Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vs. Ford F-150

Compare repair costs, reliability, and owner reviews

Chevrolet Silverado 1500

$714
Average Annual
Repair Cost

Ford F-150

$788
Average Annual
Repair Cost

Overall Reliability Rating

3
1
2
Above Average
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Reliability Rating is 3.5 out of 5.0, which ranks it 5th out of 17 for fullsize trucks. The average annual repair cost is $714 which means it has average ownership costs. While repairs tend to be more severe than average, the number of those issues is low, so major repairs are uncommon for the Silverado 1500.
3
1
2
Above Average
The Ford F-150 Reliability Rating is 3.5 out of 5.0, which ranks it 7th out of 17 for fullsize trucks. The average annual repair cost is $788 which means it has higher than average ownership costs. While repairs tend to be more severe than average, these issues occur less often, so major repairs are infrequent for the F-150.
Cost
Average annual repairs total
$714
inexpensive
expensive
$788
inexpensive
expensive
Frequency
Average annual repair shop visits
0.23
not often
very often
0.28
not often
very often
Severity
Percentage of annual repairs that are urgent
16%
not urgent
urgent
15%
not urgent
urgent

Overall Car Ratings & Details

5 (7)
4 (42)
3 (23)
2 (3)
1 (4)
“Small V-8;Poor Gas Milage;Nice Ride”
“Small V-8;Poor Gas Milage;Nice Ride”
5 (17)
4 (63)
3 (29)
2 (3)
1 (3)
The Ford F-150 ranks highest in value and ranks lowest in fuel economy.
“I bought this truck w/ 105,000 miles on it. Now it has 117,000. Other than the head gaskets replaced by the dealer...and I only had to pay 50.00 on a 1900.00 job...i've had no major problems w/...”
“I bought this truck w/ 105,000 miles on it. Now it has 117,000. Other than the head gaskets...”

Vehicle Comparison Rundown

While the Ford F-150 has been the best-selling pickup since 1977, the Silverado 1500 has been its leading challenger. Both of these trucks have large and loyal groups of fans, each of whom would never consider buying the other brand.

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has largely stayed with the standard pickup formula, with its steel body and conventional V6 and V8 engine lineup. The Ford F-150 has taken a more innovative path, with its move to an aluminum body and using turbocharged V6 engines in place of many V8s. Both approaches seem to be working for their respective manufacturers.

Each of these top-rated pickups comes in a variety of bed sizes, cab configurations and trim levels. You can start with a basic, stripped-down work truck, and go all the way up to a full-luxury version of each, with leather, a moonroof and all the latest technology and driver assistance features you’d find in a luxury sedan.

A comparison of these two vehicles comes down to preference. If you are a Ford or a Chevy loyalist, you know which one you’ll be buying. For the rest of us, the Silverado’s higher reliability rating and lower average annual repair cost are worth considering. Still, it makes sense to take test drive both and see which one you prefer.