Chevrolet Silverado Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls β NHTSA data
Comparing used Chevrolet Silverado options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017β2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Model-year trends show patterns β they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Chevrolet Silverado has 4,079 owner complaints and 100 safety recalls across model years 2017β2026. The most reported issue area is ENGINE.
- Make
- Chevrolet
- Model
- Silverado
- Model years analyzed
- 2017β2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 4,079
- Safety recall campaigns
- 100
- Crash-related complaints
- 77
- Fire-related complaints
- 51
- Top reported issue area
- ENGINE
- Reliability signal
- Poor
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
NCAP crash test ratings for this model are not yet loaded or this vehicle was not tested in the years analyzed. NHTSA tests a subset of new vehicles each year. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings directly for the latest results.
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe CHEVROLET SILVERADO has 4,079 NHTSA complaints and 100 recalls on record. 77 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 4,079 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 100 federal recall campaigns
- 77 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Jul 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
100 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP:CONTROL/DRIVE MODULE
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP:CONTROL/DRIVE MODULE
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:BRAKE FLUID LOW WARNING:SWITCH/SENSOR/FLOAT
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC):CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:BRAKE FLUID LOW WARNING: LAMP
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:ELECTRIC:CONTROL MODULE
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017β2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 4,079 NHTSA complaints β these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
4,079 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
2026 SILVERADO ENGINE BLOWED UP AT 6,413 MILES. THIS IS THE 6.2 L87 ENGINE..
While driving my truck returning from a camping trip I received the following warnings in the dash: Service ESC, Service traction control, forward collision system unavailable. Check engine light was flashing. I made the assumption that the Check engine light was due to the warnings listed above. I continued to drive the vehicle until I began to feel a very noticeable shudder at idle, at low speeds, and also loss of power at higher speeds. The truck has the 5.3 ecotec engine with DFM. After researching the symptoms, I found that these symptoms are identical to the know lifter problem with that engine. The truck is a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado Trail boss with approx. 3454 miles on it. It's currently at the dealership waiting for them to "diagnose" the problem. I was told that it may just be a "faulty sensor", but after reading other people's experience with this engine I believe that the real problem is a damaged lifter/lifter pin due to the poor design and engineering of the DFM system
The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH and attempting to depress the accelerator pedal, the vehicle lost motive power, the contact attempted to start the vehicle, and the vehicle operated as intended. The check engine warning light was illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the diagnostic result was unknown. The dealer cleared the codes, and the vehicle was then taken to another dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the ground strap needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the part was on back order and might take six months for the part to do the repair to be available. The approximate failure mileage was 4,000.
This incident occurred 24, June 2024. Time was approx 1745hrs and temperature was 93 and humid. Was stopped at a stop sign, attempted to make a phone call and reached to temporarily turn off the air conditioner by pushing the on/off button. When I pushed the button, it turned off the vehicle engine completely! When I was startled as to what had just happened, I pushed the air conditioner button a second time; It STARTED the truck's vehicle engine! I repeated this test three times in the presence of my spouse who was also in the truck. We then drove approximately one mile and at a second stop again was able to duplicate the engine turned off/on by pushing the air conditioner on off again! It was if the air conditioner on/off button was the vehicle start stop button. I did not try to duplicate this under roadway speed, fearing if the engine did in fact turn off, simply by pushing the on/off air conditioner button. It would most assuredly result in the complete loss of driver inputs for steering, brakes and control.
Service brake assist warning came on the day before a severe audible engine knock started. Drove to nearest dealer and they immediately diagnosed as a probable engine failure/engine bearing/connecting rod. 6.2 liter engine 9500 miles
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 a forced regeneration to restore normal operation. The most serious event occurred while towing an approximately 15,000-pound loaded dump trailer on a public county road. While climbing a hill, the truck entered reduced-power/limp mode associated with the emissions/DPF system. Power was reduced so severely that the truck could no longer continue uphill and came to a stop in the travel lane. This created a safety hazard because the road was narrow and winding, with no safe place to pull off. I had to back the truck and loaded trailer several hundred yards downhill while traffic was present behind me. Before the event, the truck displayed βContinue Driving, Cleaning Exhaust Filter.β The warning did not state that severe power reduction or loss of towing capability was imminent. I did continue operating the vehicle, but the truck was being used for normal commercial towing/work operations where immediate highway-speed driving was not practical. The issue has been confirmed by Chevrolet dealers through DTC P2463 on multiple visits. The only correction performed has been forced regeneration. I was advised that no failed component was identified and no permanent repair has been performed. The vehicle is available for inspection, and repair records are available. My concern is that the emissions-related derate strategy can cause sudden and severe loss of motive power while towing on public roads, leaving the vehicle unable to maintain forward movement or safely clear the travel lane. This has occurred repeatedly during normal work use, not as a one-time event, and the warning provided did not give a clear indication that the truck could soon become unable to tow or maintain forward movement.
Read 14 more owner reports
The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while reversing, the back over prevention camera failed to function as needed. The contact stated that there was no image displayed while shifted into reverse. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 3,000.
Normal driving then heard a knocking and squealing. Was told it was a spun main bearing on the crack shaft.
Defect: Engine failure caused by lifter and camshaft failure at 114 miles (5.2 engine hours). The vehicle is at the dealership undergoing warranty repairs. The service department confirmed a seized lifter, necessitating the replacement of all lifters and the camshaft. The incident occurred at highway speeds on the interstate when the engine suddenly began knocking loudly. Immediately after the knocking started, the check engine light illuminated, followed by consecutive "Service Anti-Collision System" and "Service ESC (Electronic Stability Control)" warning messages.
Vehicle purchased new December 2026 and vehicle experienced loss of power and abnormal shifting while driving at only 9000 miles. Engine produced clicking noises and was immediately brought to the closest dealership. Vehicle has been out of service since May 8, 2026, with no repair completion date due to parts availability. Owner continues making payments and insurance payments while without use of the vehicle. Owner has not been given a comparable vehicle which is a huge hardship for the family, especially during farming season. Concern exists regarding ongoing reliability and reports of similar failures involving GM 6.2L engines.
Auto wash truck quit, dead would not restart, tow service disconnected battery and reset. Okay after. Visit to dealer service they said nothing wrong. Driving yesterday in the rain quit 4 times on the road driving, it would restart each time. Warning on the dash would flash at times "Hands on the wheel" while driving ? This is a serious safety issue. Intermittent when it gets wet, new truck, 1,800 miles, no alterations. Dealer service no help, it has hard codes, CAN Bus communication issue, water intrusion likely cause, we are afraid to operate on the road, help please.
The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, there was an abnormally loud pinging sound coming from the engine. The vehicle lost motive power, the brakes and the steering wheel became inoperable. The message "Depress Start" was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was initially diagnosed that the battery failure was unsoldered. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. While being test-driven by the mechanic, the vehicle stalled. After further investigation, it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced due to the main bearing failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, opened a case and informed the contact that a case worker, near his location, would contact him in 24 hours. The failure mileage was approximately 9,025.
I started the vehicle in the morning, and noticed a knocking noise from deep inside the engine. Took the vehicle to the dealership, the knocking be turned into squealing and grinding and banging, check engine light came on, and vehicle died in front of the service department door. Iβm an experienced auto technician and know that that was a connecting rod bearing knock. And now need a new engine on a vehicle with 919 miles on it.
2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab RST with the RST select package. The "Chrome-Like" trim inside and outside reflective the sunlight badly and depending on travel direction and Sun position, horrible reflection appears and momentary blinds you. It is very comparable to having the sunlight reflect off a mirror and into the driver's face. There are two different areas of "chrome-like" trim in the middle of the dash that shine directly into your face, occasionally it will shine and reflect into the driver's side rear view mirror and place and line across the mirror, which impedes the viewing through the mirror. The reflection also occurs off the Chevrolet symbol off the middle of the steering wheel, this one is not as bad as the others, but still annoying. The reflection various and the pictures don't show how intense and bad it really is. The Chrome "Turbomax" emblem was removed from the hood because that would reflect and shine back into the truck. Is there anyway to pass new rules to stop having highly reflective materials on the interior and exteriors of vehicles.
The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that the message "Service Brake Assist" was illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the message was reset on several occasions. Additionally, the dealer determined that the failure was possibly due to a low voltage issue, and the vehicle was operating as designed. The contact stated that the failure had recurred. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that a towing agent would towed the vehicle to their location. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 85.
Turn signals do not provide any audio signal letting you know they are on and working. GM is unable to correct issue.
THE FIN ANTENNA ON TOP OF THE TRUCK HAS COME LOOSE, I GOT A CONTINOUS MESSAGE FOR THE LAST 2= MONTHS. SERVICE EMERGANCY CALLING MY TRUCK IS 6 MONTHS OLD NOW, BUT THIS HAPPENED 2 MONTHS AGO. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, FRIENDLY CHEVORLET WHERE I BOUGHT IT. TECH GUY SAYS I MUST HAVE HIT SOMETHING. I CALLED GMC AND ASKED ABOUT PRODUCT DEFECT, WAS TOLD THATS NOT THE CASE.I ORDERED A NEW ANTENNA 4-12 26 GMC HAS NONE IN STOCK WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIE VE THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. GMC SAYS THIS IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. THIS IS GOING TO BE A 600= DOLLAR EXSPENCE FOR ME. THIS ANTENNA IS FOR ONSTAR AND MY PHONE CONNECTION
OnStar Super Cruise, while using super cruise the vehicle tried to change lanes with another vehicle in the other lane. I had to fiscally override the super cruise to prevent an accident. This happened on three separate occasions.
Purchased truck in May of 2026 from Chevy dealer. Truck had around 1500 miles on it. Within 1 week the truck was shifting, very roughly, for no apparent reason making it lurch. I brought it to a local Chevy dealer, who ran it, showing a fault. I got the truck back from the dealer, who said tech had looked at it, and cleared the "fault" that was showing up. less than 1 week after that, the truck started doing the same thing, and I am bringing it back to the local Chevy dealer this week. The dealer I purchased the truck from said it was a trade in because the owner didn't like the truck. I'm concerned the dealer I bought the truck from may have known about the problem when I purchased the truck, and this may be the 3rd time that the truck has been back to a Chevy dealer for this problem. I looked on line and found Chevy has has hundreds of thousands of recalls on this 6.2 liter L87 engine, and there is a class action suit involving this engine from previous years, as well as hundreds of complaints regarding the 2026 version of this engine.
I am writing regarding an ongoing and serious issue with my 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 RST 2.7L that continues to occur despite multiple visits to the dealership. Recently, as I was leaving my house, I entered my truck and started the vehicle as normal. Immediately after startup, approximately eight warning lights and system failure messages appeared on the dashboard simultaneously. The warnings included the Check Engine Light, ABS warning, Brake System Failure, Service Steering Column Lock, Service Traction Control, Service ESC, Service Brake Pad Monitor, and Trailer Brake Disabled warnings. At that point, the truck became undriveable. Although I was able to shift gears, the vehicle would not move properly in either Drive or Reverse. Due to the severity of the issue, I turned the truck off and left it parked overnight. The following day, all warning lights and messages had disappeared completely. This situation is extremely concerning because the vehicle appears to fail randomly without warning. I no longer feel safe driving the truck, especially with my children in the vehicle, because I fear it could stop functioning again at any time and potentially create a dangerous situation. I have already taken the truck to the dealership multiple times regarding this issue. However, I have repeatedly been told that they cannot properly diagnose or repair the problem unless the warning lights are actively present at the time of inspection. Since the issue is intermittent, this has made it very difficult to get the truck repaired, even though the problem clearly continues to occur. I am requesting that this matter be taken seriously and investigated further, and because this is a new truck that barely has 7,833 miles on it.as this appears to involve critical safety systems including braking, traction control, steering, and vehicle drivability. I depend on this truck daily and need a permanent resolution to this problem as soon as possible.
Showing 20 of 4,079 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Chevrolet Silverado
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations β hereβs what each number actually tells you about a used Chevrolet Silverado, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is β but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Chevrolet Silverado has 4,079 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Chevrolet Silverado has 100 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 77 of the Chevrolet Silverado's 4,079 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions β a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable β simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Chevrolet Silverado vehicles on the road β not any specific car. Two Chevrolet Silverado vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage β NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Chevrolet Silverado has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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By state
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Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Chevrolet Silverado.
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Chevrolet Silverado reliability β frequently asked questions
Is the Chevrolet Silverado reliable?
Poor. The Chevrolet Silverado has 4,079 NHTSA owner complaints and 100 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ENGINE. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Chevrolet Silverado years to avoid?
Check individual year pages for complaint breakdowns.
What are the most common Chevrolet Silverado problems?
Top reported issues: ENGINE (1,458 complaints); POWER TRAIN (1,228 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (716 complaints).
Does the Chevrolet Silverado have recalls?
Yes β 100 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Chevrolet Silverado. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.