Last updated: 2026-03-04
Chevrolet Silverado vs Toyota Tundra: Reliability Compared
Chevrolet Silverado
Toyota Tundra
Choosing between the Chevrolet Silverado and the Toyota Tundra? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two full-size trucks.
Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Chevrolet Silverado currently leads with an average score of 71/100 compared to 68/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Chevrolet Silverado and Toyota Tundra Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Chevrolet Silverado is more reliable than the Toyota Tundra, scoring 71/100 vs 68/100.
The Chevrolet Silverado and Toyota Tundra both display comparable reliability, with the Silverado slightly edging out with an average reliability score of 79 compared to the Tundra's 76. However, the Tundra has a higher owner complaint rate of 11.9 per 10,000 sold, significantly more than the Silverado's 3.8, indicating more frequent owner-reported issues. Both models have similar recall numbers over nine years, but independent repair cost estimates favor the Tundra at $606 annually. While the Silverado experiences more diverse issue areas, including brakes and steering, the Tundra's higher complaint rate is the key reliability differentiator.
Key Differences
- 1Chevrolet Silverado has 8.1 fewer complaints per 10k sold
- 2Chevrolet Silverado scores 3 points higher in reliability
- 3Toyota Tundra has 1 fewer total recalls
Category Scoreboard
Chevrolet Silverado vs Toyota Tundra: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Chevrolet Silverado | Toyota Tundra |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 71/100 | 68/100 |
| 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 | 5 | 3 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Chevrolet Silverado and Toyota Tundra?
The Chevrolet Silverado exhibits a higher overall complaint volume, notably in the power train and engine categories, with 1153 and 830 complaints respectively, and a combined 13 crash-linked incidents. Its electrical system also poses significant issues with 616 complaints, 10 of which are crash-linked, indicating a potential area of concern. In contrast, the Toyota Tundra has fewer total complaints, with the power train and engine also being its most problematic areas but with substantially lower numbers at 240 and 215 complaints respectively, and fewer crash-linked incidents. While both models have issues with service brakes, the Silverado's 280 complaints and 14 crash-linked incidents suggest a more critical safety concern compared to the Tundra's 74 complaints and 2 crash-linked incidents.
| Component | Chevrolet Silverado | Toyota Tundra |
|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 1Very Low | 2.3Low |
| ENGINE | 0.7Very Low | 2Low |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 0.5Very Low | 1.1Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 0.2Very Low | 0.9Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | —None | 0.9Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.2Very Low | 0.7Very Low |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 0.2Very Low | 0.7Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | —None | 0.7Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.2Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| FUEL SYSTEM | —None | 0.2Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| SUSPENSION | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| SEATS | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | —None | —None |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | —None | —None |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | —None |
| LANE DEPARTURE | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Chevrolet Silverado or Toyota Tundra?
How Does Chevrolet Silverado vs Toyota Tundra Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Chevrolet Silverado | Toyota Tundra | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2026(predicted) | 78/100(predicted) | 66/100(predicted) | Chevrolet Silverado |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Chevrolet Silverado scored 85/100 and the 2021 Toyota Tundra scored 75/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Chevrolet Silverado vs the Toyota Tundra?
Chevrolet Silverado vs Toyota Tundra: Common Questions
- Is the Chevrolet Silverado more reliable than the Toyota Tundra?
- Based on our data, the Chevrolet Silverado is more reliable with an average score of 71/100 compared to 68/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Chevrolet Silverado or the Toyota Tundra?
- The Chevrolet Silverado has more recalls (91) compared to the Toyota Tundra (90). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
- Which has fewer owner complaints, the Chevrolet Silverado or the Toyota Tundra?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Chevrolet Silverado has a lower complaint rate at 3.8 per 10,000 sold versus 11.9 for the Toyota Tundra. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
- Is the Chevrolet Silverado or Toyota Tundra safer?
- Both the Chevrolet Silverado and Toyota Tundra received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.
Related Reliability Comparisons
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How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent — Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good — Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed — Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky — Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
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