Chevy Silverado And GMC Sierra Have Major Engine Problems, Says Consumer Reports
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The Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra are hugely popular pickup trucks, but now, both nameplates have been singled out as having major engine issues and reliability problems.
Per a recent post from non-profit consumer organization Consumer Reports, the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra are tied as the recent models most likely to exhibit major engine problems. The Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra are both pointed out as “they’re the same trucks sold under different brands,” according to Consumer Reports.
Consumer Reports listed several vehicles most likely to exhibit reliability issues in the organization’s 17 key trouble spots, which, in addition to Major Engine issues, also includes Engine Cooling issues, Major Transmission issues, Drive System issues, Electrical System issues, and Climate System issues.
Notably, the 2020 Buick Encore GX was the vehicle most likely to have brake system issues.
The Consumer Reports ranking is based on reliability data collected via Consumer Reports member surveys, and focuses on 1- to 3-year-old models.
According to Consumer Reports, 4 percent of Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra owners reported some kind of Major Engine issue, including full engine replacements, as well as cylinder head-related issues. Major engine issues include an engine rebuild or replacement, cylinder head problems, head gasket problems, turbocharger or supercharger problems, and timing chain or timing belt problems.
Overall, Consumer Reports gives the 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 and 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 one out of five with regard to reliability scoring.
As a reminder, the 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 and 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 were both offered prior to the full model refresh introduced for the 2022 model year, as well as before the pre-refresh 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 Limited and 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Limited. Engine options for the 2021 model year include turbocharged 2.7L I4 L3B gasoline engine, naturally aspirated 4.3L V6 LV3 gasoline engine, naturally aspirated 5.3L V8 L82 gasoline engine, naturally aspirated 5.3L V8 L84 gasoline engine, naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 L87 gasoline engine, and the 3.0L I6 LM2 turbodiesel Duramax.
Both pickups ride on the GM T1 platform.
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Maybe I will pass on buying a 2022 Tahoe Z71 6.2L and wait to see how the re-designed expedition performs or wait for the 2023 Sequoia.
Keep in mind that the Consumer Reports owner survey results of 4% with major engine issue is focused 1 to 3 years old engines – a time period where there should be extremely low major failures. 4% failure rate is totally diabolical based 6 sigma quality standards. In reading all the articles, blogs, and videos, now the consumer report rating, and the class action lawsuit one can only wonder about “where there’s smoke…. Too much smoke….”. Sure every maker has some issues – but at this level!!!! I moved away from buying GM products several decades ago but recently placed an order for a 2022 Tahor Z71 6.2L. I got a call from my salesman yesterday to tell me that GM will not provide the Electric sliding console on the Tahoe I had on order. Every week is something new that GM cant deliver on. I took the opportunity to bail out of my order and get my deposit back. Given that at over $70K its the second largest purchase most people ever make, who needs GM’s possible quality issues? Who needs the constant worry of having major issues given the cloud that hangs over the 5.3L and 6.2L. And this whole issue of service….. Most people stretch service intervals, skip services etc. If GM products has to be babied so much, then maybe they should make pacifiers and not trucks and SUV’s. I will stick with what has worked fo me…. What was I thinking!
These engines have had problems since 2007 but let’s all act like it just started. 😏🙄
The engine problems have been around since 2007. I personally know this.
I have a 2008 silverado ext cab, 4.3 6 cylinder with 300,000 miles and runs good. New Silerrado looks fantastic but I’ll keep my o8 truck.
My engine needed major repairs at only 24,000 km
Piston lifters went and now I’m questioning the whole 84k purchase
Drop it like a bad habit man.
What are “piston lifters”?
After staying away from GM products for decades late last year I placed an order for a 2022 Tahoe Z71 6.2L with all the bells and whistles…. I had switched from GM to Ford products many years ago and had good luck with my Ford choices. Then I switched to Toyota and have never had any issues with my vehicles – each with over 200,000 miles (very similar to many on this forum with their good luck with GM products). Maybe I have been lucky and I know every brand/model will have a certain % with issues. There is no perfect car. But if I recall correctly the Consumer Reports rating of 1 for GM’s 5.3L and 6.2L reliability score (as low as it gets) was based on 1-3 years old vehicles as reported by owners. A major failure rate of 4% on new products that typically should have extremely low failure rate when new is absolutely diabolical by 6 Sigma quality standards. My own friend has a 2021 Tahoe Premier with 5.3L and only a couple of months old. A couple of weeks ago we found it totally dead in his garage (electrical issues – not engine failure). After seeing the report, reading so many articles, blogs, videos of owners with such significant engine failure rates on hardly used 5.3L and 6.2L engines I asked my two local mechanical shops about brand reliability. Both told me That they see more major and expensive issues with GM products than other brands and when asked both told me that they would not purchase GM products with their own money. I started to really question my own judgment. Yesterday I got a call from my Chevy Salesman to inform me that GM will now suspend its offering of the power sliding center console (its been one thing after another). It was the opening I needed. I cancelled my order, started the deposit refund will try and forget my moment of lapse in judgment when I placed the Tahoe order. Why risk over $73K for something that has such a large shadow over its head or a huge question mark that needs to be put to bed first. No Thank You GM!
Still own an 01 5.3, had an 04, and 11, and still have a 19 duramax and a 20 trail boss 5.3 and all but the 11 have been ultra reliable. The 11 was an early DOD engine and dropped a valve at 35k, then again at 47k, both were covered under warranty. The trail boss has been the worse for mileage, 16.5 avg. but I chalk that up to the lift, tires and my heavy right foot.
I left GM and bought a Toyota after 2 engines(5.3) being replaced in my 2010 Sierra. The transmission shifted hard as well. Luckily the engine blew and I traded it in on the yota.
Had a 2021 Silverado RST, 2 Wheel Drive. At 2000 miles, transmission had to be rebuilt under warranty. Walked from the shop to the showroom and traded for a 2021 Silverado, LTZ, 4 Wheel Drive with the Duramax Diesel. I will never buy another gas burner. In 19000 miles, I have lifetime fuel mileage average of 24.5, of which 90 percent if the miles driven are city miles.
Next year it will be Ford, then Dodge and then Toyota…It a chance we all take when we by new trucks or any vehicle for that matter. I’ll always be a Chevy man and you will also be a Ford man…
I have owned a 2010, 2015, a 2019 and now a 2021 GMC Sierra set’s. I have never had an issue with any of them. Not a single issue. I put 100,000 plus on each truck, except my new one of coarse. I tow/haul and live in hilly terrain. I don’t buy trucks for gas mileage. But I consistently get 20 to 21 avg. I have friends who were Ford and Dodge people who switched to GMC because of my trucks. GMC all the way!
My son has a 2016 GMC Sierra Denali 6.2 L V8, and didn’t have this truck 3 months and the engine is bad.. The dealership hasn’t been able to get one from anyplace they’ve inquired.. Even the engine plant in Flint Michigan isn’t producing them, nor has any they can send… so incompetent, irresponsible and dumb if you ask me
I assure you they very much want to build more engines. They’re building as many as they can with the components they are able to source. It would be truly dumb to think they’re just twiddling their thumbs instead of producing what the market demands. You know the frustration your son has in waiting for an engine? They feel the same, except many orders of magnitude greater, while trying to get the necessary components while maintaining quality, all while reliant on foreign sources when domestic manufacturers left the market.
A little more details would be nice. You can’t claim they are having major engine problems, but not provide what problems and on what engine. This article is just click bait.
Consumer Reports did not warn me about the horrible 2000 Toyota Corolla LE that I bought new. The paint failures, the rust, the terrible oil consumption, the multiple cd changer,wheel bearing, hood latch, serpentine belt and pretensioner replacements. Consumer Reports said it was the smart compact car to buy, but it was terrible. I never believed Consumer Reports after that.
I replaced a collapsed lifter last yr then about 9 months later I had to replace the engine cam bearing destroyed & faulty oil pump on my 2008 Silverado
I have a 2004 Yukon 4×4 with the 5.3 engine with 237000 miles on it and so far I have not had any major problems with it,sure hope I don’t either.
I also own a 1994 GMC Sierra 4×4 that I purchased when it was two years old with 103000 miles on it
I let my grandson use it to drive to school and it had a small water leak and he carried a gallon of water in the back bed so if it run hot he would add that water to it, he lived in a differnt state than i did. Even after that it had 367000 before the motor started knocking. If i had kept it and drove it myself i believe i could have gotten over 400000 miles before i had trouble with it.
I have a 2020 Trail Boss 6.2l. No problems yet, average MPG over current OD 18000 miles (591 non-idle hours) I get 14.2 mpg. That’s a combo of city driving, and long road trips to SoCal and Sierras, many times towing a 4000lb travel trailer. Pretty standard average MPG I’d say for a 6.2L V8. And by comparison, I had a 2011 Tundra 5.7l for 10 years and it also averaged 14.7 over life of truck. V8 engines are V8 engines…they suck down the fuel. The game changer for the Chevy is the 10 speed transmission….awesome.
Crossing my fingers mine is not one of the problem children.
Matt
Santa Cruz, Ca
Own 2021 Silverado, great truck!
I actually went ahead and added an online subscription to CR to see if there was any detail. No detail on what the “engine major” issues are or which engine(s) are involved, typical frustrating lack of detail from CR. What they did say was that it was the 2021 Silverado that was the only problem (much worse than average). The 20 was average for “engine major” and the 18 and 19 were better than average. If the bad batch of valve springs was on 21’s I am assuming this is what caused the poor rating.
To all that are leaving comments criticizing Chev and GMC trucks, would just like you to know I sold Chevrolet trucks for 20 years and found that the overwhelming majority of my customers loved our trucks and had great success with them. I would love to hear all the comments regarding Ford trucks and Dodge trucks as I can only imagine the criticizing they would take as well.
Good to hear 🙂 Thanks for relaying your experience.
They want big money for these trucks but put the cheapest parts in them every one has one have to replace the lifter’s in them but GMC don’t give a damn they already have there money and he’ll with the owner will not ever buy another one