Head-to-head reliability
Toyota Scion FR S vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Toyota Scion FR S 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 Scion FR S vs Chevrolet Silverado: The Scion FR S has 11 complaints over 4 years (2.8/year) and 0 recalls, while the Silverado has 5,105 complaints over 10 years (510.5/year) and 100 recalls. The Silverado also has 117 crash-related reports and 104 injuries; the Scion has none. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Toyota Scion FR S or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Toyota Scion FR S
The Toyota Scion FR S is a low-volume sports coupe with only 11 complaints over 4 years, averaging 2.8 per year. Owners report issues like sunroof glass shattering, power loss, and tire failures, but there are no recalls, crashes, injuries, or deaths in the data. Living with it means fewer reported problems overall, though some can be sudden and alarming.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup with 5,105 complaints over 10 years, averaging 510.5 per year, plus 100 recalls and 117 crash-related reports. Common complaints involve engine and power train failures, electrical glitches, and brake problems, with 104 injuries and 1 death recorded. This suggests a much higher volume of reported issues, some serious.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Toyota Scion FR S | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 11 Better | 5,105 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 100 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 117 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 2.8 Better | 510.5 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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 Scion FR S
- 01VISIBILITY2
- 02POWER TRAIN2
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
- 04WHEELS2
- 05AIR BAGS1
Owners report the sunroof or top front glass panel exploding or shattering while driving, sometimes with a loud noise. This can send glass into the cabin and is a safety concern, though it appears rare.
Complaints include sudden loss of power, RPM increases, and vehicles losing all power and not accelerating. One owner described the steering wheel locking and wipers stopping, which could be dangerous at speed.
Reports include moisture in tail lights and electrical failures that cause radio, A/C, lights, and wipers to stop working. These issues can impair visibility and control, especially in rain.
Owners report tires exploding or separating while driving, sometimes after a puncture. This can lead to loss of control, though some cases involve road hazards like nails.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA SCION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 72 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODED AND THE GLASS FELL INTO SUNROOF VISOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOS…”
“I WAS GETTING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I HEARD A REALLY LOUD BOOM. I GOT OUT OF MY CAR. I CHECKED MY CAR AND I SAW THAT MY TOP FRONT GLASS PANEL ALL BROKEN. THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME AND THE DAMAGE LOOKS EVEN ON BOTH END OF THE GLASS PANEL. *TR”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE1,698
- 02POWER TRAIN1,453
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM982
- 04SERVICE BRAKES691
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER542
Owners report engine problems like rough running, loss of motive power, and diesel particulate filter soot accumulation requiring dealer service. Some complaints involve new vehicles with low mileage, indicating potential early failures.
Complaints include sudden shifting into neutral, loss of power, and transmission issues. One owner reported the vehicle going into neutral while driving slowly uphill, which could cause a crash.
Reports include sudden loss of braking, pinging sounds from the engine, and loss of motive power with inoperable brakes and steering. These are severe safety issues that could lead to crashes.
Owners describe sudden, severe loss of normal braking where the pedal remains firm but braking is ineffective. This is a critical safety concern, especially at stop signs or in traffic.
“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 Scion FR S
No recalls on record.
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 Scion FR S or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Toyota Scion FR S has far fewer issues per year (2.8 vs. 510.5) and no reported crashes, injuries, or deaths, while the Chevrolet Silverado has 117 crash-related reports, 104 injuries, and 1 death. In practice, the Scion FR S appears to have a much lower reported problem rate, but the Silverado's issues are more numerous and include severe safety events.
Key differences
- The Scion FR S has 11 complaints over 4 years with no recalls, while the Silverado has 5,105 complaints over 10 years and 100 recalls.
- Scion FR S complaints include sunroof glass shattering and sudden power loss, but no crashes or injuries reported; Silverado complaints include engine failures, brake loss, and 117 crash-related reports.
- The Silverado has 104 injuries and 1 death in the data, while the Scion FR S has zero injuries and zero deaths.
- Scion FR S issues are mostly visibility, power train, electrical, and wheels; Silverado issues are dominated by engine, power train, electrical, and brakes.
- Inspect the sunroof and top glass panel for cracks, chips, or signs of previous shattering, as owners report sudden explosions.
- Check for electrical gremlins like moisture in tail lights, and test all power accessories (radio, A/C, wipers, lights) for intermittent failures.
- Look for engine warning lights, rough idle, or diesel particulate filter messages, especially on low-mileage trucks, as owners report early engine and emissions failures.
- Test the brakes thoroughly for firmness and stopping power, and check for any history of sudden brake loss, which owners have reported.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls, especially on the Silverado which has 100 recalls.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic, focusing on the specific problem areas: sunroof and electrical for the Scion, engine and brakes for the Silverado.
- Test drive both vehicles under various conditions (highway, rain, braking) to reproduce any intermittent issues like power loss or brake failure.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and any dealer repair orders, particularly for the Silverado's engine and transmission work.
- Verify that all safety features work, including lights, wipers, brakes, and steering, and check tire condition for signs of separation or uneven wear.
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 Scion FR S or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Toyota Scion FR S vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Toyota Scion FR S total complaints
- 11
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 5,105
- Toyota Scion FR S total recalls
- 0
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 100
- Toyota Scion FR S avg complaints/year
- 2.8
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 510.5
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Scion FR S
- Toyota Scion FR S top complaint area
- VISIBILITY
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE