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Chevrolet Silverado.

The best Chevrolet Silverado years are 2012, 2010, 2011, and no year drew much more than the average car's complaints. Across 2010-2022, it has a Lemon Index of 54, where 100 is the average car and lower is better.

Reliability by year, 2000 to 2025.

54Lemon Index · 100 = average car

Better than average. Whole model, 2010-2022: 1.9× fewer complaints than average.

Best year 2012 · Worst year 2000

Chevrolet Silverado
Photo shows a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado. Kevauto, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.

2000110about average2001751.3× fewer complaints2002881.1× fewer complaints200394about average200499about average2005721.4× fewer complaints2006462.2× fewer complaints2007442.3× fewer complaints2008313.2× fewer complaints2009244.2× fewer complaints2010156.7× fewer complaints2011205× fewer complaints2012147.1× fewer complaints2013205× fewer complaints2014871.1× fewer complaints2015801.2× fewer complaints2016701.4× fewer complaints2017601.7× fewer complaints2018372.7× fewer complaints2019751.3× fewer complaints2020541.9× fewer complaints2021621.6× fewer complaints2022761.3× fewer complaints202368early read · 1.5× fewer complaints2024112early read · 1.1× the complaints202546early read · 2.2× fewer complaints

Scores before 2010 are rough: fewer owners filed complaints back then.

Best years to buy

2012.

2012147.1× fewer complaints than average2010156.7× fewer complaints than average2011205× fewer complaints than average

Years to avoid

None.

No Chevrolet Silverado year drew much more than the average car's complaints.

Compare the Chevrolet Silverado.

Chevrolet SilveradoFord F-Seriesvs Ford F-SeriesChevrolet SilveradoRam pickupvs Ram pickupChevrolet SilveradoGMC Sierravs GMC SierraChevrolet SilveradoToyota Tacomavs Toyota Tacoma

vs Ford F-Series · vs Ram pickup · vs GMC Sierra · vs Toyota Tacoma · vs Toyota Tundra · vs Chevrolet Colorado

Quick answers.

Is the Chevrolet Silverado a good car?

Yes, it draws fewer complaints than the average car, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2010-2022: Lemon Index 54; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: the best is 2012 and the worst is 2000.

What are the best Chevrolet Silverado years to buy?

By owner complaints per car sold: 2012, 2010, 2011.

What Chevrolet Silverado years should you stay away from?

No Chevrolet Silverado year drew much more than an average car's complaints.

How many recalls does the Chevrolet Silverado have?

232 safety recalls across the 26 model years we track. Most: 2000 (20), 2020 (16), 2001 (15). Each year's page lists them.

What are the most common Chevrolet Silverado problems?

Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name transmission & drivetrain, electrical and engine most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.

Every year in one table
YearIndexCompared with averageComplaintsTop complaintRecallsCrash testMPG
2000110about average779service brakes, hydraulic (28%)20—12–17
2001751.3× fewer complaints than average569service brakes, hydraulic (21%)15—14–17
2002881.1× fewer complaints than average599service brakes, hydraulic (37%)15—11–16
200394about average525service brakes, hydraulic (21%)13—10–16
200499about average581electrical (42%)15—10–17
2005721.4× fewer complaints than average353electrical (31%)14—11–17
2006462.2× fewer complaints than average205service brakes, hydraulic (20%)10—14–17
2007442.3× fewer complaints than average240electrical (18%)5—15–17
2008313.2× fewer complaints than average150electrical (26%)7—14–17
2009244.2× fewer complaints than average66electrical (17%)3—15–21
2010156.7× fewer complaints than average60tires (20%)4—14–22
2011205× fewer complaints than average96body structure (15%)6★★★★☆14–21
2012147.1× fewer complaints than average66transmission & drivetrain (17%)4★★★★☆14–21
2013205× fewer complaints than average114body structure (17%)5★★★★☆14–21
2014871.1× fewer complaints than average504steering (25%)6★★★★★17–20
2015801.2× fewer complaints than average466brakes (30%)11★★★★★17–20
2016701.4× fewer complaints than average406brakes (36%)12★★★★★17–20
2017601.7× fewer complaints than average370brakes (25%)7★★★★★17–20
2018372.7× fewer complaints than average219transmission & drivetrain (24%)7★★★★★17–20
2019751.3× fewer complaints than average442brakes (30%)10★★★★★16–19
2020541.9× fewer complaints than average301brakes (24%)16★★★★★15–27
2021621.6× fewer complaints than average331engine (30%)8★★★★★16–27
2022761.3× fewer complaints than average488engine (30%)8★★★★★15–26
2023681.5× fewer complaints than average450engine (36%)4★★★★★15–26
20241121.1× the average car's complaints534engine (31%)6★★★★★15–21
2025462.2× fewer complaints than average161engine (40%)1★★★★★15–26

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. How it works

Chevrolet Silverado transmission problems by year →

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data