Is the Chevrolet Silverado more reliable than the Ram 1500?

Yes, the Silverado has a clear edge. It draws 3.8 complaints per 10,000 sold against 11.9 for the Ram 1500, and it has fewer recalls. Its main weakness is engine lifter and camshaft failure. The Ram's weak points are stalling, steering loss, and electrical faults.

Which truck has more recalls, Silverado or Ram 1500?

The Ram 1500 has more. Federal recall records show 107 recalls across model years 2018 to 2026, against 91 for the Silverado. Ram owners also report recall parts out of stock for months, including for the steering column control module recall.

What goes wrong with the Silverado engine?

Collapsed lifters and scored camshafts lead the complaints on both the 5.3L and 6.2L engines. Owners report ticking, misfires, and sudden power loss on the highway, mostly between about 62,735 and 88,643 miles. Many face an engine rebuild or replacement. Cracked oil cooler lines are a second pattern.

Why do Ram 1500 trucks stall?

Owners report the engine dying at low speed as the truck slows or turns. The transmission then shifts to park and the parking brake sets. Some link it to auto start/stop or the eTorque system. Dealers often cannot reproduce it, and some trucks stall even after a software update.

Which Silverado and Ram years should I avoid?

Avoid 2019 and 2021 on both trucks, since each lists them as its weakest years. The newest years look better, but they have had less time to collect complaints, so check recall status and repair history on any specific truck.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Chevrolet Silverado vs Ram 1500: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Chevrolet Silverado

Good

Ram 1500

Good

Reliability favors the Chevrolet Silverado over the Ram 1500 by a clear margin. Owners file far fewer complaints per truck sold, and the Silverado has fewer recalls. The Ram's low-speed stalling and sudden steering loss pull it down, though Silverado engines have their own costly failures.

How Do the Chevrolet Silverado and Ram 1500 Generations Compare?

Fourth-generation trucks (T1XX) cover most of the Silverado years you are likely to price. That generation began with the 2019 model year, which is also one of the weakest years, so a redesign did not bring a clean start. It ran through 2023 and received a refresh in 2022. The 2018 model year belongs to the earlier third generation (K2XX), so it is a different truck from the 2019 and later models. Judge each year on its own complaint history instead of assuming newer means better.

Verdict

The Chevrolet Silverado is more reliable than the Ram 1500, scoring 73/100 vs 68/100.

Reliability favors the Chevrolet Silverado by a clear margin. Both trucks stand well, but the Silverado draws far fewer owner complaints for the number sold, and it carries fewer federal recalls across the same nine model years. The Ram 1500 has the heavier steering problem, with many more crash-linked reports. The Silverado is not clean. Its lifter and camshaft failures can mean an engine rebuild. Even so, the Ram's stalling, steering, and electrical faults show up more often and are harder for dealers to fix.

Key Differences

1Chevrolet Silverado has 16 fewer total recalls
2Chevrolet Silverado has 8.1 fewer complaints per 10k sold
3Chevrolet Silverado scores 5 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

3Chevrolet Silverado

—

0Ram 1500

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateSafety Rating

Chevrolet Silverado vs Ram 1500: Which Is More Reliable?

Chevrolet Silverado vs Ram 1500 at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Chevrolet Silverado	Ram 1500
Reliability Score	73/100	68/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	91	107
Complaints per 10k Sold	3.8	11.9
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	8	1

What Are the Common Problems With the Chevrolet Silverado and Ram 1500?

Mechanical wear defines the Silverado, while electronics and stalling define the Ram. Collapsed lifters and scored camshafts on the 5.3L and 6.2L cause ticking, misfires, and sudden power loss on the highway, and cracked oil cooler lines can dump the oil. On the Ram, the engine dies at low speed as the truck slows, then the transmission jumps to park. Failed control modules, battery drain, and sudden power steering loss add to it. Both trucks have crash-linked reports in steering and brakes, but the Ram's steering count is 30 against 7 for the Silverado.

Chevrolet Silverado vs Ram 1500 common problem areas comparison
Component	Chevrolet Silverado	Ram 1500
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.5Very Low	2.6Low
POWER TRAIN	1Very Low	1.5Low
ENGINE	0.7Very Low	1.2Low
STEERING	0.2Very Low	1.6Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.2Very Low	0.9Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.2Very Low	0.6Very Low
STRUCTURE	0.1Very Low	0.4Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	0.4Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—None	0.4Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	0.3Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	0.2Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	0.1Very Low
SUSPENSION	—None	—None
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES	—None	—None
WHEELS	—None	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	—None
SEAT BELTS	—None	—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	—None
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Chevrolet Silverado vs Ram 1500 Reliability Compare by Year?

Chevrolet Silverado vs Ram 1500 year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Chevrolet Silverado	Ram 1500	Edge
2026	88/1000R / 0C	74/1002R / 18C	Chevrolet Silverado
2025	85/1001R / 76C	73/1005R / 186C	Chevrolet Silverado
2024	73/1009R / 367C	77/1004R / 57C	Ram 1500
2023	75/1004R / 299C	72/10010R / 145C	Chevrolet Silverado
2022	70/1008R / 514C	64/10015R / 506C	Chevrolet Silverado
2021	67/10013R / 720C	63/10014R / 611C	Chevrolet Silverado
2020	67/10020R / 693C	65/10013R / 559C	Chevrolet Silverado
2019	64/10020R / 1043C	58/10029R / 1364C	Chevrolet Silverado
2018	70/10016R / 551C	64/10015R / 605C	Chevrolet Silverado

Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Chevrolet Silverado scored 75/100 and the 2024 Ram 1500 scored 77/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Chevrolet Silverado vs the Ram 1500?

Choose the Silverado if you want the lower complaint rate and expect to keep the truck for years. Have a mechanic listen for engine ticking before you buy, because the lifter and camshaft failures often land just after the warranty ends. Avoid 2019 and 2021, the weakest years. The newest years, 2025 and 2026, rank as the strongest, but they have had little time to collect complaints, so that is not proof of anything. Choose the Ram 1500 only if you can confirm the recall work on the exact truck. Ask the dealer whether the steering column control module recall (24V-729) and the instrument cluster update are done. Owners report recall parts out of stock for months. Take a test drive with slow stops and left turns to check for stalling. Skip 2019 and 2021 here too. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic, the stalling and steering reports should weigh heavily against this truck.

Chevrolet Silverado vs Ram 1500: Common Questions

Is the Chevrolet Silverado more reliable than the Ram 1500?: Yes, the Silverado has a clear edge. It draws 3.8 complaints per 10,000 sold against 11.9 for the Ram 1500, and it has fewer recalls. Its main weakness is engine lifter and camshaft failure. The Ram's weak points are stalling, steering loss, and electrical faults.
Which truck has more recalls, Silverado or Ram 1500?: The Ram 1500 has more. Federal recall records show 107 recalls across model years 2018 to 2026, against 91 for the Silverado. Ram owners also report recall parts out of stock for months, including for the steering column control module recall.
What goes wrong with the Silverado engine?: Collapsed lifters and scored camshafts lead the complaints on both the 5.3L and 6.2L engines. Owners report ticking, misfires, and sudden power loss on the highway, mostly between about 62,735 and 88,643 miles. Many face an engine rebuild or replacement. Cracked oil cooler lines are a second pattern.
Why do Ram 1500 trucks stall?: Owners report the engine dying at low speed as the truck slows or turns. The transmission then shifts to park and the parking brake sets. Some link it to auto start/stop or the eTorque system. Dealers often cannot reproduce it, and some trucks stall even after a software update.
Which Silverado and Ram years should I avoid?: Avoid 2019 and 2021 on both trucks, since each lists them as its weakest years. The newest years look better, but they have had less time to collect complaints, so check recall status and repair history on any specific truck.

More Chevrolet Silverado comparisons

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More Ram 1500 comparisons

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Decided between Chevrolet Silverado and Ram 1500? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the Chevrolet Silverado and Ram 1500

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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