Know Your Truck

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 best and worst years

Each year is compared with the typical (middle) complaint count of the half-ton trucks we cover from the same model year, using owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Comparing within a year is fairer than one overall ranking, because older trucks have had more time to collect complaints.

Fewest complaints for their age

  1. 2025102 complaints vs. 125 typical
  2. 2016799 complaints vs. 799 typical
  3. 2023384 complaints vs. 384 typical
  4. 2022634 complaints vs. 588 typical
  5. 20151,189 complaints vs. 1,003 typical

Most complaints for their age

  1. 2009520 complaints vs. 302 typical
  2. 20191,085 complaints vs. 647 typical
  3. 2026104 complaints vs. 65 typical
  4. 2020731 complaints vs. 468 typical
  5. 2021830 complaints vs. 577 typical

Every year

YearComplaintsTypical that yearCompared
2009520302Above average
2010425321Above average
2011638502Above average
2012284220Above average
2013365266Above average
20141,5601,110Above average
20151,1891,003About average
2016799799About average
2017837633Above average
2018519412Above average
20191,085647Above average
2020731468Above average
2021830577Above average
2022634588About average
2023384384About average
2024311226Above average
2025102125About average
202610465Above average

Years not listed are too new to compare fairly, have too few trucks to compare against, or NHTSA lumps them in with other trucks. ⚠ marks years with a well-known costly problem that complaint counts alone don't show.

Read this before deciding. Complaint counts aren't reliability scores. Best-selling trucks collect more complaints simply because more are on the road, and one widely reported problem (or a recall) can drive a year's numbers. The condition and history of the specific truck you're looking at matter more than its year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and bring our inspection checklist.