Chevrolet Silverado reliability and problems by year
Owners have filed 599 complaints about the Chevrolet Silverado with NHTSA since 2010, most often about transmission and drivetrain and engine. Chevrolet has filed 4 warranty extensions and 9 service campaigns for it, and there are 21 safety recalls on file.
From NHTSA's public data files, downloaded 2026-10-10.
How reliable is the Chevrolet Silverado? What NHTSA's records show
We don't give the Silverado a reliability score. NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. Here is what's on file for model years 2010 on.
- Owner complaints
- 599
- Filed with NHTSA, all model years
- Warranty extensions
- 4
- Filed by Chevrolet
- Service campaigns
- 9
- Filed by Chevrolet
- Safety recalls
- 21
- Each covers part of the model
Every model year compared
Complaints rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so a newer or rarer year will show fewer. Compare years of the Silverado with each other.
| Year | Complaints | Most named | Recalls | Warranty / campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 125 | Transmission and drivetrain (26%) | 0 | 10 |
| 2016 | 5 | Airbags (40%) | 2 | 0 |
| 2015 | 76 | Engine (20%) | 7 | 0 |
| 2014 | 124 | Transmission and drivetrain (30%) | 13 | 0 |
| 2013 | 64 | Airbags (17%) | 3 | 0 |
| 2012 | 68 | Airbags (22%) | 2 | 0 |
| 2011 | 75 | Body and structure (20%) | 2 | 2 |
| 2010 | 62 | Body and structure (19%) | 0 | 1 |
Look up one model year, or a VIN
See the complaints, recalls and warranty extensions for a single Silverado model year, with the typical mileage when owners reported each problem.
Acknowledged by Chevrolet
Warranty extensions and service campaigns Chevrolet filed with NHTSA for the Silverado, in its own words. A warranty extension means Chevrolet pays for the repair beyond the normal warranty.
- Warranty extensionJul 2019· Engine· model years 2017
N182198000 - Special Coverage Adjustment - Certain vehicles, equipped with a 5.3L or 6.2L engine, may have a condition which affects fuel injector function.
- Warranty extensionApr 2019· Brakes· model years 2017
N182202780 - Special Coverage Adjustment. In some circumstances, some 2014-2017 model year Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Sierra, and GMC Yukon vehicles may have a condition where customers may experience increased brake pedal…
- Warranty extensionMar 2019· Transmission and drivetrain· model years 2017
N182188930-01 - Special Coverage (Added Customer Reimbursement Labor Codes).
- Warranty extensionJun 2018· Seat belts· model years 2017
18127 - Special Coverage. In certain vehicles, if a driver repeatedly sits on the seat belt cable cover located at the base of the driver?s seat when entering the vehicle, it may cause the seat belt pretensioner to bend sharply over the seat side shield.
- Service campaignJan 2020· Transmission and drivetrain· model years 2017
Customer Satisfaction Program - Certain 2014-2019 model year Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles equipped with a power sliding rear window (RPO A48) may have areas of high electrical resistance on the rear defroster circuit.
- Service campaignJan 2018· Wheels· model years 2017
17456 - Customer Satisfaction Program. Certain vehicles may have a condition in which the rear wheel hub nut could become loose due to the rear wheel hub nut retainer not being formed properly.
- Service campaignSep 2017· Electrical system· model years 2017
Customer Satisfaction Program-17315. Certain vehicles, equipped with Power Take-off (PTO), may have a condition where the PTO option was not enabled.
- Service campaignAug 2017· Equipment and accessories· model years 2017
17308 -Customer Satisfaction Program. Certain vehicles owner manuals may be missing written instructions for using tether anchorages and child restraint anchorage systems in the vehicle. Print and insert revised owner manual pages included in this bulletin.
- Service campaignMar 2017· Engine· model years 2017
17105 - Customer Satisfaction Program. Certain vehicles, equipped with a DuraMax Diesel Engine (L5P) and Dual Generators (KHB), may have been built with an accessory drive belt idler pulley intended for other applications.
- Service campaignNov 2016· Brakes· model years 2017
16095 Customer Satisfaction Program. Certain vehicles may have a condition in which the left and right front brake caliper assemblies are suspect to a torque value below the specification of 100 Nm.
- Service campaignAug 2011· Engine and cooling· model years 2010
Some vehicles have an improper exhaust gas temperature sensor. This could lead to the engine light turning on and reduced engine power. *rm updated on 08.31.2011. *kb updated 10/4/11.
- Service campaignAug 2011· Engine and cooling· model years 2011
The fuel injection system may not operate as intended. If this occurs the malfunction light may illuminate, and vehicle speed could be limited. *rm updated 10/4/11.
- Service campaignMay 2011· Equipment and accessories· model years 2011
2011 Silverado/sierra. Some trucks may have been built without a noise label on the door.
What owners report most
The parts of the car owners named in their complaints, across every Silverado model year. Unverified, and not a failure rate.
- Transmission and drivetrain111 (19%)
- Engine77 (13%)
- Body and structure72 (12%)
- Electrical system63 (11%)
- Airbags61 (10%)
- Steering55 (9%)
- Other or unspecified53 (9%)
- Brakes51 (9%)
Safety recalls
21 recalls cover at least one Silverado model year. Each covers a range of VINs, not every car. Check one car at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
While entering the vehicle, the seat belt tensioner cable may be positioned such that the driver slides over it. This movement may result in the fatigue and separation of the cable.
The radio may intermittently fail to provide an audio warning when the key has been left in the ignition and the door is opened or when the driver does not fasten their seat belt.
In the affected vehicles, the mounting stud used to secure the air bag sensing and diagnostic Module (SDM) may be incorrectly positioned, and as a result, the SDM housing could fracture.
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Chevrolet Silverado HD, Chevrolet Express, and GMC Sierra HD vehicles, and model year 2013 GMC Savana compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles that fail to…
In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the "Start" position.
In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the "Start" position.
Due to an improper heat-treatment, the rear axle shaft may fracture while the vehicle is being driven.
Due to a problem with the EPS module, the affected vehicles may experience a sudden loss of power steering assist during vehicle operation.
In the affected vehicles, the chassis electronic module may be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short.
Due to an incomplete weld on the seat hook bracket assembly, the front seats in the affected vehicles may not stay secured in place during a high load condition such as a crash.
In the affected vehicles, an electrical signal short may cause the transfer case to shift to neutral without the driver's input.
The affected vehicles built with the vinyl flooring option do not have the retention features necessary to properly secure the floor mat on the driver's side.
The radios in the affected vehicles may become inoperative, and as a result, there would be no audible chime to notify the driver if the door is opened with the key in the ignition or no audible seat belt warning…
In the affected vehicles, the tie rod threaded attachment may not be properly tightened to the steering gear rack.
The subject vehicles may have a transmission oil cooler line that is not securely seated in the fitting.
And 6 more recalls on NHTSA.
NHTSA's own page for the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado has the complaint text and every document.
Common questions
Is the Chevrolet Silverado reliable?
We don't score reliability: NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. What's on file for model years 2010 on: 599 owner complaints, 4 warranty extensions and 9 service campaigns Chevrolet filed, and 21 safety recalls. The model years with the most complaints are 2017 (125), 2014 (124), 2015 (76). Whether a known problem was fixed on one car is what its service records show.
What are the most common problems with the Chevrolet Silverado?
Across every model year since 2010, owners' complaints to NHTSA most often name transmission and drivetrain (19%), engine (13%), body and structure (12%). Chevrolet has filed 4 warranty extensions covering the Silverado, listed on this page.
Which Silverado model years have the most complaints?
2017 (125), 2014 (124), 2015 (76). Complaint counts rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so compare years of the Silverado with each other rather than with other models.
Has Chevrolet extended the warranty on the Silverado?
Yes: engine (model years 2017); brakes (model years 2017); transmission and drivetrain (model years 2017), and 1 more. A dealer does a covered repair for free within the extended time or mileage.
How do I check recalls on a Silverado?
Enter the car's 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. That answers for one vehicle; the 21 recalls listed here are for the model, and each covers only part of it.