How many miles does a silverado last

There are many reasons why you might decide that your next vehicle is going to be a truck. They are spacious, good in the snow, and can go where a sedan can only dream of going. If you have decided to shop around for a pickup, there is an incredibly good chance you will come across a Silverado, and like most people in the market for a new car, you might find yourself wondering how long a Silverado will last?

A well-maintained Chevy Silverado will last drivers anywhere from 150,000 to 200,000 miles, with many drivers having gone well beyond 200,000 miles. This translates to around 10 to 15 years of use.

Continue reading to learn more about this durable truck and whether a Silverado might be the right truck for you.

How many miles does a silverado last

The Chevy Silverado

In the 1970s, Silverado was simply the name of a trim choice that buyers could choose while buying a Suburban or C/K. Today, however, the Silverado is a line of pickup trucks manufactured by General Motors and sold under the Chevrolets brand.

The Silverado lineup includes full-size pickups, medium-duty trucks, and chassis cab trucks. As far as trucks go, the Chevy Silverado is a beast. Loaded with advanced technology and equipped to handle large loads, this durable truck was built to get the job done—whatever that job may be.

Are Silverado’s Reliable?

The Silverado consistently scores well in terms of reliability across several organizations. For example, RepairPal (which measures a vehicle’s reliability based on the cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance) has given Silverado a reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5.0, which ranks it as 5th out of 17 for full-size trucks. US News Cars also ranked the Chevy Silverado as 5th in the Full-Size Pickup Truck category and gave it a reliability rating of 7.9 out of 10. Finally, J.D. Power, which bases its reliability rating on the unbiased opinions of real car owners, has given the 2021 Chevy Silverado a reliability rating of 83/100 and ranked it as #3 in Large Light Duty Pickups.

Organization Reliability Rating Rank
US Car News 7.9 out of 10 5th in Full-Size Pickup Truck
RepairPal 3.5 out of 5.0 5th out of 17 in Full-Size Trucks
J.D. Power 83/100 #3 in Large Light Duty Pickups

How Much Does It Cost to Maintain a Silverado?

Although rated well, the overall reliability of a vehicle will depend on how well that vehicle is maintained, and knowing how much it will cost you to keep the vehicle in good condition is an important part of buying a car.

According to CAREDGE, Silverado owners can expect to spend $10,003 on repairs and maintenance during the first ten years of ownership, which is just slightly better than the average for other similar vehicles. Additionally, there is a 29.99% chance that your Silverado will need a major repair during those first ten years, which is 8.49% worse than other similar vehicles. However, edmunds estimates drivers will spend just $3,815 on maintenance during the first five years plus an additional $788 on repairs.

What Are the Most Common Problems with A Chevy Silverado?

When trying to decide which vehicle to purchase, it is a clever idea to look at some of the most common problems with each consideration. Making repairs is another way to get the most out of your vehicle, but if you cannot afford to make those repairs right away, it could lead to much bigger issues. Below you can find a list of the most common problems to plague Silverado owners as well as the average cost to fix each one.

Most Common Silverado Problems Average Mileage Issue Occurs Average Price to Repair the Problem
Excessive Oil Consumption 80,500 $2,700 (Maybe due to a defect in the fuel management system).
Engine Knocking 96,000 $4,300
Dashboard Instrument Failure 84,400 $220
Steering Shaft Issues 39,050 – 88,799 $190 – $600
Fuel Level Sensor Failure 122,682 $1,071 – $1,291
Daytime Running Light Burnout Prone to Burnout Throughout Lifespan $82 – $98
Fuel Injector Issues 64,458 $789 – $911
Source: Carcomplaints and RepairPal

Although the actual price to repair your vehicle will depend on the age, location, and repairs being done, the average repair cost for a Silverado seems to be both high and low. According to yourmechanic.com, the estimated price for most Silverado repairs ranges from $95 to $4634, with an average price of about $301.

Are Silverado’s Prone to Rust Issues?

Rust is an inevitable part of owning a truck, and at some point, all truck owners will have to face this problem. That being said, one of the biggest complaints people have about Chevy trucks is their reputation for rust, with some owners having reported rust as early as three to five years. Drivers should watch for rust in areas such as the frame, wheel wells, in the bed of the truck, and around the undercarriage.

There is a widespread rumor swirling around that Chevrolet purposely uses subpar materials because they want users to replace their vehicles more quickly. However, this theory has never been proven and does not work as a business model because drivers would be more likely to not buy from the brand again. Furthermore, while Chevy has a reputation for rust, it does not appear that the company is any worse than many other popular truck brands.

How Long Do Silverado’s Actually Last?

One of the best ways to gauge how long a Silverado might last is to look at how long others have. Luckily, thanks to the many automotive marketplaces popping up online, finding this information has become easier than ever. We looked at high-mileage Silverado’s on both CarGurus and Autotrader to find out how long a well-maintained Silverado could potentially last.

CarGurus

  • 2005 Silverado 2500HD LT 4WD – 400,000
  • 2004 Silverado 2500HD LS 4WD – 398,493
  • 2000 Silverado 1500 LS Extended Cab 4WD – 397,500
  • 2011 Silverado 3500 LT LB 4WD – 385,546
  • 2003 Silverado 1500 LS Extended Cab RWD – 378,173

AutoTrader

  • 2017 Silverado 1500 – 732,100
  • 2016 Silverado 1500 – 622,265
  • 2003 Silverado 2WD – 550,000
  • 1994 Silverado 1500 2WD – 444,488
  • 2010 Silverado 1500 LT – 420,661

According to these numbers, it is very possible to get well above 200,000 miles with a Silverado when you keep up on the vehicle’s scheduled maintenance, make repairs as soon as needed, and watch for rust in problematic areas.

If you’re considering buying a used Silverado it’s worth investing a few dollars to check the VIN number against the vehicle database. An audit with a company like VinAudit (links to VinAudit) will guard against Mileage fraud, Salvage rebuilds, Title washing, Vin cloning, and a ton of other uglies.

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Can a Chevy Silverado last 300 000 miles?

Various auto sites praise the Silverado as a dependable truck that can last about 200,000 to 250,000 miles, which is over 20 years. However, many owners have reported owning Silverados with more than 300,000 miles on the odometer with proper maintenance.

What is high mileage for a Silverado?

How many miles is too many for a Chevy Silverado? You'll find different opinions regarding this topic. VEHQ tells us to look for gas trucks with less than 100,000 miles or diesel models with under 200,000 miles.

Is 200k miles alot for a Chevy Silverado?

If you came into this FAQ asking yourself, “how many miles can a Chevy Silverado last?” the answer is a long, long time. Treat it right, and you can easily reach 10-20 years or over 200,000 miles.

How many miles can you put on a Chevy 1500?

But by getting the Silverado 1500 model that suits your needs and by caring for your truck with regular maintenance from certified Chevrolet mechanics, your Chevrolet Silverado 1500 can easily run strong for well over 200,000 miles.