The Chevy Silverado has been one of the most sold Pickup trucks in the US for some time now. It has basically stood the test of time while providing some competition to the Ford F150.
Though not as good as the F150, it is still a good truck in some respects. In this article, we will show you the Chevy Silverado years to avoid.
It’s relatively safe to assume that since you are reading this article, you are considering buying a used Chevy Silverado. If my assumption is correct, you are definitely in the right place. To give you the short version of what this article is addressing:
In short, The Chevy Silverado years to avoid are the 2005, 2007, 2008, 2014, 2015 and 2016 models. The 2014 year is generally considered the worst of the bunch.
The Chevy Silverado has been around since 1998 and has enjoyed a great sales record from that time. Early models did quite well until 2005 when they had the most reported problems. Though they have managed to do well with other years, it would seem the overall quality of the truck has fallen.
The Silverado comes in 3 models which are:
- 1500
- 2500
- 3500
The 2500 and 3500 models are the heavy duty ones which can be used for hauling, towing and other heavy duty tasks. The 1500 is more suitable for use as a daily runner. It also has the best fuel economy of the 3.
Is the Chevy Silverado a Reliable Vehicle?
Let’s look at the overall reliability of this vehicle. We’ve already mentioned that there are several issues associated with the years to avoid but how does the truck fare overall?
The answer to this is not set in stone based on several factors. Though it has great capacity and has often been measured against the F150, the Silverado has generally not won out in these comparisons.
Put simply, the F150 is a superior truck but the Silverado does have its merits. For starters, it has great capacity when it comes to performing the heavy duty tasks that are asked of a pickup truck.
You’ll have the exclude the 1500 from this conversation as it is not as powerful as the other 2. In many respects, it is a pretty reliable truck….to a point. One of the greatest drawbacks of this truck is its longevity.
You can expect your Silverado to go anywhere from 100,000 to 130,000 miles. If you do 15,000 miles per year on average, you can expect it to last you around 7 to 9 years. These figures are, to put it frankly, terrible especially for a pickup truck.
The above is a general estimate of course and the number can go higher depending on your maintenance record as well as the demand you place on your Silverado. A daily runner will most likely have greater longevity when compared to one that is used for heavy duty stuff.
This assumption is, however, tampered by the fact that most of the issues on the Silverado occur in the 1500 model. There are possible reasons on why this could be. The first could be that the engine and overall build on the 1500 is subpar or owners of the 1500s place a greater demand on their trucks than they are capable of.
Common Problems of the Silverado
What are the most common problems associated with the Silverado? Though there are several of them, these are the most common ones:
Internal Electrical Problems
Issues with the Heating, AC, battery, power steering, power windows and speakers are common.
Heavy Oil Consumption
Owners of Silverados have actually sued GM regarding high oil consumption. Silverados have been known to require oil changes every 1000 miles which is ridiculously high and naturally the costs add up over time.
Transmission Issues
Issues to do with heavy gear shifts as well as slow acceleration have been reported.
Short Lifespan
I’ve mentioned it before but the Silverado has a questionable track record when it comes to longevity. It’s expected to only last between 100,000 to 130,000 miles.
Years of the Chevy Silverado to Avoid
If you avoid the 2005, 2007, 2008, 2014, 2015 and 2016 models, you will have a relatively good experience with the Chevy Silverado. Of these years, the 2014 model has been considered as the worst of them all. Make sure to avoid these years and you will pretty much have a good experience with your Silverado.
What Year is The Most Reliable of the Chevy Silverado?
I’ve spoken about the worst of them all but which one is the most reliable? Well, according to user data, the best Silverado is the 2012. If you manage to bag this one, you’ve hit the jackpot. Next to this are the 2018 and 2019 models.
Conclusion on Chevrolet Silverado Years to Avoid
It has enjoyed a great reputation but has lost some of that due to the bad years mentioned in this post. When it’s all been said and done, the Chevy Silverado is not the best of the bunch but it definitely is a good truck. Just make sure to avoid the years mentioned here.
Credit:
Photo by Drew Lindsley on Unsplash
Thomas is a retired Chevy Auto Technician, Father to two incredible daughters. He enjoys using his knowledge and experience to help you solve and find reliable information on Chevrolet vehicles.
