Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Reliability by Year, 2016–2021
Comparing a used Chevrolet Silverado 1500? Start with what changed between model years, then open the report for the car you are considering. The records below help you identify recall work, reported symptoms and questions for an inspection.
These records do not establish which year is most reliable. The 2016 has had more time to accumulate reports than the 2021, and we do not have sales or mileage data to calculate failure rates. Why age matters when reading complaints.
What changed from year to year
Compare the EPA-listed engines, transmissions, drivetrains and fuel economy with the previous year, alongside NHTSA crash-test ratings and recall campaigns. Open a pair for the details; the timeline does not cover every trim, equipment or production change.
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2016
The earliest model year covered here, so there is no prior year to compare it with.
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2017
EPA lists the same engines, transmissions and drive types as 2016; seven recall campaigns name one of the two years and not the other (air bags, child seat, seat belts and others).
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2018
EPA lists the same engines, transmissions and drive types as 2017; nine recall campaigns name one of the two years and not the other (air bags, child seat, service brakes and others).
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2019 Substantially different from 2018
No hybrid is listed for 2019; EPA lists a 2.7-litre four-cylinder for 2019 that does not appear in the 2018 listing; 17 recall campaigns name one of the two years and not the other (air bags, electrical system, power train and others).
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2020
EPA lists a 3.0-litre six-cylinder for 2020 that does not appear in the 2019 listing; NHTSA's overall rating goes from 4 and 5 stars in 2019 to 4 and 5 stars in 2020; ten recall campaigns name one of the two years and not the other (air bags, fuel system, power train and others).
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2021
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; ten recall campaigns name one of the two years and not the other (air bags, electrical system, engine and engine cooling and others).
The record, year by year
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Investigations | Combined MPG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 11 | 797 | 1 | 17–20 | Full report → |
| 2017 | 6 | 836 | 0 | 17–20 | Full report → |
| 2018 | 7 | 514 | 0 | 17–20 | Full report → |
| 2019 | 10 | 1,076 | 2 | 15–21 | Full report → |
| 2020 | 12 | 724 | 3 | 15–27 | Full report → |
| 2021 | 8 | 815 | 5 | 14–27 | Full report → |
The same years side by side on one screen →
Patterns we looked into separately
These articles examine specific symptoms alongside manufacturer bulletins and recall records. Use the engine, model year and program details to decide which questions apply to the car you are viewing.
Sources and methodology
- Recalls, complaints and investigations: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Engines, transmissions, drive types and fuel economy: FuelEconomy.gov (EPA/DOE)
- See our methodology and data sources pages for how these reports are built and their limitations.