Head-to-head reliability
Volkswagen CC vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Volkswagen CC 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
Volkswagen CC vs Chevrolet Silverado: The CC has 370 complaints over 6 years (61.7/yr) with airbag and fuel issues, while the Silverado has 5105 complaints over 10 years (510.5/yr) with engine and brake failures. The CC has fewer complaints but safety-critical airbag problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volkswagen CC or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volkswagen CC
The Volkswagen CC is a midsize sedan that, in ownership terms, shows a pattern of electrical and airbag system troubles, with owners reporting clock spring failures that trigger airbag warning lights and disable steering wheel controls. Fuel system issues, including fuel pump flange problems and fuel tank leaks, are also common, sometimes leading to strong fuel odors inside the cabin. Engine complaints include loss of motive power, which can be alarming in traffic. While the CC has fewer total complaints than the Silverado, its issues are concentrated in safety-critical areas like airbags and fuel delivery.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint volume, averaging over 500 per year. Owners report serious engine problems, including catastrophic failures in the 6.2L and 6.6L Duramax diesel, with the latter experiencing repeated diesel particulate filter clogging. Powertrain issues include sudden loss of power and transmission failures, while electrical and brake problems can lead to sudden loss of braking ability. The Silverado's complaints are more numerous and often involve major mechanical failures that can leave owners stranded or require expensive repairs.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volkswagen CC | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 370 Better | 5,105 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 24 Better | 100 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 16 Better | 117 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 61.7 Better | 510.5 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 12 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.
Volkswagen CC
- 01AIR BAGS158
- 02FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM87
- 03ENGINE75
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM60
- 05STEERING20
Owners report clock spring failures that cause the airbag warning light to illuminate and can disable the driver's airbag. This is a safety concern because the airbag may not deploy in a crash.
Fuel pump flange issues and fuel tank leaks are reported, with some owners smelling gas inside the cabin. This poses a fire risk and indicates a potential fuel delivery problem.
Loss of motive power while driving, including from a stop, is reported. This can be dangerous in traffic and may be related to fuel system or other engine management issues.
Clock spring failures also affect steering wheel controls, and there are reports of the DSG transmission's mechatronic unit failing, leading to transmission malfunction.
“My 2016 VW CC (VIN: [XXX]) has a clock spring failure. I brought my car in to Riverhead Bay Motors on 2/12/2019, with the hope of diagnosing and fixing the part. They had to order the part, so only diagnosis was done. Diagnosis confirmed that the clock spring…”
“AS I WAS MAKING A U-TURN I COULD HEAR A NOICE FROM MY STEELING WHEEL AND IMMEDIATELY THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND READ "ERROR: AIRBAG". I COULDN'T HELP BUT PANIC THINKING OF ALL THE POSSIBILITIES THAT CAN HAPPEN. I NOTICED THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL WE…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE1,698
- 02POWER TRAIN1,453
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM982
- 04SERVICE BRAKES691
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER542
Owners report catastrophic engine failures in the 6.2L and 6.6L Duramax diesel, including excessive soot accumulation in the diesel particulate filter requiring repeated dealer service. Some engines fail completely, leaving owners stranded.
Sudden loss of power, including the vehicle shifting into neutral unexpectedly, is reported. Transmission issues can be dangerous, especially when climbing hills or merging.
Electrical problems can cause sudden loss of braking and steering, as well as engine pinging and loss of motive power. These are critical safety failures that can occur at highway speeds.
Owners report sudden, severe loss of braking effectiveness, even with a firm brake pedal. This is a serious safety issue that can lead to crashes.
“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.
Volkswagen CC — 24 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requi…
The risk: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.
The fix: Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015 Passat, 2015-2016 Eos, 2015-2017 CC, 2016-2017 TT Roadster, TT Coupe, 2017 Audi R8 Coupe, and R8 Spyder vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2019. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016-2017 CC vehicles. Incorrect front seat head restraints (rests) may have been installed, possibly resulting in the seat occupant's head being inadequately restrained in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comp…
The risk: If the seat occupant's head is inadequately restrained in the event of a crash, they have an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front seat head restraints, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall i…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015 Passat, 2015-2016 Eos, 2015-2017 CC, 2016-2017 TT Roadster, TT Coupe, 2017 Audi R8 Coupe, and R8 Spyder vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2019. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-…
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
Volkswagen CC or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Volkswagen CC has far fewer complaints per year (61.7) compared to the Chevrolet Silverado (510.5), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the CC's problems are concentrated in safety-critical areas like airbags and fuel system, while the Silverado's issues are more frequent and often involve major engine and powertrain failures. In practice, the CC may be less troublesome overall, but both have significant reliability concerns.
Key differences
- The CC has a much lower complaint rate (61.7/yr) than the Silverado (510.5/yr), but the CC's issues often involve airbags and fuel leaks, which are safety-critical.
- The Silverado's top problems are engine and powertrain failures, including complete engine loss and transmission issues, which can be catastrophic and expensive.
- The CC's electrical issues are often linked to clock spring failures, affecting airbags and steering wheel controls, while the Silverado's electrical issues can cause loss of braking and steering.
- The Silverado has a higher number of recalls (100) and more crash-related complaints (117) compared to the CC (24 recalls, 16 crash-related).
- Check for any airbag warning lights and test all steering wheel buttons; a faulty clock spring is a common issue.
- Inspect for fuel odors inside the cabin and check for any fuel leaks under the vehicle, as fuel tank and pump issues are reported.
- Listen for unusual engine noises and check for any warning lights; engine failures are common, especially in the 6.2L and Duramax diesel.
- Test the brakes at low speed to ensure they respond properly; sudden loss of braking has been reported.
Before you buy
- Have a mechanic inspect the airbag system and clock spring on the CC.
- Check the fuel system for leaks and ensure the fuel pump flange recall has been performed.
- For the Silverado, ask for service records related to engine and transmission issues.
- Test drive the Silverado at highway speeds to check for any loss of power or unusual noises.
- Verify that all recalls have been addressed for both vehicles.
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 | Volkswagen CC | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0 | 591 |
| 2017 | 4 | 0 |
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 Volkswagen CC or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volkswagen CC vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Volkswagen CC total complaints
- 370
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 5,105
- Volkswagen CC total recalls
- 24
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 100
- Volkswagen CC avg complaints/year
- 61.7
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 510.5
- More reliable overall
- Volkswagen CC
- Volkswagen CC top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE