, address and to resolve the problem due to annoying ticking, rattling and tapping noise…”
“Brakes are squealing when in reverse. This was a known issue with 2022-2024 Toyota Tundra's. The service bulletin was number T-SB-0043-24 to change out front rotors and brake pads and mounting hardware. After that no more squeal. It was coming from the front…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Owners report severe engine issues, including a 6.2L motor failing shortly after purchase, and diesel particulate filter soot accumulation requiring dealer service. These can lead to breakdowns and expensive repairs.
Complaints include the vehicle suddenly going into neutral while driving uphill, and transmission problems. This can cause loss of power and potential crashes.
Owners describe sudden loss of braking assist, engine shutting off while driving with 'Return to Neutral' messages, and blank screens. These are serious safety hazards.
Reports of severe loss of normal braking, with firm pedal but ineffective braking, and the truck shutting off in parking lots. This is a critical safety issue.
“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 LAND Cruiser — 14 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2019 Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX 570 vehicles. Over time, the seat belt tension sensor wire harness may break and deactivate the front passenger air bag, knee air bag, and passenger seat-mounted side airbag.
The risk: In the event of a crash, deactivated air bags can increase the risk of injury .
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will modify the front passenger seat belt assembly or replace it with an improved one, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2016 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2006 Lexus LX470, and 2008-2013 Lexus LX570 vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with an incorrect driver or front passenger air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement…
The risk: An incorrect driver or front passenger air bag may not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bag assemblies, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0S.…
The defect: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner, Tacoma, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, RAV4, Scion FRS, and XB vehicles. The affected vehicles may have accessories installed by SET, such as running boards or other items, that were incorrectly installed.…
The risk: Accessories that detach from a vehicle may result in a vehicle crash and/or personal injury.
The fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the affected bolts, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-14B.
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300,…
The risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for…
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 LAND Cruiser or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Toyota Land Cruiser has far fewer issues per year (about 9 complaints/year) compared to the Chevrolet Silverado (about 823 complaints/year). In practice, this means Land Cruiser owners report fewer problems overall, but some issues like brake noise and infotainment glitches still occur. The Silverado's much higher complaint rate suggests a greater likelihood of experiencing serious mechanical and safety-related failures.
Key differences
- Complaint volume: Land Cruiser averages 9.1 complaints/year vs Silverado's 822.7/year, a huge difference in reported problem frequency.
- Serious safety issues: Silverado has 233 crash-related complaints and 160 injuries, while Land Cruiser has 3 crash-related and 3 injuries.
- Common failure types: Land Cruiser complaints often involve brake noise and infotainment, while Silverado complaints frequently involve engine failures, transmission problems, and electrical shutdowns.
- Recalls: Silverado has 101 recalls vs Land Cruiser's 14, indicating more widespread safety fixes over the years.
- Listen for rattling or tapping noises from the rear pillar area and brake squealing when reversing; these are commonly reported and may require brake hardware updates.
- Check if the sunroof has ever shattered or shows signs of stress cracks, as spontaneous shattering has been reported.
- Test drive at various speeds and inclines; watch for transmission hesitation, sudden neutral engagement, or engine stalling, which owners report.
- Check for any signs of brake assist loss or electrical glitches, such as warning messages or blank screens, during the test drive.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed, especially airbag and fuel pump recalls.
- Have a mechanic inspect the brakes for noise and wear, and check for any transmission or engine error codes.
- Test drive the vehicle extensively, including highway, city, and incline driving, to detect shift shock or power loss.
- For the Silverado, specifically test the braking system and electrical functions, as sudden failures have been reported.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and whether any known issues (like brake squeal or infotainment glitches) have been addressed.
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 LAND Cruiser | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 120 |
| 2025 | 32 | 157 |
| 2024 | 39 | 527 |
| 2021 | 1 | 961 |
| 2020 | 0 | 868 |
| 2019 | 0 | 2003 |
| 2018 | 4 | 597 |
| 2017 | 4 | 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 Toyota LAND Cruiser or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Toyota LAND Cruiser vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Toyota LAND Cruiser total complaints
- 91
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- Toyota LAND Cruiser total recalls
- 14
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- Toyota LAND Cruiser avg complaints/year
- 9.1
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- Toyota LAND Cruiser
- Toyota LAND Cruiser top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE