Head-to-head reliability
Toyota Prius vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Toyota Prius 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 Prius vs Chevrolet Silverado: Over 10 years, the Prius had 262 complaints and 20 recalls, while the Silverado had 8,227 complaints and 101 recalls. The Prius averages about 26 complaints per year versus 823 for the Silverado. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Toyota Prius or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius is a hybrid hatchback that, over the past decade, has generated 262 owner complaints—about 26 per year—along with 20 recalls. The most common trouble spots are brakes, electrical glitches, and visibility, with reports of brake noise, blank rearview cameras, and blind spots. While the overall complaint volume is low, the pattern suggests that when issues arise, they often involve safety-related systems like braking and backup visibility.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup that has accumulated 8,227 complaints over ten years—roughly 823 per year—and 101 recalls. Owners frequently report engine and transmission problems, including sudden shutdowns, loss of power, and brake failures. The sheer volume of complaints indicates that many Silverado owners experience significant reliability problems, some of which occur at very low mileage.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Toyota Prius | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 262 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 20 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 41 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 26.2 Better | 822.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 23 Better | 160 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 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 Prius
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER50
- 02SERVICE BRAKES45
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM41
- 04VISIBILITY/WIPER27
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL27
Owners describe scratching or rubbing noises from the brakes and a pedal that becomes hard to push, sometimes requiring emergency braking to stop. One report noted a near-crash in a garage when the brakes failed to respond normally.
Complaints include the rearview camera screen going blank without warning, leading to collisions with objects behind the car. Another owner reported that a low 12-volt battery caused confusing starting and shifting behavior.
Drivers, especially taller ones, say the rear window, side mirrors, and thick rear pillar create large blind spots. The blind-spot monitoring system is described as intermittent and unreliable, making lane changes riskier.
Some complaints involve rental fleet vehicles with unrepaired recalls, and others note cracked plastic trim near the rear hatch. These issues may not be safety-critical but point to build quality or recall follow-through problems.
“My safety and the safety of 6,031 passengers/riders were put at risk when Lyft's Flex Drive rented this vehicle to me as a rideshare driver for one year. They admitted yesterday upon confronting them in person that they were aware of the recall and decided to…”
“Immediately after servicing the vehicle, when I closed the rear hatch, I noticed a crack in the plastic trim under the window. It is still available for inspection as the dealership has not yet repaired it. The piece is not entirely cracked through or enitrel…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Owners report engine shutdowns while driving, sometimes with messages like 'Return to Neutral' and 'Press Start.' Others describe diesel particulate filter soot accumulation events requiring dealer service at low mileage.
Complaints include the vehicle suddenly shifting into neutral while driving slowly, such as in a parking garage, leaving the driver unable to accelerate. This can happen with very low mileage, even under 300 miles.
Reports describe a sudden loss of normal braking with a firm pedal but reduced stopping power, as well as the engine shutting off while driving. These electrical faults can disable critical safety functions.
Owners report severe loss of braking effectiveness shortly after starting a trip, and instances where the truck completely shuts off, blanking all screens and preventing acceleration. Such failures heighten crash risk.
“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 Prius — 20 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or d…
The risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's nu…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Prius Prime, 2023-2026 Prius, and 2025-2026 Prius Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. Water may enter the rear door switch and cause a short circuit, allowing an unlocked rear door to open unexpectedly.
The risk: A door that unexpectedly opens while the vehicle is moving increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will modify the rear door switch circuits, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed July 13, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26TB03 and 26TA03. This recall…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Prius and Prius Prime vehicles. Water may enter the rear door switch and cause a short circuit, allowing an unlocked rear door to open unexpectedly.
The risk: A door that unexpectedly opens while the vehicle is moving or during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace both right and left rear door opener switches, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 9, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB06 and 24T…
The defect: Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain Toyota 2023 GR Supra, 2024 4 Runner, Corolla, Grand Highlander, Grand Highlander Hybrid, Land Cruiser Hybrid, Tacoma, Tacoma Hybrid, 2023-2024 BZ4X, Corolla Cross Hybrid, GR Corolla, GR86, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius Prime, Sequoia…
The risk: A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: GST will mail new labels to owners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2024. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 24R2.
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 Prius or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Toyota Prius has far fewer complaints per year (about 26) compared to the Chevrolet Silverado (about 823), meaning Prius owners report problems much less often. In practice, a used Prius is likely to need fewer repair visits, while a used Silverado may demand more frequent attention to engine, transmission, and brake issues.
Key differences
- The Silverado has over 8,000 complaints in 10 years, while the Prius has only 262, indicating a much higher rate of owner-reported issues for the truck.
- Silverado complaints often involve engine shutdowns and transmission failures that can strand drivers, whereas Prius complaints more often involve brake noise and camera glitches.
- The Prius has 20 recalls versus 101 for the Silverado, suggesting the truck has had more widespread safety-related defects requiring manufacturer fixes.
- Both vehicles have brake-related complaints, but Silverado owners report sudden loss of braking, while Prius owners describe noise and hard pedal feel.
- Test the brakes for any scratching or rubbing noise and check that the pedal feels normal, not unusually hard to push.
- Verify the rearview camera works consistently and check for any cracks in the plastic trim under the rear window.
- During a test drive, watch for any sudden engine shutdown or messages like 'Return to Neutral' or 'Press Start' on the dashboard.
- Check for smooth transmission operation, especially at low speeds in parking lots, and listen for any unusual noises from the engine or brakes.
Before you buy
- Ask for the complete recall history and confirm all open recalls have been repaired by a dealer.
- Take a lengthy test drive that includes braking from highway speeds and low-speed maneuvering in parking lots.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the brakes, electrical system, and—on the Silverado—the engine and transmission for signs of trouble.
- For the Prius, specifically test the rearview camera and blind-spot monitoring system, and sit in the driver's seat to assess visibility.
- For the Silverado, request service records for any engine or transmission work, and check for diesel particulate filter issues if equipped with a diesel engine.
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 Prius | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 120 |
| 2025 | 16 | 157 |
| 2024 | 26 | 527 |
| 2023 | 19 | 450 |
| 2022 | 24 | 1390 |
| 2021 | 6 | 961 |
| 2020 | 14 | 868 |
| 2019 | 30 | 2003 |
| 2018 | 36 | 597 |
| 2017 | 91 | 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 Prius or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Toyota Prius vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Toyota Prius total complaints
- 262
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- Toyota Prius total recalls
- 20
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- Toyota Prius avg complaints/year
- 26.2
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Prius
- Toyota Prius top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE