Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Chevrolet Silverado 1500 options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) 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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- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has 5,252 owner complaints and 55 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is ENGINE. 2019 drew the most complaints; 2026 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Chevrolet
- Model
- Silverado 1500
- Model years analyzed
- 2017–2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 5,252
- Safety recall campaigns
- 55
- Crash-related complaints
- 143
- Fire-related complaints
- 63
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2019 (1,054 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2026 (69 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ENGINE
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Chevrolet Silverado 1500: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
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.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 has 5,252 NHTSA complaints and 55 recalls on record. 143 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 5,252 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 55 federal recall campaigns
- 143 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: Aug 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
55 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)
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:BRAKE FLUID LOW WARNING: LAMP
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
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:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RING
AIR BAGS
AIR BAGS
AIR BAGS
TIRES
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. 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 5,252 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
5,252 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.
Multiple times the truck has stopped running while driving. Once one the highway, once in an intersection, another time in a parking lot. It has not started when I have tried to turn it on. All the times I have called AAA. They have checked the battery and there is no battery issue. Twice AAA has come out, once the police have come and sat behind the truck to keep me safe. After about 10 minutes of the sitting with the truck off I can restart it and drive. Upon research, other Chevy trucks of similar age have a recall for a failed fuel pump module. This is the issue. If it is a known issue, and causing a dangerous situation it should be recalled on all trims of Chevy trucks. I will be getting this fixed, but don’t feel I should incur the $1,000 expense for a known defect.
Engine failed 6k miles after inspection and oil type changed to 0w40 from GM dealer Roger Dean Chevy Cape Coral FL
Was making a left turn with a left turn street light green for me to turn across an intersection. Pickup stalled in the middle of the intersection and would not start. With the help of another person we manually pushed the pickup out of the intersection and onto another side street. I received an email at that exact time from General Motors showing a code of P129F which is the Fuel Pump Power Control Module. I am a [XXX] man stranded in 90 degree heat with no AC or shade to get under. My safety was put at risk in the above instance but more so if I had been entering IH 10 into traffic traveling 70MPH and my truck had just stopped running without any warning. This is a known problem as described in GM Service Bulletin 24-NA-139 with both the NHTSA and DOT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
a week ago I was backing up and this truck is supposed to be equipped with a "REAR CROSS TRAFFIC BRAKINGF – When in Reverse, the system warns of detected cross-traffic approaching in either direction and provides alerts and hard emergency braking to help reduce the severity or help avoid collisions at very low speeds", I backed into another vehicle that was parked behind me. I did not receive any warnings and the automatic braking did not activate. I was fortunate that I was going slow and only damaged the other drivers door and my tailgate and bumper.
Truck will hard shift and bang into gear while driving. This usually happens when slowing then starting up again. happens at all speeds on highway, so hard it lunges me forward. condition getting worse. random times my windshield wipers will just come on ( I do not have rain sensors) the switch is in the off position and wipers will just come on and I have to turn them on then turn them off to get them to stop.
When driving normally OR pulling a camper (same day), power steering seems to "stick" as I exit either a moderate RH or LH corner. I must apply extra effort to the steering wheel to straighten out, and that invariably leads to an over-correction and departure into either the shoulder or the opposite lane. Problem is not sensitive to speed or weather conditions. The symptoms are not necessarily worse when pulling a camper, but the consequences are much more drastic and losing control of the vehicle feels much more imminent than when driving just the truck. Because the problem comes and goes so quickly, I can be applying force to straighten the wheel when suddenly, no force is required and the truck veers either left or right. I see no warning lights, nor do I see any messages displayed. I have not yet had the opportunity to get the truck to a mechanic. I'm not confident that I can safely drive to a repair facility, as the steering is so unpredictable.
Read 14 more owner reports
Hard shifting, Shuddering, clunking sound when shifting between drive and reverse. Was informed by Ken Ganley Chevy in Brookpark , Ohio that the valve body inside the 8speed transmission is faulty and is on a nationwide backorder.
The left front turn signal becomes inoperable at times. The foreword collision indicator warning will come on unprovoked at times. Both conditions correct when you cycle the ignition switch. I consider the turn signal problem a safety issue because it happens with no warning and oncoming traffic may not know I am turning left or changing lanes. When the foreword indicator appears, I doubt the system is operable.
On June 27th 2026 at approximately 3am, I was driving my Chevy Silverado Trail Boss with 6.2 engine, it suffered a sudden catastrophic failure and it completely seized while in motion. There were no warning or signs given while vehicle was in motion. This resulted in an immediate highly dangerous loss of propulsion on a dark 2 lane road. The vehicle would not crank and had to be towed to Estero Bay Chevrolet.
On Sunday, July 12, 2026, the 6.2L V8 (L87) engine in my 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2 seized and locked up completely, resulting in total loss of propulsion. I was driving at 65 MPH when it felt like the transmission was slipping and I lost power and coasted the truck to the side of the road. COMPONENT: Engine (6.2L V8, RPO L87) — connecting rod/crankshaft failure consistent with Safety Recall N252494001 (NHTSA Recall 25V-274). The vehicle is available for inspection. It is currently at Cable Dahmer Chevrolet, where it was towed on July 13, 2026, and remains inoperable. SAFETY RISK: The engine seized during operation, causing sudden and complete loss of propulsion in traffic. This is the exact failure mode identified in Recall 25V-274 as increasing the risk of a crash. CRITICAL DETAIL: This vehicle previously underwent inspection under Safety Recall N252494001 and PASSED on Feb 3rd 2026 at VAN Chevrolet in Kansas City. GM deemed the engine non-defective and issued extended warranty coverage of 10 years/150,000 miles under the associated special coverage program. Despite passing GM's recall inspection, the engine suffered catastrophic failure. This appears directly relevant to NHTSA's open recall query regarding the effectiveness of GM's recall remedy. DEALER CONFIRMATION: A technician at Cable Dahmer Chevrolet has verbally confirmed the engine is locked up/seized. Formal diagnosis is pending master technician sign-off and submission to GM, expected the week of July 20, 2026. The manufacturer has not yet inspected the vehicle. WARNING SIGNS: No warning lamps, messages, or symptoms appeared prior to the failure. The engine failed without warning
I am filing a formal complaint regarding General Motors' handling of a critical vehicle component that has left my vehicle and many others in an unsafe condition. For more than over a one month, I have been waiting for a replacement gear shift module that is currently on backorder. During this time, I have learned that numerous General Motors customers are experiencing the same issue and are also waiting for this part to become available. My primary concern is that this appears to be more than an isolated parts shortage. If so many vehicles require replacement of the same safety-related component, General Motors should be evaluating whether this issue warrants a safety recall or, at a minimum, notifying affected customers of the potential risks. The gear shift module is a critical component that affects the safe operation of a vehicle. Allowing customers to continue driving vehicles that may have a defective gear shift module without providing a safety notification or timely repair raises serious concerns regarding public safety. I respectfully request that the NHTSA investigate this matter and encourage General Motors to: Explain the reason for the extended backorder of this critical component. Provide customers with a reasonable timeline for obtaining replacement parts. Determine whether this issue should be addressed through a formal safety recall or customer safety notification. Offer appropriate assistance to customers whose vehicles have been affected by this prolonged delay. Customers should not be expected to operate vehicles that may present a potential safety risk while waiting indefinitely for a critical replacement part.
Engine stopped while driving. Truck made dinging noise. Dash had no warning lights. Dash said need to press start button to turn on. Truck went into neutral by itself. Was able to pull over and put it in park. Tried to push the start button and nothing. Dealership said it needs a new motor. The truck has less than 10k miles. The motor has already been replaced once before at 4070 miles.
Upon purchasing a used 2023 Silverado, on the first night of ownership, I found the headlight on the passenger side to be defective. The high beams activated approximately a full second slower than the driver's side. It took me a few days to confirm what I was seeing, where I immediately reached out to help from the Chevy dealership it was purchased from. After back and forth, the dealership refused to fix this saftey item as it was "still operational just not 100%" or something to that affect (not a direct quote). The extended warranty company doesn't typically cover headlight housing. The dealership locally says both headlights need replacement. Chevy Corp is involved, under claim 104164057. I've brought to their attention that I have found several reports of this defect online for similar vehicles and model year. My contention is that, particularly due to being the passenger side, this malfunction could lead to accidents and collisions due to distraction of troubleshooting, and the delay of lighting on the side where animals and night hazards typically come from. I've read online reports of these headlights may take up to 3 seconds between sides to both activate, with one side running slower than the other, and eventual failure where the switching mechanism will get stuck. A Chevy dealer confirmed the defect and recommended replacement of both headlights, at my cost, for approximately $4000. Chevy is still investigating and trying to find a conclusion with the dealership, but I contest that I have malfunctioning saftey equipment that could lead to harm or injury, and at the moment, both dealer and manufacturer have been unwilling to resolve the issue. The failure occurs both in auto-headlight and manual modes.
The infotainment system is experiencing a freezing screen, audio spikes, and constant restarts.
While shifting my vehicle from Park, a "Service Transmission" warning message appeared on the dashboard. The warning would illuminate and then disappear, but the vehicle continued to shift into the other gears. At the time the issue occurred, my truck had only 47,000 miles. I brought it to Blasius Chevrolet in [XXX] on XXX, for diagnosis. The dealership determined that the Transmission Control Assembly (Part # XXX) had failed and needed to be replaced. I was informed that this repair was not covered under the powertrain warranty because Chevrolet considers the Transmission Control Assembly to be excluded from powertrain coverage, and my basic warranty had already expired. I was quoted more than $900 for parts and labor. Initially, I was told the replacement part would arrive within a few days. Later, the technician stated that other Chevrolet dealerships had the part in stock. However, after contacting those dealerships, he was told they would not release their inventory. Chevrolet then advised that the part was on national backorder, with the earliest estimated availability of XXX. As a result, I have been without my truck for approximately one month, creating a significant hardship. After researching this issue, I found numerous reports from other Chevrolet owners experiencing the same failure involving the Transmission Control Assembly. The apparent frequency of these failures, combined with the nationwide backorder of the part, suggests this may be a widespread defect rather than normal wear and tear. I believe Chevrolet should either: Cover this repair under the powertrain warranty, as it directly affects the operation of the transmission, or Issue a recall or warranty extension if this is determined to be a common defect affecting vehicle safety and reliability. I am submitting this complaint because I am concerned that a failure of the Transmission Control Assembly could impact the safe operation of the vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
A valve on the 3.0L Duramax is allegedly sticking, causing the vehicle to go into limp mode or be inoperable. This is a known issue for GM and they have issued a service bulletin on it. Unfortunately, no dealers want to address the issue and now we are left with a vehicle that if we do not pay to repair, after it being ours for only 5 days, the vehicle will be unusable. This vehicle is under warranty still and this part is needed for operation. I believe this avoidance of a recall is harming customers and creating pay to drive schemes. This needs to be addressed before thousands of customers begin paying for a repair that GM knows is their fault.
MOMENTARY WHEEL LOCK UP. ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. Safety warning not to drive as could cause catastrophic damage to transmission. Same symptoms as noted on update GM bulletin N242454441. 12/24. Only extends warranty 2020- 2022 models up to 150,000 miles. Gen 3 Transmission Control Valve appears to be the fix... My vin not included in the extended mileage. I just turned 62,000. Just out of Standard Warranty.
When merging onto the interstate, the vehicle lost ability to shift, started lurching and would not accelerate. No prior transmission issues had occurred and the sudden loss of shifting capability was a significant safety risk. This was GM Case# 89525980 The Transmission Valve body assembly was faulty and gave out with no warning. It had to be towed into the GM dealer and repaired for $2519.79
I have a complaint about GM and my 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ regarding the radio / infotainment system failure after attempting a recommended software update, and the resulting degradation of installed safety features. On 08 MAY 2026, my infotainment system indicated a software update was necessary, so I followed the directions to complete the update. When the update was complete, my infotainment screen said there was a failure and to take it to the dealership for repair. The entire infotainement system is inoperative. The soonest appointment I could make was for 18 MAY 2026. On 18 MAY 2026, I took my Silverado into the dealership where I have it serviced to address the failure of my infotainment system. My service advisor informed me that I would need a new radio and that these radios are on a national backorder list. My advisor informed me that they have other customers who are experiencing the same issue and have been waiting for the replacement radio since January 2026. My advisor informs me that there is no estimated time of resolution. This defect inhibits safety features such as; use of OnStar, Google and Apple Maps that provide travel advisory hazards, parking camera views, vehicle systems status. Thank you.
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH with his wife and grandchildren inside the vehicle, the check engine warning light, collision warning light, and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the message "Braking System Failure - Do not exceed 62 MPH" and the trailer brake message was displayed. The contact continued to drive the vehicle; however, whenever the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to slow as intended. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that a software update was needed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 54,000.
Showing 20 of 5,252 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Chevrolet Silverado 1500
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 — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 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 — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has 5,252 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 1500 has 55 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. 143 of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500's 5,252 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — 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 — 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 1500 vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Chevrolet Silverado 1500 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 — 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 1500 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
Check a Chevrolet Silverado 1500 by state
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 1500.
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Chevrolet Silverado 1500 reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 reliable?
Poor. The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has 5,252 NHTSA owner complaints and 55 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 1500 years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2019 (1,054 complaints), 2017 (836 complaints), 2021 (781 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems?
Top reported issues: ENGINE (1,734 complaints); POWER TRAIN (1,527 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (885 complaints).
Does the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have recalls?
Yes — 55 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Chevrolet Silverado 1500. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.