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Chevrolet Silverado Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Chevrolet Silverado car check

Is the Chevrolet Silverado reliable? We analysed 2,339 real MOT tests across 322 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,339 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
81.7%
Typical Mileage
90,856mi
Annual Mileage
2,629mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
39yrs

The Chevrolet Silverado is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, fog lamp not working and parking brake recording little or no effort. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Chevrolet Silverado.

Chevrolet Silverado Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Chevrolet Silverado. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Chevrolet Silverado MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Chevrolet Silverado to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

76.5%
2016
89.4%
2015
84.7%
2013
82.3%
2009
84.3%
2008
78.8%
2007
84.6%
2006
77.5%
2005
81%
2004
80.4%
2003
84.1%
2002
82.3%
2001
84.3%
2000
81.3%
1999
78.5%
1998
77.4%
1994
82.8%
1992
80%
1987

Chevrolet Silverado Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Chevrolet Silverado fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 32
fog lamp not working 31
parking brake recording little or no effort 23
position lamp(s) incorrect colour 21
Direction indicator incorrect colour 19
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 18
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 16

Chevrolet Silverado Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Chevrolet Silverado models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value 16

Chevrolet Silverado Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Chevrolet Silverado owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
938 mi/yr
Typical
2,629 mi/yr
Average
3,876 mi/yr
Heavy usage
5,201 mi/yr

Chevrolet Silverado MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Chevrolet Silverado year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2016 51 76.5% 26,354 52,222 82,860
2015 66 89.4% 19,593 48,072 70,642
2013 59 84.7% 44,058 59,644 81,380
2009 62 82.3% 67,609 111,980 157,973
2008 89 84.3% 49,299 90,201 128,610
2007 80 78.8% 80,794 94,071 118,861
2006 78 84.6% 12,748 51,364 140,810
2005 151 77.5% 37,341 54,781 138,645
2004 116 81.0% 61,845 89,995 138,647
2003 224 80.4% 74,745 96,303 121,698
2002 88 84.1% 74,293 99,150 117,438
2001 215 82.3% 74,661 103,441 124,500
2000 70 84.3% 102,459 181,485 222,152
1999 80 81.3% 87,344 123,423 171,299
1998 65 78.5% 125,502 133,010 146,025
1994 62 77.4% 104,731 117,930 142,086
1992 122 82.8% 79,829 107,940 196,175
1987 60 80.0% 38,875 64,310 80,270

How Long Does a Chevrolet Silverado Last?

Based on 322 Chevrolet Silverado vehicles on UK roads.

Average
15.0 years
Median
12.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
39 years

Chevrolet Silverado Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Chevrolet Silverado MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
90,856 mi
75th Percentile
132,235 mi
95th Percentile
215,064 mi
Max Recorded
977,670 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Chevrolet Silverado

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2015

89.4% MOT pass rate from 66 tests

Year to avoid
2016

76.5% MOT pass rate from 51 tests

The best year to buy a used Chevrolet Silverado is 2015, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.4% across 66 tests. The 2016 model year has the lowest pass rate at 76.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Chevrolet Silverado Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Chevrolet Silverado THIS CAR 81.7% 2,339 90,856 mi 39 yrs
Chevrolet Matiz 70.8% 487,981 39,253 mi 21 yrs
Chevrolet Spark 71.9% 273,626 47,852 mi 16 yrs
Chevrolet Aveo 69.7% 241,765 48,643 mi 18 yrs
Audi A4 SE Ultra TDI 91.7% 1,102 82,204 mi — yrs

Compared to the Chevrolet Matiz (70.8% pass rate) and the Chevrolet Spark (71.9% pass rate), the Chevrolet Silverado outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Chevrolet Silverado you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

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Should you buy a used Chevrolet Silverado?

The Chevrolet Silverado has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.7% across 2,339 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Chevrolet Silverado are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (32 recorded failures), fog lamp not working (31), and parking brake recording little or no effort (23). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Chevrolet Silverado with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Chevrolet Silverado owner drives around 2,629 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Chevrolet Silverado models stay on UK roads for around 39 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Chevrolet Silverado — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Chevrolet Silverado reliable?
Based on 2,339 MOT tests, the Chevrolet Silverado has a 81.7% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Chevrolet Silverado?
The most common MOT failures are parking brake: efficiency below requirements, fog lamp not working, and parking brake recording little or no effort. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Chevrolet Silverado do per year?
The typical Chevrolet Silverado does around 2,629 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Chevrolet Silverado last?
Most Chevrolet Silverado models stay on UK roads for around 39 years based on our analysis of 322 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Chevrolet Silverado?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Chevrolet Silverado?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Chevrolet Silverado is 2015 with a 89.4% pass rate across 66 tests.