Chevrolet tools & data

By CarWhere Research · Updated November 3, 2026

CarWhere’s Chevrolet hub collects free research for Chevy shoppers and owners: 19 GM engine and transmission guides from the LS3 and LT1 to the 5.3 V8 and Duramax, 107 trim levels with dated base MSRPs, 55 known issues and recalls by model, plus a VIN decoder, RPO codes and pricing data. Every page lists its sources.

One Silverado model year can combine four engines, three cabs, three beds, several axle ratios and a dozen packages such as Z71 and Max Trailering, so the trim badge rarely tells the whole story. These pages explain what each engine, trim and generation offered and what to check on a specific vehicle before you buy it.

Decode a Chevrolet

Start from the VIN or the codes on the vehicle.

Free Chevrolet VIN decoderYear, model, body, engine and assembly plant from any 17-character Chevrolet VIN.Chevrolet window sticker by VINWhere to find the original Monroney label and what it shows.Chevrolet build sheet by VINThe factory-ordered RPO option codes recorded for a VIN, decoded into readable equipment names.Corvette build sheet by VINFactory-ordered options for C5–C8 Corvettes, decoded from the VIN.GM options by VINHow to look up the options a GM vehicle was ordered with, and what the VIN can and cannot show.GM RPO option codesWhat common RPO codes such as Z71, NHT and L84 mean.Chevrolet paint codesFactory colors with their codes and where to find them on the vehicle.Dealer invoice price by VINEstimate what the dealer paid for a specific new Chevrolet.

GM engines and transmissions

Years, GM-rated output, known problems and recalls.

GM engines guideNew19 engines and transmissions shared across Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac.LS3 6.2L V8NewThe 2008–2015 Corvette and Camaro SS V8: output by year and what to check.LT1 6.2L V8NewThe Gen V small-block in the C7 Corvette and Camaro SS.LS7 7.0L V8NewThe Corvette Z06 and Camaro Z/28 engine.5.3L V8 (Vortec, L84)NewGen III to Gen V 5.3 truck V8s, AFM/DFM lifter issues and output by year.6.2L V8 (L86, L87)NewThe truck and SUV 6.2 including the L87 engine recall.6.6L DuramaxNewLB7 to L5P: every Duramax generation compared.3.0L DuramaxNewThe inline-six diesel in half-ton trucks and full-size SUVs.2.7L TurboMaxNewThe turbo four in the Silverado, Sierra, Colorado and Canyon.10-speed automatic (10L80)NewThe 10-speed in current trucks and SUVs.8-speed automatic (8L90)NewThe 8-speed and its torque-converter shudder bulletins.

Chevrolet trim levels

Current and previous-generation trims with dated base MSRPs, engines and packages.

Chevrolet trim levels explainedNew107 trims across 9 Chevrolet models.Silverado 1500 trim levels & towingNewThe 2026 Silverado 1500 comes in nine trims: WT, Custom, Custom Trail Boss, LT, RST, LT Trail Boss, LTZ, High Country and ZR2.Silverado HD (2500HD/3500HD) trim levels & towingNewGM rates the 2026 Silverado 2500 HD at up to 20,000 lb conventional with the 6.6L Duramax and Max Trailering Package, or 16,000 lb with the 6.6L gas V8.Tahoe trim levels & towingNewThe refreshed 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe comes in six trims: LS, LT, RST, Z71, Premier and High Country.Suburban trim levels & towingNewThe 2025 Chevrolet Suburban shares the Tahoe's six trims (LS, LT, RST, Z71, Premier and High Country) and engines, but rides on a longer body with about 144.5 cubic feet of maximum cargo space.Colorado trim levels & towingNewThe 2026 Chevrolet Colorado comes in five trims: Work Truck, LT, Trail Boss, Z71 and ZR2, all Crew Cab short-box trucks with a 310-hp, 430 lb-ft 2.7L TurboMax four and eight-speed automatic.Traverse trim levelsNewThe 2026 Chevrolet Traverse comes in four trims: LT, Z71, High Country and RS, all with a 328-hp 2.5L turbo four and eight-speed automatic.Equinox trim levelsNewThe 2025-and-newer Chevrolet Equinox has three trims: LT, RS and ACTIV.Corvette trim levelsNewThe mid-engine C8 Corvette is sold as separate models (Stingray, E-Ray, Z06, ZR1 and ZR1X), each with equipment tiers: 1LT/2LT/3LT on the Stingray and 1LZ/2LZ/3LZ on the others.Camaro trim levelsNewThe final 2024 Camaro came in seven trims: 1LT, 2LT and 3LT with a 335-hp 3.6L V6; LT1, 1SS and 2SS with a 455-hp 6.2L V8; and the 650-hp supercharged ZL1.

Buying a used Chevrolet

What goes wrong, which years drew complaints, and how values hold up.

Chevrolet known issues by modelNew55 documented problems and recalls across 6 models.Silverado 1500 problemsNewKnown issues by generation and engine, with NHTSA recall numbers.Silverado HD problemsNewKnown issues by generation and engine, with NHTSA recall numbers.Tahoe problemsNewKnown issues by generation and engine, with NHTSA recall numbers.Equinox problemsNewKnown issues by generation and engine, with NHTSA recall numbers.Is Chevrolet reliable?Chevrolet reliability from NHTSA complaints per vehicle sold, by model.Silverado 1500 years to avoidModel years ranked by owner-complaint volume.Best Silverado 1500 yearsThe strongest model years to buy used.How long do Chevrolets last?Share of used Chevrolets past 150,000 and 200,000 miles, by model.Silverado 1500 depreciationMedian asking price by model year vs new.Silverado 1500 dealer invoice priceWhat dealers pay, by trim.Silverado 1500 towing capacityMaximum trailer weight by engine and configuration.Chevrolet specs by modelDimensions, capacities and powertrain specs for Chevrolet model years.Chevrolet model historiesHow Chevrolet’s best-known models evolved, generation by generation.Find a Chevrolet for saleSearch live Chevrolet listings from dealers nationwide.

Chevrolet research by model

Chevrolet models with links to their trim levels, known issues, years to avoid, depreciation and build sheets
Model	Trim levels	Known issues	Years to avoid	Depreciation	Build sheet
Chevrolet Silverado 1500	Silverado 1500 trims	Silverado 1500 problems	Silverado 1500 years to avoid	Silverado 1500 depreciation	Silverado 1500 build sheet
Chevrolet Silverado HD	Silverado HD trims	Silverado HD problems	Silverado HD years to avoid	Silverado HD depreciation	Silverado HD build sheet
Chevrolet Tahoe	Tahoe trims	Tahoe problems	Tahoe years to avoid	Tahoe depreciation	Tahoe build sheet
Chevrolet Suburban	Suburban trims	—	Suburban years to avoid	Suburban depreciation	Suburban build sheet
Chevrolet Colorado	Colorado trims	Colorado problems	Colorado years to avoid	Colorado depreciation	Colorado build sheet
Chevrolet Traverse	Traverse trims	Traverse problems	Traverse years to avoid	Traverse depreciation	Traverse build sheet
Chevrolet Equinox	Equinox trims	Equinox problems	Equinox years to avoid	Equinox depreciation	Equinox build sheet
Chevrolet Corvette	Corvette trims	—	Corvette years to avoid	Corvette depreciation	Corvette build sheet
Chevrolet Camaro	Camaro trims	—	—	—	Camaro build sheet
Chevrolet Malibu	—	—	Malibu years to avoid	—	—
Chevrolet Trax	—	—	Trax years to avoid	Trax depreciation	—
Chevrolet Trailblazer	—	—	Trailblazer years to avoid	Trailblazer depreciation	—
Chevrolet Cruze	—	—	Cruze years to avoid	—	—

Know exactly how your Chevrolet was ordered from the factory.

The CarWhere build sheet decodes a Chevrolet VIN into the factory-ordered option codes (RPOs) on record for that vehicle — engine, transmission, axle and the packages it was ordered with. $9.99, instant.

Chevrolet build sheet by VIN

Frequently asked questions

How do I find out what options my Chevrolet has?

GM records each vehicle’s factory-ordered options as three-character RPO codes against the VIN, and prints them on the glovebox Service Parts Identification label when it is present. The original window sticker or a build sheet decoded from the VIN lists the trim, engine and packages; the free VIN decoder shows basics such as engine, body and plant.

What is an RPO code?

RPO stands for Regular Production Option. GM uses three-character codes such as Z71 (off-road package), L84 (5.3L V8) or NHT (Max Trailering) to identify the options and equipment a vehicle was ordered with.

Which trucks and SUVs are in the 6.2L V8 recall?

NHTSA campaign 25V274 (2025-04) covers 2021–2024 Cadillac Escalade/ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon/Yukon XL with the 6.2L V8 (L87). Run the VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup to see whether a specific vehicle is included.

What is the difference between the LS and LT engines?

LS is GM’s Gen III and Gen IV small-block V8 family (1997–2017 in various models), and LT is the Gen V family introduced for the 2014 Corvette and trucks, with direct injection and variable valve timing. The GM engines guide covers each version by year.

How do I check a Chevrolet for recalls?

Enter the 17-character VIN on NHTSA’s recall lookup or Chevrolet’s owner site, or ask a dealer to run it. Recall repairs are free. CarWhere’s known-issues pages list major recall campaign numbers by model and generation.

Sources

Each linked page lists its own detailed sources. The hub's figures come from these datasets and references.

CarWhere GM engines dataset (19 engines and transmissions) — CarWhere
CarWhere Chevrolet trim-levels dataset (107 trims) — CarWhere
CarWhere Chevrolet known-issues dataset (55 issues) — CarWhere
GM newsroom — General Motors
NHTSA recalls and vPIC VIN decoding — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Independent reference compiled by CarWhere — not affiliated with or endorsed by General Motors. Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, Corvette, Duramax, Vortec and the model names are trademarks of their owner.