T1XX Chevy Silverado 1500: 2019-2026 Guide
The T1XX Chevrolet Silverado 1500 covers the 2019 through 2026 model years. It launched lighter and roomier, with the Trail Boss and a turbo four, then a big 2022 refresh brought a much nicer cabin, Google built-in, Super Cruise and the first Silverado ZR2. Here's what changed year to year, which engine to pick, the recalls that matter and how it rates for safety.
T1XX Silverado 1500 at a Glance
Model years 2019–2026 Eight model years
Platform T1XX Shared with the GMC Sierra 1500
Refresh 2022 New cabin, ZR2, Super Cruise
Power range 277–420 hp 3.0 Duramax to 6.2 V8
Max towing 13,400 lb 2020–2021 6.2 V8; 13,300 lb from 2022
Built in US, Mexico, Canada Fort Wayne, Silao, Oshawa
What Made the T1XX Silverado 1500 Different
The T1XX Silverado came out of the gate up to 450 lb lighter than the truck it replaced in crew cab V8 form, thanks to aluminum doors, hood and tailgate. Chevy also widened the steel bed floor by about 7 inches at its widest point, and it built a lineup of eight trims, from the WT to the High Country, with the factory-lifted LT Trail Boss right in the middle.
However, the 2019–2021 cabin looked a lot like the old one, with a small screen and plenty of hard plastic. Chevy fixed that for 2022, when LT and higher trims got a 13.4-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital cluster and Google built-in. The High Country also got Super Cruise hands-free driving, and the ZR2 arrived as the new off-road flagship.
Engine choice is wide, too. You can pick a 2.7-liter turbo four, the 5.3 and 6.2 V8s or a smooth 3.0-liter Duramax diesel. As a result, there's a Silverado for nearly every budget, although the 6.2 V8's engine recall is something every shopper needs to understand.
What we like
- 2022-and-up cabin is a big step up
- Smooth, frugal 3.0 Duramax diesel
- Trail Boss and ZR2 are tough off-roaders
What to watch
- Big 6.2 V8 engine recall and an open NHTSA probe
- 2019–2021 interior feels dated
- Poor IIHS headlight ratings on many versions
T1XX Silverado 1500 Engines and Power
The T1XX Silverado had six engines over its run, although the 4.3 V6 and the six-speed 5.3 were gone after 2021. The 5.3 V8 is the most common choice, while the diesel is the one for long-distance towing.
| Engine | Years | Found in | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7L turbo I4 (L3B) | 2019–2021 | Custom, LT, RST; WT and Custom from 2020 | 310 hp / 348 lb-ft |
| 2.7L turbo I4 (L3B, TurboMax from 2024) | 2022–2026 | WT, Custom, LT and others | 310 hp / 420–430 lb-ft |
| 4.3L V6 (LV3) | 2019–2021 | WT, Custom, Custom Trail Boss | 285 hp / 305 lb-ft |
| 5.3L V8 (L82) | 2019–2021 | Lower trims, 6-speed | 355 hp / 383 lb-ft |
| 5.3L V8 (L84, Dynamic Fuel Management) | 2019–2026 | Most trims, 8- or 10-speed | 355 hp / 383 lb-ft |
| 6.2L V8 (L87) | 2019–2026 | LTZ, High Country, RST, Trail Boss, ZR2 | 420 hp / 460 lb-ft |
| 3.0L Duramax I6 diesel (LM2) | 2020–2022 | LT, RST, LTZ, High Country | 277 hp / 460 lb-ft |
| 3.0L Duramax I6 diesel (LZ0) | 2023–2026 | Most trims; ZR2 from 2024 | 305 hp / 495 lb-ft |
One big refresh, lots of small updates
T1XX Silverado 1500 Changes by Model Year
Most T1XX changes came in one big step for 2022, when the truck got a new face and, on LT and up, a new cabin. Otherwise, Chevy added engines, trims and features a little at a time.
- 2019 Launch year with eight trims, including the new Custom Trail Boss and LT Trail Boss with a 2-inch lift. The old K2XX truck was sold alongside it as the 2019 Silverado LD. Max towing is 12,200 lb.
- 2020 The 3.0 Duramax diesel arrives with 277 hp and 460 lb-ft, and the 6.2 spreads to the Trail Boss and RST. As a result, max towing climbs to 13,400 lb.
- 2021 Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto arrive, tow ratings rise for the 2.7 and the diesel, and the diesel option gets $1,500 cheaper.
- 2022 Big refresh with a new front end on every trim, a new cabin with a 13.4-inch screen and Google built-in on LT and up, Super Cruise on High Country and the new ZR2. Early 2022 trucks were sold as the Silverado LTD, which is the old 2021 design.
- 2023 The updated diesel brings 305 hp and 495 lb-ft, and the ZR2 Bison arrives with AEV armor.
- 2024 The 2.7 is renamed TurboMax, the ZR2 can be ordered with the diesel, and an active exhaust arrives for the 6.2. In addition, a High Country Midnight Edition joins the lineup.
- 2025 A trailer brake controller becomes standard on LT and up, and the ZR2 gets premium audio and park assist as standard.
- 2026 Final year of this generation. Super Cruise on High Country can now steer on some unmapped roads with clear lane lines, and the ZR2 gets the Multi-Flex tailgate as standard.
Our verdict: if you can stretch to it, buy a 2022 or newer. You get the much better cabin on LT and up, more tech and a 5-star NHTSA overall rating on the Crew Cab.
T1XX Silverado 1500 Special Models
The T1XX era gave the Silverado a factory-lifted Trail Boss, its first ZR2 and an AEV-armored Bison.
2019–2026
LT Trail Boss
2-inch lift Z71 gear Locking rear diff
The Trail Boss brought a factory 2-inch lift and all the Z71 off-road equipment, including a locking rear differential. A cheaper Custom Trail Boss offered the same idea on a simpler trim.
2022–2026
ZR2
Multimatic DSSV dampers Front and rear lockers 33-in mud tires
The first Silverado ZR2 used spool-valve dampers, electronic lockers at both ends and 33-inch Goodyear mud-terrain tires. It launched with the 6.2 V8, rated to tow 8,900 lb, and added a diesel option for 2024.
2023–2026
ZR2 Bison
AEV bumpers Boron-steel skid plates 18-in AEV wheels
Built with AEV, the Bison adds stamped-steel bumpers, five boron-steel skid plates and rocker protection, which raises the approach angle to 32.5 degrees.
T1XX Silverado 1500 Recalls
The recall that matters most on a T1XX Silverado is the 6.2-liter L87 V8 campaign, which covers 107,244 Silverado 1500s, because a failed engine is a huge repair. In addition, 2020–2022 diesel trucks have a transmission recall that can lock the rear wheels.
| Model years | Campaign | What's affected |
|---|---|---|
| 2021–2024 (6.2L V8) | NHTSA 25V274 | Connecting rod or crankshaft defects can cause engine failure. Dealers inspect the engine and repair or replace it; engines that pass get 0W-40 oil, a new oil cap and filter. |
| 2020–2022 (3.0L diesel) | NHTSA 24V797 | A transmission control valve can fail and lock the rear wheels. The fix is a software update plus a special coverage program. |
| 2020–2022 (3.0L diesel) | NHTSA 26V083 | Re-recall for trucks that weren't repaired correctly under 24V797. |
| 2026 (4WD) | NHTSA 26V289 | A missing transfer-case part can cause sudden wheel lockup on a small number of trucks. GM says not to drive them until repaired. |
| 2019 | NHTSA 19V889 | ABS and stability control can be disabled without a warning light. |
| 2019–2020 | NHTSA 20V650 | A driveshaft weld can separate. |
| 2019–2020 | NHTSA 19V814 | Hot gas from a deploying seat belt pretensioner can ignite the carpet. |
T1XX Silverado 1500 Safety Ratings by Region
The T1XX Silverado was crash-tested in the US by both NHTSA and IIHS. Keep in mind that IIHS has toughened several tests since 2019, so the older scores aren't directly comparable with today's.
| Region | Program | Rating | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | NHTSA | ★★★★ overall (2019–2021, 2022 LTD) | Crew Cab 4WD: 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover. |
| United States | NHTSA | ★★★★★ overall (2022–2025) | Crew Cab 4WD: the driver frontal score rose to 5 stars, while frontal overall stayed at 4, side at 5 and rollover at 4. No 2026 ratings were posted as of November 2026. |
| United States | IIHS | Good / Marginal (Crew Cab) | Good in the driver-side small overlap test but Marginal on the passenger side, Acceptable in the updated side test and Poor in the updated moderate overlap test (2023–2026). No Top Safety Pick in any year. |
| United States | IIHS | Poor headlights | Every 2019–2021 headlight version rated Poor, and so did the WT through LT Trail Boss versions for 2023–2026. |
| Canada | NHTSA and IIHS | As above | Canada doesn't run its own crash-star program, so Canadian buyers use the US results. |
| Other markets | Euro NCAP, ANCAP | Not rated | Neither program has published a Silverado 1500 rating. |
Buying a Used T1XX Silverado 1500
A used T1XX Silverado 1500 is a great truck if you pick the right engine and check the recall history. Here's what comes up most.
- 6.2 V8 engine recall. On 2021–2024 trucks with the L87 6.2, confirm recall 25V274 was done and ask whether the engine was repaired or replaced. Listen for knocking or a check-engine light, and keep an eye on NHTSA's follow-up probe, which also covers 2025–2026 engines.
- V8 lifters. Owners of 5.3 and 6.2 V8s with cylinder deactivation report lifter failures, and a lawsuit covering 2014-and-up GM V8 pickups was still pending in 2026. A ticking or misfire at idle is a red flag.
- Diesel transmission recall. On 2020–2022 diesels, make sure both 24V797 and the 26V083 re-recall are done.
- Know which 2022 you're getting. The 2022 Silverado LTD is the old 2019–2021 design. Look for the new front end and, on LT and up, the 13.4-inch screen if you want the refreshed truck.
Our picks
- Best overall: 2022–2026 LT with the 5.3 V8
- Best for towing: 2023–2026 with the 305-hp diesel
- Best off-road: ZR2 or ZR2 Bison
Think twice
- Any 6.2 V8 truck without recall paperwork
- 2020–2022 diesels with open transmission recalls
- Trucks with a ticking or misfiring V8
Other Silverado 1500 Generations
The T1XX sits between the K2XX and the redesigned 2027 truck. Jump to the newer one, or see every generation.
T1XX Silverado 1500 FAQ
What years is the T1XX Chevy Silverado 1500?
The T1XX Silverado 1500 covers the 2019 through 2026 model years, with a big refresh for 2022. The redesigned 2027 Silverado 1500 replaces it.
What is the 2022 Silverado LTD?
It's the pre-refresh 2019–2021 design, sold as a 2022 model while Chevy switched over to the refreshed truck. It was offered from WT to High Country, but not as a ZR2, and it doesn't have the new cabin or Super Cruise.
Which Silverado 1500 years have the 6.2 engine recall?
NHTSA recall 25V274 covers 2021–2024 Silverado 1500s with the 6.2-liter L87 V8 built from March 2021 to May 2024. NHTSA's EA26005 probe, opened in August 2026, also looks at 2025–2026 engines.
How much can a 2019–2026 Silverado 1500 tow?
It depends on the year. The 2019 truck topped out at 12,200 lb, the 2020–2021 6.2 V8 reached 13,400 lb, and from 2022 the max was 13,300 lb with the diesel and Max Tow package. Check the door-jamb label for your truck's exact rating.
When did the Silverado ZR2 come out?
The first Silverado ZR2 arrived with the 2022 refresh, with a 6.2 V8, Multimatic DSSV dampers, front and rear lockers and 33-inch mud-terrain tires. The ZR2 Bison followed for 2023.
Is the T1XX Silverado 1500 safe?
The 2022-and-up Crew Cab earned 5 stars overall from NHTSA, up from 4 stars before. IIHS rated it Good in the driver-side small overlap test, but it scored Marginal on the passenger side and Poor in the updated moderate overlap test, and it never earned a Top Safety Pick.
Sources
- PickupTruckTalk: 2019 Silverado debut
- GM Authority: 2019 Silverado tow ratings
- GM Authority: 2020 Chevrolet Silverado
- GM: redesigned 2022 Silverado
- Cars.com: what is the 2022 Silverado LTD
- Cars.com: 2023 Silverado Bison and Duramax
- Motor1: 2024 Silverado ZR2 diesel
- Cars.com: what's new for 2025
- PickupTruckTalk: 2026 Silverado changes
- NHTSA recall report 25V274
- NHTSA recall report 26V083
- autoevolution: NHTSA L87 engineering analysis
- IIHS: Silverado 1500 Crew Cab ratings
- Motor Illustrated: Oshawa ends Silverado 1500
Keep Exploring
See every Silverado 1500 generation side by side, or head back to the full Chevrolet lineup.
Photo credits
- Header image: HJUdall, CC0, cropped and resized.
- Dashboard of a refreshed 2022 Chevrolet Silverado…: deathpallie325, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- 2023 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 in dark gray…: RL GNZLZ, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT Trail Boss…: TaurusEmerald, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Refreshed 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT Crew…: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.