The Chevy Silverado 1500 is one of the most iconic nameplates in the automotive industry. Interestingly, it’s not one of the more adored trucks on the market, at least over the past few years. 

The Silverado competes against the Ford F-150 for American’s hearts year after year. However, public opinion is beginning to favor the truck that’s ‘Built to Last’ rather than the one that’s ‘Like a Rock.’

Recent Chevy Silverado 1500 models have failed to win over owners, and it has only earned middling reviews amongst critics. What are some of the significant issues with this American truck, and what do owners have to say about their experiences driving it?

The Chevy Silverado isn’t the complete package

Shoppers have always known the Silverado as a hard-working truck with incredible capability. Much of this still holds true, as the 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500 offers best-in-class available towing capacity. Meanwhile, this truck has a roomy cabin and a rather large bed, making it versatile for hauling passengers or cargo. 

However, the advantages still don’t help Chevy Silverado 1500 measure up to other American full-size trucks. The U.S. News & World Report gave the 2020 Silverado 1500 an overall vehicle score of 8.2/10. That’s nearly a full point behind the ratings earned by the Ram 1500 and the class-leading Ford F-150.

The publication’s most significant issue with the 2020 Silverado 1500 was its interior quality. It pointed out the use of cheap, hard plastics throughout the cabin of the lower-end models. However, top-tier trims are much more luxurious, featuring leather and other high-quality materials. Notably, some of these interior quality issues are being addressed in the 2022 Silverado.

The 2020 Ram 1500 and 2020 Ford F-150 deliver similar performance capabilities. However, both models have a nicer interior than the Silverado, especially on the base trim.

What do owners have to say?

Truck owners generally love their rigs. However, they’re definitely vocal if they’re unhappy with their purchase. Some Chevy Silverado owners have voiced such complaints about the truck’s fourth-generation, which kicked off during the 2019 model year.

Drivers want to keep their truck in their driveway, not in the auto shop. However, some Silverado owners haven’t had an ideal experience with their model.

The current-generation Chevy Silverado 1500 has the worst customer rating among trucks on Kelley Blue Book, scoring just 3.4/5. Some reviewers left complaints about screeching brakes, a ‘jerky’ transmission, and electrical problems. Other owners echoed the critics’ complaints of cheap interior materials.

Meanwhile, other owners were fed up with the number of recalls. The NHTSA recalled the 2020 and 2019 models five times each for various issues.

One owner left a review stating, “Well, from the recalls to the garbage performance, all the way to quality, this truck is a piece of junk (to put it nicely.) I bought this truck brand new for the fact that it was rated (V6) to haul about 7,000 lbs. This truck is completely gutless even without a load.”

Is the Chevy Silverado 1500 worth your consideration?

This full-size truck has its fair share of issues, but there are worse models on the market. Those strongly considering a Silverado 1500 may want to consider waiting for the 2022 model, which should have a much nicer interior.

Shoppers who aren’t beholden to Chevrolet may want to look toward the other American trucks. The iconic Ford F-150 and the up-and-coming Ram 1500 may provide better bang for your buck and offer better dependability.