New vehicles like the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra half-ton trucks are expected to be trouble-free, but sometimes that’s not the case. During the first three years of driving, you shouldn’t have to worry about more than regular maintenance, but there are some models that show problems during this time. Knowing which pickup trucks could cost a lot to fix or give you problems once the warranty has expired is an important part of the buying process.

17 most common problems that could cause trouble for you in these half-ton trucks

According to Consumer Reports, there are 17 trouble spots on each car that could be a problem for you during the first few years of driving. Those areas are:

• Engine Major – requires engine rebuild or replacement along with other major repairs
• Engine Minor – problems with belts, pulleys, computers, and other minor issues
• Engine Cooling – trouble with the radiator, cooling fan, water pump
• Transmission Major – a rebuild or replacement would be required
• Transmission Minor – trouble with the gear selector, computer, sensor, or solenoid
• Drive System – difficulty in the driveshaft, axle, CV joint, or differential
• Fuel System/Emissions – sensors failing, emission-control devices failing
• Electrical System – problems with the alternator, battery, or related systems
• Climate System – trouble with the air conditioning or heating system for the cabin
• Suspension/Steering – shocks, struts, ball joints, tie rods, etc. that fail to work
• Brakes – ABS, parking brake, master cylinder, calipers, and rotors that fail
• Exhaust System – trouble with the muffler, pipes, catalytic converter
• Paint/Trim – fading, peeling, or cracking paint
• Body Integrity – strange noises, seals that leak, and worn weather stripping
• Body Hardware – trouble with the windows, locks, latches, and doors
• Power Equipment and Accessories – cruise control, electronic systems, monitoring systems
• In-Car Electronics – problems in the systems used for comfort and entertainment

As you can see, there are many items that could go wrong with your new ride, but during the first few years, you shouldn’t have to face these issues.

Thankfully, the percentages are low for these half-ton trucks

When you see the models listed that match up with the most common problems, you might think you need to avoid those vehicles at all costs. For example, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 are listed as the vehicles with the most Major Engine issues. Even though this is true, these trucks only show engine issues on this level at a four percent rate. That’s a very small percentage.

By comparison, the 2019 Kia Forte is listed as the Transmission Major problem in 6.5 percent of the models. This problem occurs in 6.5 percent of the models. When you look down to the Transmission Minor and see the vehicle listed, you might want to steer clear of the 2019 Ford Mustang. This car has this problem in 5.7 percent of the models.

These small percentage numbers should serve as a warning and not a hard and fast rule for you to avoid certain vehicles including these half-ton trucks from GM.

More information can only aid in your decision making

When it’s time to buy your next vehicle, you might want to supplement the advice given by Consumer Reports with information from other sources as well. The team at Motor Junkie put together a list of models to think twice about buying, whether you want to buy these vehicles new or find one that’s been around for a few years.

Gather your information before choosing the Chevrolet Silverado

Whether you want to drive a pickup truck like the Chevrolet Silverado or get behind a small car like the Kia Forte, you’ll want to gather information from several sources to make sure you’re selecting the vehicle that fits your lifestyle. Avoid the most common problems mentioned when you can and pick out the vehicle that will give you several years of daily driving pleasure. That vehicle might be either the GMC Sierra or Chevrolet Silverado half-ton trucks.

Next, learn which used models of the Toyota Tacoma you should avoid, or learn more tips you should know when buying a new car in the video below:

This article was updated on 7/22/2022.