Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Years to Avoid (2014-2026)

The Silverado 1500’s problems cluster in the drivetrain, and they split sharply by generation: an 8-speed transmission shudder on the 2014-2018 trucks, and the AFM/DFM V8 lifter defect that dominates the engine complaints from 2019 on. Here is what NHTSA’s complaint and recall records show, year by year.

The short version

2014-2018 — proceed with caution

The 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 models are plagued with numerous issues that warrant caution for potential buyers and owners alike. Overall, these vehicles have accumulated a total of 4,887 complaints on the NHTSA database, with SERVICE BRAKES leading the pack at 1259 complaints (26% of all reports). This high number includes premature brake wear and vibrations that can be particularly concerning for safety reasons.

POWER TRAIN issues follow closely behind, accounting for 920 complaints or 18.8% of total NHTSA reports. The common complaint pattern involves an 8-speed 8L90 automatic transmission drawing hesitation followed by a hard shift with shudders during gear changes. This issue was so prevalent that it led to a class action lawsuit covering 2015-2019 model years, though the certification of this class action was later overturned.

Additionally, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM issues contribute significantly, making up 888 complaints or 18.2% of total reports. These often include problems related to airbags not deploying in crashes and electrical malfunctions leading to smoke inside the vehicle cabin following collisions.

Recalls for these years are numerous, with many addressing critical safety concerns such as faulty airbag inflators (recall campaigns like 26V325000 and 24V756000) and power steering issues (recall campaign 18V586000). These recalls indicate that the manufacturer has acknowledged these defects, further underscoring the caution advised for this generation of Silverado models.

2019-2021 — the era to avoid

The 2019-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500s are marred by a significant number of complaints and recalls, making them an era to avoid. Engine issues dominate with 37% of all complaints, primarily due to the AFM/DFM lifter defect in the 5.3L L84 and 6.2L L87 V8 engines. This issue can cause premature lifter failure leading to misfires, rough running, ticking noises, and even stalling. NHTSA recall 25V274000 addresses internal engine hard parts on these problematic years.

Powertrain issues account for another 30% of complaints, with the 10-speed 10L80 transmission drawing significant criticism. Recalls like 24V797000 and 26V083000 cover valve-body and control-module problems within this generation. The year 2019 stands out as particularly problematic, with 1,059 complaints alone.

Electrical system issues are also prevalent, comprising about 15% of all reported faults. Service brakes follow closely behind at around 13%, highlighting significant reliability concerns across multiple critical components.

One owner’s report captures the worry: a 2021 certified pre-owned truck, strictly maintained through a dealership, still developed severe powertrain trouble. That is a single owner’s report rather than a measured failure rate — but it is exactly the kind of thing a pre-purchase inspection and an open-recall check exist to catch.

2022-2026 — proceed with caution

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 from 2022 to 2026 has seen a total of 1,419 complaints on file with NHTSA, indicating significant issues across its model years. Engine problems remain the primary concern, accounting for 41.9% of all reported issues, with 595 engine-related complaints alone. The powertrain follows closely behind at 27.6%, driven by transmission troubles and other mechanical failures.

Notably, recall 26V289000 issued in July 2026 addresses a transfer case issue in four-wheel-drive models for the latest years, reflecting ongoing concerns with drivetrain reliability. Additionally, recall 26V083000 from February 2026 involves automatic transmission control module software updates, impacting earlier model years as well.

One owner reported an engine failure while towing a trailer at about 30 mph in a 2022 truck, with smoke after roughly ten minutes of driving. That is one owner’s report, not a measured defect rate — but with ENGINE leading the mix, it is the system to scrutinize on any 2022+ truck. The newest years (2025-2026) are still too thin on data to rank confidently.

If you’re shopping used

The Silverado’s problems are drivetrain-specific and differ by year, so shop to the generation. On 2019-and-newer trucks, the AFM/DFM V8 lifter defect is the headline: ask for engine repair records, and treat a ticking or misfiring V8 on the test drive as a walk-away sign. On 2014-2018 trucks, the 8-speed 8L90 shudder is what to feel for — a hesitation followed by a shake or hard shift on gear changes; owners report a Mobil 1 LV transmission-fluid change helps some cases.

Across all years, run the VIN for open recalls — airbag inflators on the older trucks, transmission-control software and the 4WD transfer case on the newer ones — and confirm any have been completed. During the pre-purchase inspection, have the mechanic listen for lifter tick or misfire on the engine and check for transmission fluid leaks; those two systems are where this truck’s known trouble lives.