No segment is more important for American automakers than the full-size truck segment. A 2023 report by Reuters points out that GM could bring in billions of dollars in profits on gasoline-powered trucks by 2035, even at a time when it looked as though the entire market was switching to EVs. With such a focus on profits, it is extremely important that these cash cows be reliable long-term, so as not to incur expensive recalls that chip away at profits. With that many pickup trucks on the road, it’s likely there are some issues, and sites like carcomplaints.com have compiled a list of the best and worst years to buy.
Car Complaints compiles both NHTSA complaints and its own user-submitted complaints to illustrate vehicle reliability concerns over time.
Most Complaints: 2014
One quick check of the graph shows a massive spike of complaints in 2014 at 313; this is not without some nuance. The number one complaint for the year is A/C & heater problems, with 84 instances of failing A/C units or odd odor. An annoyance more than anything, and hardly something that should sway you completely away from a particular vehicle or model year.
At 50 complaints, the number two complaint was electrical problems, though NHTSA cites over 300 such issues for the model year. Reports from NHTSA also claim brakes (444) and steering (417) to be the largest issues for the 2014 Silverado.
The number one singular issue, per carcomplaints.com users, was the A/C failing, which carried an average repair price of $900 and appeared most often around the 67,000-mile mark.
Further Trouble: 2015
The following year, 2015, saw significantly fewer complaints at 216 in total. Per user-reported complaints on the site, transmission, AC/Heat, and engine problems ranked one, two, and three, respectively. The number one NHTSA complaint was brake problems, down slightly to 400 from the prior year.
Engine and steering problems also rank among the top NHTSA concerns for 2015 Chevy Silverado models.
The number one singular issue, per carcomplaints.com users, was the transmission shifting poorly, which carried an average repair price of $4,600 and appeared most often around the 46,000-mile mark.
New Generation, New Problems: 2019
The current generation Chevy Silverado debuted as a 2019 model, bringing with it a new exterior design along with new powertrain options:
- 4.3L V-6 with Active Fuel Management and a six-speed automatic
- 5.3L V-8 with Active Fuel Management and a six-speed automatic
- New 2.7L turbo I-4 with Active Fuel Management and an eight-speed automatic
- New 5.3L V-8 with new Dynamic Fuel Management and an eight-speed automatic
- New 6.2L V-8 with new Dynamic Fuel Management and a 10-speed automatic
- New 3.0L I-6 turbodiesel and a 10-speed automatic
User-reported complaints listed the top three issues as transmission, engine, and brakes, respectively. However, NHTSA reports cite the top issues as engine, drivetrain, brakes, and electrical issues.
The number one singular issue, per carcomplaints.com users, was the transmission slamming into gear, which carried an average repair price of $6,000 and appeared most often around the 24,000-mile mark.
So Far, the Best Year: 2025
With these models just now getting up in miles, it is hard to definitively say the 2025 model year is the best to buy for overall reliability, but there is something to be said for just how few complaints have accumulated on the site thus far.
No strong trends appear, but engine trouble is the largest reported issue from both user-reported data and NHTSA reporting.
Car Complaints’ Worst Year: 2017
216 complaints on the site make 2017 on par with the 2015 model year, though based on the analyzed data on the site, Car Complaints lists the 2017 model year as the worst of the bunch.
113 complaints from the transmission alone have earned the 2017 Chevy Silverado the website’s “Beware of the Clunker” badge.
NHTSA reporting ranks brake issues, drivetrain issues, and engine issues as the top 3, respectively.
The number one singular issue, per carcomplaints.com users, was the transmission surging and jerking, which carried an average repair price of $4,100 and appeared most often around the 22,000-mile mark.
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