Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Best and Worst Years (2010–2025)
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 years to avoid are 2014, 2015, 2019, and 2021, based on NHTSA complaint indexes of 100, 87, 80, and 93. The best years, with the lowest complaint indexes, are 2010 (13), 2012 (0), 2013 (7), and 2025 (20).
Avoid 2014Avoid 2015Avoid 2019Avoid 2021Best 2010Best 2012Best 2013Best 2025
- Model years
- 16
- 2010–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 10,665
- Recall campaigns
- 70
- Crashes reported
- 394
- Fires reported
- 124
- Top problem area
- Engine
Silverado 1500 Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Best | 13 | 423 | 9 | 3 | 3 | Airbags | — | — |
| 2011 | Good | 33 | 638 | 29 | 6 | 6 | Airbags | — | 4★ |
| 2012 | Best | 0 | 284 | 16 | 5 | 4 | Airbags | — | 4★ |
| 2013 | Best | 7 | 365 | 16 | 2 | 5 | Airbags | — | 4★ |
| 2014 | Avoid | 100 | 1,560 | 75 | 18 | 19 ! | Brakes | — | 5★ |
| 2015 | Avoid | 87 | 1,181 | 61 | 16 | 18 | Brakes | — | 5★ |
| 2016 | Good | 40 | 799 | 43 | 10 | 13 ! | Brakes | — | 5★ |
| 2017 | Caution | 53 | 836 | 49 | 15 | 6 ! | Brakes | — | 5★ |
| 2018 | Good | 27 | 520 | 10 | 4 | 7 | Transmission & Powertrain | — | 5★ |
| 2019 | Avoid | 80 | 1,082 | 27 | 8 | 10 | Engine | — | 5★ |
| 2020 | Caution | 67 | 730 | 13 | 9 | 12 | Engine | 19 | 5★ |
| 2021 | Avoid | 93 | 825 | 20 | 12 | 8 | Engine | 17.5 | 5★ |
| 2022 | Caution | 73 | 630 | 10 | 6 | 6 | Engine | 18 | 5★ |
| 2023 | Good | 47 | 382 | 7 | 6 | 3 | Engine | 19 | 5★ |
| 2024 | Caution | 60 | 310 | 8 | 0 | 2 | Engine | 18 | 5★ |
| 2025 | Best | 20 | 100 | 1 | 4 | 0 | Engine | 18 | 5★ |
Silverado 1500 years to avoid: what went wrong
2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Index 100 · 1,560 complaints · 19 recalls
The 2014 Silverado 1500 has the highest complaint index (100) and the most complaints (1,560) of any model year, with 19 recalls including one do-not-drive recall. Brakes led owner reports at 29% of complaints with a median failure mileage of 67,000, followed by steering at 27% (63,000 miles) and electrical issues at 25% (60,940 miles). NHTSA also logged 75 crashes, 18 fires, 41 injuries, and 4 deaths tied to this model year, making it the worst year in the lineup relative to other Silverado 1500 years.
2014 brakes problems →2014 steering problems →2014 electrical system problems →
2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Index 93 · 825 complaints · 8 recalls
The 2021 Silverado 1500 has a complaint index of 93 with 825 complaints and 8 recalls. Engine issues make up 52% of complaints with a median failure mileage of 62,248, and transmission and powertrain problems account for 29% at 64,000 miles. Electrical system complaints (14%) showed a much lower median mileage of 7,500. Recalls covered transmission control software and engine inspections. NHTSA logged 20 crashes and 12 fires for this model year, keeping it among the years to avoid relative to other Silverado 1500 years.
2021 engine problems →2021 transmission & powertrain problems →2021 electrical system problems →
2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Index 87 · 1,181 complaints · 18 recalls
The 2015 Silverado 1500 carries a complaint index of 87 with 1,181 complaints and 18 recalls. Brakes dominate owner reports at 34% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 56,000. Electrical system problems (16%) and steering issues (15%) followed, with median mileages of 46,000 and 49,000. Recalls covered airbag inflators and seat belt pretensioners. NHTSA data shows 61 crashes, 16 fires, 35 injuries, and 1 death for this year, placing it among the worst relative to other Silverado 1500 model years.
2015 brakes problems →2015 electrical system problems →2015 steering problems →
2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Index 80 · 1,082 complaints · 10 recalls
The 2019 Silverado 1500 has a complaint index of 80 with 1,082 complaints and 10 recalls. Engine problems lead at 39% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of just 65,500, while transmission and powertrain issues (30%) failed at a much lower median of 12,000 miles. Brakes and electrical issues each showed very low median failure mileages near 8,000. Recalls addressed spare tire compatibility and tire curing defects. NHTSA recorded 27 crashes and 8 fires for this year.
2019 engine problems →2019 transmission & powertrain problems →2019 brakes problems →
Most common Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group. A complaint naming two components counts once in each.
- Engine2,802 (26%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2,212 (21%)
- Brakes2,056 (19%)
- Electrical System1,791 (17%)
- Other1,358 (13%)
- Steering1,091 (10%)
- Airbags943 (9%)
- Structure & Body716 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires477 (4%)
- Fuel System419 (4%)
Frequently asked questions
- What years of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA complaint and recall data, the years to avoid are 2014, 2015, 2019, and 2021, with complaint indexes of 100, 87, 80, and 93 respectively — the highest among all 16 model years covered.
- What are the best Chevrolet Silverado 1500 model years?
- The best years relative to the rest of the lineup are 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2025, with complaint indexes of 13, 0, 7, and 20, the lowest recorded.
- What is the most common problem with the Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
- Across all 16 model years, engine issues account for 26% of the 10,665 total complaints, followed by transmission and powertrain problems at 21% and brakes at 19%.
- Is the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 reliable?
- The 2014 Silverado 1500 has the worst complaint index (100) of any year, with 1,560 complaints, 19 recalls, and one do-not-drive recall, making it the year to avoid relative to other Silverado 1500 model years.
- Does the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have engine recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA lists a recall covering 2021-2024 Silverado 1500 trucks with the 6.2L V8 engine, along with transmission control software recalls affecting 2020-2022 model years.