2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vs 2015 Ford F-150
Two full-size trucks, compared on what actually matters when you're buying used:
what breaks, when it breaks, and what it costs you.
2015 Chevrolet
Silverado 1500
6/10
The K2 Silverado is handsome, capable, and cheap to fix — but only if you dodge the 5.3L AFM lifter tick and the 8L90 shudder.
VS
2015 Ford
F-150
7/10
America's best-selling truck reinvented in aluminum: light, capable, and cheap to run — but 2015 was year one, and the 3.5 EcoBoost and 6R80 transmission both have baggage.
Milo scores the 2015 Ford F-150 higher — 7/10 against 6/10.
By the numbers
Green is the better number — higher on every score, lower on failures, complaints and recalls.
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 |
Ford F-150 |
| Known failure points | 9 | 9 |
| NHTSA complaints | 1178 | 1425 |
| Safety recalls | 11 | 14 |
| Service bulletins | 12 | 12 |
| Reliability | 62 | 68 |
| Cheap to own | 65 | 62 |
| Fun factor | 68 | 70 |
| Holds value | 72 | 72 |
| Enthusiast cred | 60 | 65 |
The most expensive thing that goes wrong
2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
5.3L EcoTec3 AFM (Active Fuel Management) lifter collapse — usually cylinder 1 or 7
$2,500–$6,00060k–120k mi
2015 Ford F-150
6R80 transmission harsh 1-2 shift, unrequested downshifts, valve body/solenoid wear
$400–$3,50060k–100k mi
If you buy one, buy this one
✅ 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2015 Silverado 1500 LTZ Crew Cab 4x4 with the 5.3L L83 and the 6L80 6-speed (not the 8-speed), Z71 package, Max Trailering (NHT), G80 locking rear diff, and 3.42 gears. Build date after March 2015. Then plug in an AFM disabler on day one.
✅ 2015 Ford F-150
2015 F-150 XLT SuperCrew 4x4 with the 2.7L EcoBoost and Max Tow (302A package with 53B). Aluminum bed, modern power, better MPG than any V8, no 3.5 timing-chain risk, no 5.0 phaser risk. Second choice: 5.0 V8 XLT with the same trim — for the sound and simplicity, if you don't need MPG.
Narrowed it down? Get the full report
This comparison is model-level.
Milo's report goes car-level — the one you're actually looking at:
- A line-by-line negotiation script
- The pre-purchase inspection checklist
- VIN-specific open recalls
- What it's really worth right now
- Your next 15,000 miles, forecast
- Hidden features & money-savers
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Scores and findings blend documented NHTSA recalls and complaints with
patterns synthesized from owner communities. Always inspect the specific vehicle and
verify open recalls by VIN before buying.