Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Reliability
Quick answer
Across model years 2009–2026, owners filed 11,493 complaints about the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with NHTSA, most often about the engine and the transmission, and NHTSA lists 54 recall campaigns. In CarWhere's ranking of 8 pickup trucks by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022, serious complaints weighted double and adjusted for vehicle age), the Chevrolet Silverado line places 2nd: one of the lowest complaint rates in that group. CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2014 and 2019–2022 as years to avoid and rates 2009 and 2011–2013 as better years. Model years 2024–2026 have had less than three years on the road, so their complaint counts are still building.
By CarWhere Research · Last reviewed 2026-11-10 · Source: NHTSA
11,493
NHTSA owner complaints (2009–2026)
414
Complaints citing a crash
54
Recall campaigns
5
Years to avoid
Most-reported Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems
NHTSA owner complaints for model years 2009–2026, by the component owners named, filed 2009–2026. A complaint can name more than one component. The last three columns count complaints that report a crash, a fire or an injury.
| Component | Complaints | Share | Crash | Fire | Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2,596 | 23% | 20 | 36 | 12 |
| Powertrain / transmission | 2,305 | 20% | 34 | 6 | 14 |
| Service brakes | 1,806 | 16% | 139 | 3 | 30 |
| Electrical system | 1,786 | 16% | 37 | 79 | 18 |
| Air bags | 1,192 | 10% | 165 | 3 | 116 |
| Steering | 1,113 | 10% | 53 | 2 | 19 |
| Body structure | 661 | 6% | 44 | 10 | 20 |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 402 | 3% | 6 | 3 | 3 |
Of all 11,493 complaints, 414 (4%) report a crash, 137 (1%) a fire and 204 (2%) an injury.
For 2020-and-newer models (3,235 complaints), the most-reported areas are the engine (1,350), the transmission (932), the electrical system (536), the brakes (272).
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 complaints by model year
Where problems concentrate. Year flags come from CarWhere's years-to-avoid analysis, which compares each Silverado 1500 model year with the model's other years. The full year-by-year verdicts are on the years-to-avoid page.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 521 | 3 | Air bags | Better year |
| 2010 | 425 | 0 | Air bags | — |
| 2011 | 640 | 4 | Air bags | Better year |
| 2012 | 284 | 2 | Air bags | Better year |
| 2013 | 366 | 2 | Air bags | Better year |
| 2014 | 1,562 | 6 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2015 | 1,193 | 11 | Service brakes | — |
| 2016 | 801 | 12 | Service brakes | — |
| 2017 | 839 | 7 | Powertrain / transmission | — |
| 2018 | 523 | 7 | Powertrain / transmission | — |
| 2019 | 1,104 | 10 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2020 | 754 | 12 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2021 | 859 | 8 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2022 | 661 | 6 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2023 | 395 | 3 | Engine | — |
| 2024(new) | 323 | 2 | Engine | — |
| 2025(new) | 111 | 0 | Engine | — |
| 2026(new) | 132 | 3 | Engine | — |
Raw counts are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, and older years have had longer to collect complaints. Years marked "new" have had less than three years on the road. — = not flagged either way.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 recalls
NHTSA lists 54 recall campaigns across Chevrolet Silverado 1500 model years 2009–2026. The ones below cover the most model years (campaigns with a park advisory first). Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Model years | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16V256000Apr 28, 2016 | 2016 and 2017 | Suspension — front / control arm | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2016 Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Sierra, GMC Yukon and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. The front…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
| 26V289000May 7, 2026 | 2026 | Powertrain / transmission — transfer case (4-wheel drive) | General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
| 19V761000Oct 24, 2019 | 2014–2018 | Service brakes — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip / wheel speed… | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon, and 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel… |
| 19V645000Sep 6, 2019 | 2014–2018 | Service brakes — power assist / vacuum | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over… |
| 25V274000Apr 24, 2025 | 2021–2024 | Engine & cooling — engine / hard parts internal/mechanical | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine. The connecting rod… |
Best and worst Silverado 1500 years
- Years to avoid: 2014 and 2019–2022.
- Better years: 2009 and 2011–2013.
- 2024–2026: too new to judge fully; complaint counts are still building.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 years to avoid: the verdict for every model year →
What to inspect on a used Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Based on the components owners report most. None of these replaces an independent pre-purchase inspection.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Recalls: check the VIN for open recalls; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any Chevrolet Silverado 1500 can be better or worse than the model's record. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 reliability FAQ
Is the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 reliable?
Across model years 2009–2026, owners filed 11,493 complaints about the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with NHTSA, most often about the engine and the transmission, and NHTSA lists 54 recall campaigns. In CarWhere's ranking of 8 pickup trucks by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022, serious complaints weighted double and adjusted for vehicle age), the Chevrolet Silverado line places 2nd: one of the lowest complaint rates in that group. CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2014 and 2019–2022 as years to avoid and rates 2009 and 2011–2013 as better years. Model years 2024–2026 have had less than three years on the road, so their complaint counts are still building.
What are the most common Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems?
In NHTSA owner complaints for model years 2009–2026, the most-reported areas are the engine (2,596), the transmission (2,305), the brakes (1,806) and the electrical system (1,786). For 2020-and-newer models, the most-reported areas are the engine, the transmission and the electrical system. One complaint can name more than one component, and complaints are unverified owner reports.
What years of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 should you avoid?
CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2014 and 2019–2022 as years to avoid and rates 2009 and 2011–2013 as better years. Each model year is compared only with other Silverado 1500 years: complaints are adjusted for time on the road, and serious ones (engine, transmission, brakes, steering, fuel system, or a reported crash, fire or injury) count double, with a smaller adjustment for recall campaigns.
How long does a Chevrolet Silverado 1500 last?
In CarWhere's lifespan study, 2.9% of 78,406 used Silverado 1500 listings in the US had passed 200,000 miles and 11.4% had passed 150,000. Among those 10+ years old, 15.1% are past 200,000 miles. Maintenance history matters more than the model average for any one car.
How many recalls does the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have?
NHTSA lists 54 recall campaigns covering Chevrolet Silverado 1500 model years 2009–2026. The one covering the most model years is 16V256000 (suspension, 2016 and 2017). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How do I check a specific used Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
How we measure Silverado 1500 reliability
- Complaints are every NHTSA owner complaint filed for the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, model years 2009–2026, across all the body-style and trim names NHTSA files them under, de-duplicated by complaint number. They are unverified owner reports.
- The pickup trucks ranking uses the same complaints and sales, weights serious complaints double and adjusts for vehicle age, then compares 8 models. See the full ranking.
- Year flags compare each Silverado 1500 model year only with other Silverado 1500 years, so they say which years to prefer, not how the Silverado 1500 compares with other models.
- This is federal complaint and recall data, not a survey and not comparable to Consumer Reports or J.D. Power ratings. It does not estimate repair costs.
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints and NHTSA recall campaigns (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-11-10; published U.S. sales figures; CarWhere years-to-avoid analysis.
More Chevrolet Silverado 1500 research
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 reliability by model year: