Chevrolet Silverado Problems by Year

We compared every Chevrolet Silverado model year from 1995–2017 using 8,387 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, 46 recalls and federal defect investigations. The years to avoid are 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 1999, which drew far more complaints than other Silverado years at the same age. The best years are 2016, 2010 and 2013.

23model years
8,387complaints
46recalls
2002, 2003worst years
2016, 2010best years

Complaints by model year

’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’172631862722791.7k1.3k8777106956223161821831627662756864124765125
Owner complaints per model year, Chevrolet Silverado. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).
YearComplaintsvs. typical*RecallsTop problemVerdict
2017125−29%—TransmissionAverage
20165−96%2AirbagGood
201576−58%7EngineGood
2014124−29%13TransmissionAverage
201364−64%3AirbagGood
201268−62%2AirbagGood
201175−58%2BodyGood
201062−65%—EngineGood
200976−59%—ElectricalGood
2008162−13%1AirbagAverage
2007183typical1AirbagAverage
2006182typical4BrakeAverage
20053161.5×8BrakeCaution
20046222.9×8BrakeAvoid
20036953.1×6BrakeAvoid
20027103.5×4BrakeAvoid
20018774.6×4BrakeAvoid
20001,3056.8×8BrakeAvoid
19991,6608.9×5BrakeAvoid
19982791.6×—BrakeCaution
19972721.5×—BrakeCaution
1996186typical—Window & WiperAverage
19952631.5×—Window & WiperCaution

* Complaints compared with the median Silverado year at the same age, so new and old years are judged fairly. How this works.

Most common Chevrolet Silverado problems

Latest Chevrolet Silverado recalls

Seat belts

NHTSA recall 16V-209 · Apr 12, 2016 · 895,232 vehicles

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks manufactured January 29, 2013, to January 21, 2015. While entering the vehicle, the seat belt tensioner cable may be positioned such that the driver slides over it.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will modify the vehicles to prevent the tensioner from being damaged. Any tensioner that has already been damaged will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2016.

Electrical system › Software

NHTSA recall 16V-084 · Feb 11, 2016 · 139 vehicles

Genera Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, Malibu, Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles. 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.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on March 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at…

Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive

NHTSA recall 15V-830 · Dec 10, 2015 · 90 vehicles

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pick up trucks manufactured October 13, 2015, to October 14, 2015. 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…

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will have the mounting stud repositioned and the SDM replaced, free of charge. The recall began December 2, 2015.

Equipment › Other › Labels

NHTSA recall 13V-544 · Oct 30, 2015 · 1,808 vehicles

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 comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No.

Remedy: GM will notify owners and will send them a replacement label, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782.

Electrical system › Ignition

NHTSA recall 15V-640 · Oct 9, 2015 · 3,073 vehicles

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks manufactured January 24, 2014, to February 26, 2014, 2015 Chevrolet Suburban vehicles manufactured February 12, 2014 and Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles manufactured February 6, 2014, to February 13, 2014.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on November 20, 2015.

All 46 Chevrolet Silverado recalls by year →

Frequently asked questions

What years of the Chevrolet Silverado should you avoid?

2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 1999 and 2000 — these years have the most complaints relative to other Silverado years at the same age, led by brakes problems in the 2002.

What is the best year for the Chevrolet Silverado?

2016 has the fewest complaints compared with other Silverado years at the same age, followed by 2010 and 2013. Newer years can look better simply because fewer complaints have come in yet, so we compare like with like.

What are the most common Chevrolet Silverado problems?

Across all years, owners report the most problems with the brakes (3,368), transmission & drivetrain (743) and electrical system (711). Brake complaints peak in the 1999 model year.

How many recalls has the Chevrolet Silverado had?

46 recalls across 1995–2017. The model year with the most is 2014. See all Chevrolet Silverado recalls by year.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.