The Chevrolet Silverado is a pickup truck built from 1999 to 2026 over 10 generations. Most were assembled in the United States — 63.1% of those on record. Between 2003 and 2026 it grew 3 cm longer and gained 238 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl, Hybrid, V6, V8. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Silverado is
The Chevrolet Silverado is a pickup truck that Chevrolet built from 1999 to 2026 — 28 model years. Our measurements put it at 10 generations, the current one starting in 2020. It has been offered with 4-cyl, Hybrid, V6, V8 power. Its closest sibling in the Chevrolet range: SSR.
Where the Silverado is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 12,683 Silverados on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 1GC, 1GB, 1GN, 1GE | 1999-2008 | |
| Canada | 2GC, 2GT, 2GE, 2G1 | 1999-2008 | |
| Mexico | 3GC, 3GN, 3GB | 2000-2008 |
Check your own: the first three characters of its VIN decide which line above it belongs to. What every character in a Silverado VIN means →
Silverado generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-2002 | 565 cm | 365 cm | - | - | - |
| 2003 | 595 cm | 389 cm | 2518 kg | +30 cm | - |
| 2004-2005 | 571 cm | 365 cm | 2498 kg | -24 cm | -20 kg |
| 2006-2007 | 595 cm | 389 cm | 2498 kg | +24 cm | +0 kg |
| 2008 | 583 cm | 378 cm | 2538 kg | -12 cm | +40 kg |
| 2009-2010 | 570 cm | 365 cm | 2594 kg | -13 cm | +56 kg |
| 2011-2013 | 583 cm | 378 cm | 2778 kg | +13 cm | +184 kg |
| 2014 | 573 cm | 365 cm | 2756 kg | -10 cm | -22 kg |
| 2015-2019 | 598 cm | 389 cm | 2791 kg | +25 cm | +35 kg |
| 2020-2026 | 598 cm | 374 cm | 2756 kg | +0 cm | -35 kg |
Between 2003 and 2026 the Silverado gained 3 cm in length (+0.5%) and 238 kg in weight (+9.5%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced. Full dimensions by year →
Chevrolet Silverado tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Chevrolet Silverado have? Power & range
The Chevrolet Silverado is offered with 4 powertrains — 3L 6-cyl, 5.3L 8-cyl, 2.7L 4-cyl, 5.3L 8-cyl Hybrid. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.0L · 6-cyl | Automatic 10-spd | RWD | Diesel |
| V8 | 5.3L · 8-cyl | Automatic 10-spd | RWD | Regular |
| 4-cyl | 2.7L · 4-cyl | Automatic 8-spd | RWD | Regular |
| Hybrid | 5.3L · 8-cyl | Automatic 8-spd | RWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Can a Chevrolet Silverado tow? Towing & payload
As a pickup, the Chevrolet Silverado is built to tow and haul. The exact maximum towing capacity and payload depend on the engine, drivetrain and whether it has the factory tow package.
What sets your Silverado's tow & payload rating:
- Engine — a larger or turbocharged engine tows more than the base unit.
- Drivetrain & axle — 4WD/AWD and the axle ratio shift the rating.
- Tow package — the factory towing package (hitch, wiring, transmission cooler) raises the max.
- Payload & GVWR — GVWR caps the combined load; more passengers and cargo lower how much you can tow.
Exact towing capacity, payload and GVWR are added per engine, drivetrain and trim — decode your VIN above, or check the driver's door-jamb and hitch labels. Curb weight from vehicle specifications.
The Silverado by the numbers
What the federal and market records say. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Silverado | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 434 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 15,445 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Insurance | $1,454/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 13,499 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Chevrolet Silverado?
The Silverado is a pickup truck, built from 1999 to 2026 across 10 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl, Hybrid, V6, V8.
Where is the Chevrolet Silverado made?
Across 12,683 cars in our records the split is: the United States (63.1%), Canada (33.5%), Mexico (3.4%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Silverado have?
10 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2020. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Silverado grew 3 cm longer and gained 238 kg.
What is the Chevrolet Silverado warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Silverado reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Silverado?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.