Is the Chevrolet Silverado more reliable than the Toyota Tundra?

Slightly, yes. The Silverado draws about 3.8 owner complaints per 10,000 trucks sold, while the Tundra draws 11.9. Both stand as good overall. The Silverado's lead is small because its engine and brake failures are more severe than the Tundra's usual throttle delay.

Which truck has more recalls, the Silverado or the Tundra?

They are nearly equal. Federal recall records show 91 recalls for the Silverado and 90 for the Tundra across 9 model years each. Recall count alone does not separate them, so check the specific truck's VIN for open recalls before you buy.

What is the biggest problem with the Chevrolet Silverado?

Engine failure, mainly. Owners report collapsed lifters and scored camshafts on both the 5.3L and 6.2L engines, with ticking, misfires, and sudden power loss. Many failures came between about 62,735 and 88,643 miles, often just after warranty ended, and many ended in a rebuild or replacement.

What is the biggest problem with the Toyota Tundra?

Throttle hesitation from a stop. Owners press the pedal at a light or yield, get no response for 1 to 3 seconds, then feel a jerk or surge. Many describe near misses while turning across traffic. A smaller number report the engine dying while driving.

Which Silverado and Tundra years should I avoid?

For the Silverado, be careful with 2019 and 2021, its weakest years. For the Tundra, avoid 2022 and 2023. The 2021 Tundra is among its strongest. Very new model years may look cleaner only because they have had less time to collect complaints.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Chevrolet Silverado vs Toyota Tundra: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Chevrolet Silverado

Good

Toyota Tundra

Good

The Chevrolet Silverado edges out the Toyota Tundra on reliability. Its owners file far fewer complaints per truck sold. The gap is slight, though. Silverado engine and brake failures are more serious, while Tundra owners mostly report delayed throttle response.

How Do the Chevrolet Silverado and Toyota Tundra Generations Compare?

Each truck's weakest years sit inside its newest design covered here. For Chevrolet, the fourth generation ran from 2019 to 2023 and received a refresh in 2022. Its weakest years, 2019 and 2021, fall in that run. It followed a third generation that ended with the 2018 model year. For Toyota, the second generation lasted from 2007 through 2021, with a major refresh in 2014. The third generation began in 2022, and its first two years, 2022 and 2023, are the weakest. A 2018 to 2021 Tundra belongs to the older, long-running design.

Verdict

The Chevrolet Silverado is more reliable than the Toyota Tundra, scoring 73/100 vs 69/100.

Reliability favors the Silverado, but only by a slight margin. The deciding fact is the complaint rate: about 3.8 per 10,000 trucks sold, against 11.9 for the Tundra. Recall counts are nearly level, at 91 and 90. The edge comes with a catch. The Silverado's engine and brake failures are the more severe ones. The Tundra's trouble is narrower, mostly a delayed throttle, but owners report it far more often.

Key Differences

1Chevrolet Silverado has 8.1 fewer complaints per 10k sold
2Chevrolet Silverado scores 4 points higher in reliability
3Toyota Tundra has 1 fewer total recalls

Category Scoreboard

2Chevrolet Silverado

—

1Toyota Tundra

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateSafety Rating

Chevrolet Silverado vs Toyota Tundra: Which Is More Reliable?

Chevrolet Silverado vs Toyota Tundra at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Chevrolet Silverado	Toyota Tundra
Reliability Score	73/100	69/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	91	90
Complaints per 10k Sold	3.8	11.9
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	6	3

What Are the Common Problems With the Chevrolet Silverado and Toyota Tundra?

Hardware failure drives the Silverado's complaints. Collapsed lifters and scored camshafts bring ticking, misfires, and sudden power loss on the highway, often followed by an engine rebuild. Hard, erratic shifting is common too. Brake pedals sink to the floor, and the service brakes area has 14 crash-linked reports, while steering has 7. Tundra complaints repeat one theme: the truck does not respond for 1 to 3 seconds when you press the pedal from a stop, then lurches. A few engines died while driving. Brakes and steering are not among the Tundra's main problem areas.

Chevrolet Silverado vs Toyota Tundra common problem areas comparison
Component	Chevrolet Silverado	Toyota Tundra
POWER TRAIN	1Very Low	2.3Low
ENGINE	0.7Very Low	2Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.5Very Low	1.1Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—None	0.9Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.2Very Low	0.7Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	0.1Very Low	0.7Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.2Very Low	0.5Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	0.7Very Low
STEERING	0.2Very Low	0.3Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	0.4Very Low
STRUCTURE	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
SEATS	—None	0.1Very Low
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)	—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
TIRES	—None	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—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 Toyota Tundra Reliability Compare by Year?

Chevrolet Silverado vs Toyota Tundra year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Chevrolet Silverado	Toyota Tundra	Edge
2026	88/1000R / 0C	82/1000R / 0C	Chevrolet Silverado
2025	85/1001R / 76C	73/1006R / 88C	Chevrolet Silverado
2024	73/1009R / 367C	65/10014R / 235C	Chevrolet Silverado
2023	75/1004R / 299C	59/10022R / 321C	Chevrolet Silverado
2022	70/1008R / 514C	57/10021R / 386C	Chevrolet Silverado
2021	67/10013R / 720C	75/1003R / 23C	Toyota Tundra
2020	67/10020R / 693C	74/1005R / 42C	Toyota Tundra
2019	64/10020R / 1043C	70/10010R / 69C	Toyota Tundra
2018	70/10016R / 551C	69/1009R / 94C	Chevrolet Silverado

Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Chevrolet Silverado scored 75/100 and the 2021 Toyota Tundra scored 75/100 — 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 Toyota Tundra?

Pick the Silverado if you want the lower complaint rate and can accept the risk of engine trouble. Check any used one for lifter ticking, misfires, and rough shifting, and ask for service records. Failures often landed just after the warranty ended, so a truck near that point deserves extra scrutiny. Steer clear of 2019 and 2021, its weakest years. Pick the Tundra if a brake or engine-rebuild failure worries you most and you can live with a throttle quirk. Test drive it from a stop at an intersection and at a yield, and press the pedal several times. Avoid 2022 and 2023, its weakest years. The 2021 model year is among its strongest, and it is old enough to have collected a full record. Newer model years in either lineup have had less time to collect complaints, so a short list is not proof of better quality.

Chevrolet Silverado vs Toyota Tundra: Common Questions

Is the Chevrolet Silverado more reliable than the Toyota Tundra?: Slightly, yes. The Silverado draws about 3.8 owner complaints per 10,000 trucks sold, while the Tundra draws 11.9. Both stand as good overall. The Silverado's lead is small because its engine and brake failures are more severe than the Tundra's usual throttle delay.
Which truck has more recalls, the Silverado or the Tundra?: They are nearly equal. Federal recall records show 91 recalls for the Silverado and 90 for the Tundra across 9 model years each. Recall count alone does not separate them, so check the specific truck's VIN for open recalls before you buy.
What is the biggest problem with the Chevrolet Silverado?: Engine failure, mainly. Owners report collapsed lifters and scored camshafts on both the 5.3L and 6.2L engines, with ticking, misfires, and sudden power loss. Many failures came between about 62,735 and 88,643 miles, often just after warranty ended, and many ended in a rebuild or replacement.
What is the biggest problem with the Toyota Tundra?: Throttle hesitation from a stop. Owners press the pedal at a light or yield, get no response for 1 to 3 seconds, then feel a jerk or surge. Many describe near misses while turning across traffic. A smaller number report the engine dying while driving.
Which Silverado and Tundra years should I avoid?: For the Silverado, be careful with 2019 and 2021, its weakest years. For the Tundra, avoid 2022 and 2023. The 2021 Tundra is among its strongest. Very new model years may look cleaner only because they have had less time to collect complaints.

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More Toyota Tundra comparisons

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Decided between Chevrolet Silverado and Toyota Tundra? 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 Toyota Tundra

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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