CarTold

2020 vs. 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: What Changed

Our records for the 2020 and 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 show 2 differences in the specifications and ratings tracked below.

The best combined rating for the 5.3-litre eight-cylinder falls from 20 to 19 mpg.

The best combined rating for the 6.2-litre eight-cylinder rises from 17 to 18 mpg.

Five campaigns cover both years. Seven campaigns (air bags, electrical system, fuel system and others) cover the 2020 and not the 2021, while three campaigns (air bags, engine and engine cooling and seat belts) cover the 2021 and not the 2020.

Fewer campaigns do not establish better reliability. Confirm each car's coverage and repair status by VIN.

The campaigns that separate them

Imported NHTSA recall campaigns that name one of these two model years but not the other, with their component labels. Campaigns covering both years are left out of this list.

Only the 2020

  • 19V814000 seat belts
  • 19V837000 fuel system
  • 19V888000 electrical system
  • 20V116000 service brakes
  • 20V446000 air bags
  • 20V650000 power train
  • 21V115000 tires

Only the 2021

  • 20V811000 seat belts
  • 21V495000 air bags
  • 25V274000 engine and engine cooling
A campaign may cover only part of a model year's production. Use the campaign number to ask an authorized dealer whether the car's VIN is included and what work remains. Our recall tool finds model-year campaigns; this guide explains the vehicle-specific check.

Side by side

2020 2021
Engines listed 2.7L 4-cyl, 3.0L V6, 4.3L V6, 5.3L V8, 6.2L V8 2.7L 4-cyl, 3.0L V6, 4.3L V6, 5.3L V8, 6.2L V8
Drive types Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive
Fuel types Diesel, Regular Gasoline, Premium Gasoline Diesel, Regular Gasoline, Premium Gasoline
Combined MPG 15–27 14–27
Recall campaigns 12 8
Complaints on file 724 815
Investigations 3 5
Complaint totals reflect different time on the road, sales and reporting. They cannot rank these years for reliability. The categories below identify symptoms to read about, not failure odds. How reporting time affects the comparison.

What owners reported, by system

2020

Drivetrain 213 (29%)
Engine 183 (25%)
Other 89 (12%)

2021

Engine 329 (40%)
Drivetrain 226 (28%)
Other 90 (11%)

Full reports

Open each year's report to read the recall, investigation, manufacturer communication and EPA variant records on file:

2020 Silverado 1500 full report 2021 Silverado 1500 full report Every Silverado 1500 year compared

Sources and methodology