Is the Chevrolet Silverado more reliable than the Ram Promaster?

Yes, by a large margin. Silverado owners file 3.8 complaints per 10,000 sold, against 4.6 for the Promaster. The Silverado does have far more complaints in total, and its engine and transmission failures are costly. The Promaster's problems include sudden shutoffs while driving and steering that cuts out.

Which has more recalls, the Silverado or the Promaster?

The Silverado has more. Federal recall records show 91 across nine model years for the Silverado and 54 for the Promaster. Many Promaster owners also report waiting on parts for the engine cooling recall repair, so a recall on paper does not always mean the repair is done.

What are the worst model years for the Silverado and Promaster?

The same two years, 2019 and 2021, rank weakest for each. Treat those as the ones to avoid or inspect hardest. The 2026 model year ranks well for both, but it has had little time to collect complaints, so do not read that as proof of quality.

What is the biggest problem with the Ram Promaster?

Electrical shutoffs stand out. Owners describe the engine and dash going dark while driving with no warning, and the van stopping almost at once. Transmission trouble, power steering loss, and backordered recall parts follow. Shops often blame water getting into the steering wiring for the steering failures.

What engine problem should I check for on a used Silverado?

Check for collapsed lifters and scored camshafts on the 5.3L and 6.2L engines. Signs are ticking, misfire, shaking, and sudden power loss on the highway. Most failures hit between about 62,735 and 88,643 miles, and many owners face a rebuild or replacement. Cracked oil cooler lines are a second pattern.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Chevrolet Silverado vs Ram ProMaster: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Chevrolet Silverado

Good

Ram ProMaster

Good

Reliability favors the Chevrolet Silverado over the Ram Promaster by a wide margin. Fewer complaints per vehicle sold decide it. The Silverado has more recalls, and its engine and transmission failures are serious. The Promaster's stalls and steering loss are worse for a daily driver.

How Do the Chevrolet Silverado and Ram ProMaster Generations Compare?

The 2018 Silverado belongs to the third generation, which ran through 2018. The fourth generation (T1XX) covers 2019 through 2023, with a refresh in 2022. That means 2019 and 2021, the weakest years, both sit in the early part of the current design. The Promaster's first generation ran from 2013 through 2022 and received a facelift for 2019. The second generation began with the 2023 model year. A 2018 van is a pre-facelift first-generation van, while 2019 through 2022 are facelifted versions of that same generation.

Verdict

The Chevrolet Silverado is more reliable than the Ram ProMaster, scoring 73/100 vs 62/100.

The more reliable choice is the Chevrolet Silverado, and the gap is large. Its owners file fewer complaints per 10,000 sold than Promaster owners, even though the Silverado has more recalls and more filings in total. Its known weak spots, collapsed lifters and rough shifting, are serious. The Promaster's problems include sudden stalls and steering loss, and many of its owners are stuck waiting on recall parts that dealers do not have.

Key Differences

1Ram ProMaster has 37 fewer total recalls
2Chevrolet Silverado scores 11 points higher in reliability
3Chevrolet Silverado has 0.8 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

2Chevrolet Silverado

—

1Ram ProMaster

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Chevrolet Silverado vs Ram ProMaster: Which Is More Reliable?

Chevrolet Silverado vs Ram ProMaster at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Chevrolet Silverado	Ram ProMaster
Reliability Score	73/100	62/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	91	54
Complaints per 10k Sold	3.8	4.6
Year Wins	9	0

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

Crash-linked reports split the two clearly. The Silverado has them in power train, engine, electrical, brakes, and steering, while the Promaster has one each in power train, engine, and brakes. On the Silverado, collapsed lifters and scored camshafts cause ticking, misfires, and power loss on the highway, and hard shifting and torque converter shudder are common. Brake failure messages that cap speed also appear. The Promaster's electrical complaints describe the engine and dash shutting off while driving, with no warning. Its transmission, steering rack, and brake actuator problems often end in backordered parts.

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

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

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

Chevrolet Silverado vs Ram ProMaster year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Chevrolet Silverado	Ram ProMaster	Edge
2026	88/1000R / 0C	65/1001R / 1C	Chevrolet Silverado
2025	85/1001R / 76C	62/1004R / 3C	Chevrolet Silverado
2024	73/1009R / 367C	62/1006R / 5C	Chevrolet Silverado
2023	75/1004R / 299C	63/1007R / 39C	Chevrolet Silverado
2022	70/1008R / 514C	61/1008R / 53C	Chevrolet Silverado
2021	67/10013R / 720C	58/10011R / 98C	Chevrolet Silverado
2020	67/10020R / 693C	62/1007R / 34C	Chevrolet Silverado
2019	64/10020R / 1043C	58/10010R / 60C	Chevrolet Silverado
2018	70/10016R / 551C	68/1000R / 1C	Chevrolet Silverado

Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Chevrolet Silverado scored 75/100 and the 2018 Ram ProMaster scored 68/100 — 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 ProMaster?

Buy the Silverado if you want the stronger record overall and can accept a known engine risk. Check that a truck has no ticking, misfire, or hard shifting, and ask for service records on the oil cooler lines and lifters. Owners report engine failures between about 62,735 and 88,643 miles, often just after warranty ends, so price a warranty in. Avoid 2019 and 2021, the weakest years. The 2025 and 2026 trucks rate best, but they have had less time to collect complaints, so do not treat that as proof. Consider the Promaster only if you need a van and can tolerate downtime. Ask the seller whether the engine cooling recall and any transmission recall work was finished, because owners report parts not available for long stretches. Test drive for sudden downshifts, heavy steering, and soft brakes. Skip 2019 and 2021 here too. The 2018 van shows as a strong year, and it has had the longest time on the road to collect complaints.

Chevrolet Silverado vs Ram ProMaster: Common Questions

Is the Chevrolet Silverado more reliable than the Ram Promaster?: Yes, by a large margin. Silverado owners file 3.8 complaints per 10,000 sold, against 4.6 for the Promaster. The Silverado does have far more complaints in total, and its engine and transmission failures are costly. The Promaster's problems include sudden shutoffs while driving and steering that cuts out.
Which has more recalls, the Silverado or the Promaster?: The Silverado has more. Federal recall records show 91 across nine model years for the Silverado and 54 for the Promaster. Many Promaster owners also report waiting on parts for the engine cooling recall repair, so a recall on paper does not always mean the repair is done.
What are the worst model years for the Silverado and Promaster?: The same two years, 2019 and 2021, rank weakest for each. Treat those as the ones to avoid or inspect hardest. The 2026 model year ranks well for both, but it has had little time to collect complaints, so do not read that as proof of quality.
What is the biggest problem with the Ram Promaster?: Electrical shutoffs stand out. Owners describe the engine and dash going dark while driving with no warning, and the van stopping almost at once. Transmission trouble, power steering loss, and backordered recall parts follow. Shops often blame water getting into the steering wiring for the steering failures.
What engine problem should I check for on a used Silverado?: Check for collapsed lifters and scored camshafts on the 5.3L and 6.2L engines. Signs are ticking, misfire, shaking, and sudden power loss on the highway. Most failures hit between about 62,735 and 88,643 miles, and many owners face a rebuild or replacement. Cracked oil cooler lines are a second pattern.

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More Ram ProMaster comparisons

Ram ProMaster vs Toyota Tundra reliability Ram ProMaster vs Ford F-150 Lightning reliability Ram ProMaster vs Ford F-150 reliability Ram ProMaster vs GMC Sierra 1500 reliability Ram ProMaster reliability by year Ram ProMaster years to avoid

Decided between Chevrolet Silverado and Ram ProMaster? 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 ProMaster

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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