General Motors’ premium truck brand, GMC, was ranked the second-worst vehicle brand by Consumer Reports in a recent industry analysis.
Consumer Reports recently published a ranking of the best vehicle brands, which was based on an overall score that was assigned to each brand. This overall score was based on the publication’s own road test scores for a brand’s various vehicles, along with predicted owner satisfaction based on responses from past owner surveys. A vehicle’s safety score from institutions like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was also taken into account when assigning brand scores. A separate “Green” score was also applied to brands based on the number of eco-friendly vehicles it offers.
Based on the above criteria, GMC was the second-worst car brand behind Jeep. This conclusion was drawn from a low predicted reliability score in past owner surveys, along with middling owner satisfaction. The automaker had decent road test scores, with its vehicles averaging a score of 74 out of 100, but Consumer Reports only has a buy recommendation on a single GMC product, the Acadia crossover. It also tested the GMC Canyon, GMC Sierra 1500 Limited, GMC Yukon and GMC Yukon XL, however it did not recommend its readers buy any of these nameplates. GMC was also docked points as it does not offer any eco-friendly vehicles – although that has now changed with the introduction of the GMC Hummer EV Pickup.
The best-performing brand in this study was Subaru, which had strong scores for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction, along with a very good average road test score of 89 out of 100. Of the six Subaru models Consumer Reports editors drove, it recommended five of them. The Japanese brand also has two eco-friendly products in its portfolio, netting it further positive sentiment among editors. Mazda was second, followed by BMW in third, Honda in fourth and Lexus in fifth.
| Model | Overall Score | Recommended | Green Choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia | 70 | Yes | - |
| Canyon | 45 | - | - |
| Hummer EV Pickup | Not tested | - | - |
| Savana | Not tested | - | - |
| Sierra 1500 Limited | 47 | - | - |
| Sierra 2500HD | Not tested | - | - |
| Sierra 3500HD | Not tested | - | - |
| Terrain | Not tested | - | - |
| Yukon | 39 | - | - |
| Yukon XL | 40 | - | - |
While GMC fared poorly in this study, Consumer Reports notes that “each brand has a range of performance among its vehicles,” so while one or two products may drag a brand’s average score down, that does not mean all of its vehicles will perform that way.
“Shoppers should always research specific models to make sure they find the performance and quality they expect,” the publication concludes.
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Comments
I wonder if Mary prints these articles and hangs them on her Sub Zero Fridge at home?
Yep Corvette is the most satisfying car but it’s made by GM kinda a conundrum huh?
Another incomplete CR report. The HD trucks, Hummer EV and others were not even tested in these results! I’ve owned the Denali 3500 Dual Wheel king of GMC’s truck lineup for 2 plus years and it performs far better in all factors than my previous ten year old Sierra 2500 crew cab LWB meaning that the improvements made since 2009 are very evident. Reliability in both trucks is outstanding!
Your new truck is better than your ten year old one?
That’s shocking.
You clearly missed what he was saying.
A lot of haters in these comments that gm was ranked low.
I have a 2017 GMC Sierra 4×4 doublecab and at 90000 miles the tranny went. 2 week later the upper control arms failed. My 95 Chevy had 458000 on it and never replaced any of that. It’s all the electronics in these vehicles. I have 8000 miles on the tranny at it’s going out again. I’m not going to fix it.im salvaging it out. Dont want some one else to have to deal with it. I will never buy another one.
With over half the fleet not tested and penalizing for not having enough eco friendly vehicles and auto braking is a total joke.
Someone should go out and rare these ratings companies.
Given the lack of data and the fact CR uses only subscribers to rate they should get an unacceptable for being legitimate source of information.
I give them a 20 out of 100
This is equal to rating a restaurant and never tasting the food. Then you only rate it on what someone told you what they thought.
C8.R: Amen! Well said.
I’m not going to overturn this one either.
To accurately make conclusions on any data set one has to assume the data points gathered are normally distributed. Say you randomly generate 1000 numbers between 1 and 100 and sample 25 of those numbers anywhere in the list ,your sample (n) mean should be consistent with with the population (N) mean. CR only has six million subscribers or ~1.8% of the US population. Lets assume 1% actually complete a survey in any given year CR would net 60,000 responses. 60,000 responses out of 330,000,000 would be enough samples to estimate the population assuming those that were surveyed were an accurate representation of the US as a whole. The problem is CR subscribers responses likely skew from the total population.
JD power randomly selects buyers from the US as a whole and likely ascertains results more consistent with the overall population.
Ah, the good “old” CR is back! After quite a few “positive??” things coming from CR about GM, I was beginning to think some aliens took them over. Glad to see CR back to their slanted finding! (all sarcasm)
How are they going to handle the Hummer EV though? Surely they are going to want to hate it, but it’s also an EV.
They will trash the Hummer for what ever they can.
This report is comparable to a teacher grading an entire exam based on the first response and ignoring the other 50 questions…
The worst I’ve ever seen from CR is their “predicted reliability”. Brand new vehicle with a brand new drive train, but they tell you that they expect it to be unreliable based on the brand.
That tells you all you need to know about whether you should pay attention to them.
The reliability reports come from hundreds of thousands of survey responses. GMC owners have the same opportunity to rate their vehicles as Toyota owners.
Absolutely agree this is a ridiculously incomplete report. The sad thing is the CR sheep, and many others will read the headline and automatically remove GMC from their shopping list without doing any further research of their own.
I disagree. It means what you to be more careful buying GMC products than say Subaru productions. I have a GMC van – its been great – and I agree – you have to be more careful buying GM.
Consumer Reports ranked number one worst place to get accurate information on any car brand. I surveyed myself, my dog, and the lady living next door and her cat. Its Friday and I’m trying to be funny.
Consumer reports has had a negative view on GMC products since the 80’s. Construction companies I worked for over 40 years I had the opportunity to drive and maintain the other brands, even an old Masey Furgeson. None stood up to GMC or CHEV trucks. I owed a 77 chev van and a 94 gmc pickup, put over 400000 miles on both. Bought a 2018 gmc 3/4 ton to pull my toy hauler. Just traded it in for a 2021 1 ton gmc duramax. If you want real reports, ask people who drive these trucks.
Who do you think Consumer Reports asks about GM cars? People who own Toyotas? They ask people who own GM cars and trucks. They are the people who drive CR ratings – so you’d better blame them if you don’t like what CR reports
I wonder how much negative was tied to the crappy 8 speed. I have a 2016 Canyon diesel and my wife has a 2016 Subaru Outback. There is no difference in reliability between them and both have been flawless over 6 years.
Cr is a joke and always has been.
My 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 is the best riding, most comfortable, most capable 1/2 ton truck I have ever been in.
I use to trust CR and was a subscriber for years. I purchased many products they recommended….3 years later i had refrigerators and dish washers that were junk. They do a great job listing features but have no clue how well it lasts….years ago CR rated Tesla #1 in quality! The next year Tesla want listed because their vehicles were falling apart….CR Terry’s but they can’t predict the future, no longer a fan!
Consumer reports seems to be bias. I own a GM vehicle and i am very satisfied with my purchase. I really like the GMC vehicles they give a feel you have status. They are upscale trucks and SUVs
Yeah I don’t think CR is a reliable source. I’m still driving my 2000 Chevy S10 with a 2.2 l I’m pushing 220,000 miles on it. I work it hard I live in Los Angeles county And they’re not freeway. This little truck has been nothing but reliable.
Have a 2021 Sierra 1500SLT. Don’t know what there talking about it a fantastic machine. Also had a 2017, 2015 2007 and a 2003.
Who CR is fooling?, No truck buyers read their trash..
I do.. I would not buy a Silverado 1500 but I would buy a heavy-duty.
Iam be Ford man for years love my f450
I have tell u I do like new GMC 3500
Here on there farms they have 3
They r hard on truck I tell I lol
Iam looking at buying 2023
3500 hd if they ever show more of it
God bless
This is my Consumer Reports Disqualifier:
As is so often the case, CR will absolutely demonish a vehicle in a report such as these “few” GMSs, overlooking the fact that those cars are made in the same plant, with the same parts, by the same people as some Chevy vehicles, only difference is that they slap a chevy badge on it. But CR seems to have much better things to say about the same Chevys. The do the same thing with other brands too. Ford/Mazda etc. Buy the car you like, get a good warranty, if you don’t know how to do some general maint., plan on replacing it every 10 years or 200k. If your handy. Keep them longer & save enough money to buy a house.
Gee… How did they manage to get to 2nd last. They must have found someone with creative accounting skills to only show 2nd worse.
Liars figure and figures lie.
I agree with many of the comments. CR is often too narrow in how they evaluate and how they compare vehicles. It’s a broad market and vehicle owners have different priorities, needs, and values.
That said, if I’m being honest, I think GM does have some quality/reliability issues they need to deal with that are simply inexcusable. They have some great vehicles and are only hurting themselves and their faithful by not dealing with them more proactively. Case in point the problems they have had with these engine cylinder management systems. I’m a GM fan and long time owner — Vette and Silverado. They do need to do better with quality and reliability. I see some progress in certain areas and regression in others.
Consumer reports is about as accurate and as popular as the Biden administration and almost as reliable as CNN
Why make a automaker discussion political?
Take sides and everybody loses. Throw all the bums out!
GMC are great vehicles my brother purchase a 2020 GMC Terrain Denali and he loves it even though c r never tested a terrain brother never had any issues on his vehicle loves the engine lots of performance now here a guy that only used to drive Nissan with there horrible transmission I’m pretty sure he is a happy camper with his gmc he says there built like a little tank . So c r personal dont think there a good car magazine in my personal opinion
first hand experience i got a sierra 1500 lemon from the mexico plant. i brought it in to GM about 20 times before i started a lawsuit and finally they upgraded me to a new vehicle after they realized they cant figure out the electrical problem. Beautiful vehicles but very unreliable. always get the extended warranty, always document issues with the vehicle.
That being said, after i got my new truck there were no issues.
G M has had trouble with the rear ends & transmissions built in Mexico. They had a number of recalls. I own a GMC truck and I am pleased with it with NO problems. I don’t trust CR b/c of the way they taste them.
I have a 2021 GMC 3500 HD with a duramax, I regret trading in my Ram 3500 for it. GMC has only 12,594 miles on it and so far its been in the dealer shop 9 times. Sensors were replaced, fuel tank changed twice because it collapsed, transmission replaced, fuel pressure line replaced, and more sensors then I can count. Just got it back to haul hay for my livestock and the dang thing just shut off on me in the middle of nowhere and would not start back up..so now it’s back at the dealer and they are trying to figure it out, I know what I am gonna do now and that’s to drive it to a Ram dealership and get a Ram truck again.
Our choice is to believe CR or GM.
A 100,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty (minus wear and tear and body bumps) would allow GM or any car company to upfront drip reliability.
GM doesn’t believe its own product so why should we?
I’ve owned several gm vehicles including my wife’s 2018 terrain and my 2019 Canyon. ZERO issues with either vehicle besides normal wear and tear. This article is garbage
Docked points because it’s not eco friendly?
Guess I have had my priorities all wrong when it comes to a work truck.
Sheesh! Who buys into this crap, not me!
Toyota is always #1…..give me a Toyota and I’m pretty sure it won’t make the rank after I’m done with it…..all cars fail, they are mass produced I take car of my Chevys and all I have to do is general maintenance
2nd to last by Consumer Reports? The very first thing I noticed about the test is CR tested less than half the cars listed!! Why test 2 Yukons?? I have never been a fan of Consumer Ripoff Inc. They are another half ass Rating Company that isnt affraid to take payments!! GMC Pick Ups have the highest resale value of any used Pick Up on the market for a reason!!! All of my right winged friends and family keep buying Ford and Dodge so they can get free indoor parking at the dealer for 4 months a year. Great incentive but they cant drive it while it is parked for free. Its BROKE!!! LOL!!
I own a 2500 H D Silverado. The G M Transmission failed & was replaced under G M Factory Drive Train Warranty with over 70,000 miles. However the flawed transmission radiator that created my GM Transmission failure, after testing was NOT replaced. G M assigned a GM Factory Associate months ago after I complained, but GM has done NOTHING!
I didn’t need consumer reports to tell me this. I bought a brand new 2016 and the tranny sh*t the rug at 88k miles!!! No towing btw
I think the warranties show how much faith the manufacturers have in their vehicles.
What does a bunch of limits know any thing about North American vehicles. Doesn’t every body know. These. Guys are paid by the Japanese to say these things. They wouldn’t know a good vehicle if they say one I have a 2014 equinox that I will put it against any jap junk for re liabilitys
Thanks for deleting my last post I guess you people can’t handle the truth. About what I would expect
Well they forgot to tell my ’16 Canyon.
It has been flawless.
I’ve had a Tahoe, Malibu, Colorado, and now 2021 Silverado and a Blazer RS. Had no problems with any of them over the years. My new Silverado came without the DSM (where cylinders deactivate) and happy about that. Never had much faith in biased consumer reports.
CR thinks cars should be easy to operate cost less, be safe and be worry free most aren’t so they calls ’em like they see’s um
CR is authored by a bunch of woke pinky punks who don’t know a truck from a bong pipe.
I’m on my 3rd Terrane. Great SUV. Tough and reliable.
OK CR, let’s shut down all GMC plants. Would that do it for you toaster testers?
Tom, Consumer’s Reports is a valid publication. A Chevy Dealership tells me GM Corporate formerly gave GM Dealers autonomy in backing GM Warranties, but not anymore. Obviously, GM Corporate no longer thourougly stands behind their Drive Train Warranties. GM Corporate is obviously out to fleece their customers.
230.000 miles on my 2004 1500GMC Sierra. I just bought another one 2022. Great ride ,tested reliability. Did nothing to my old one except change worn out tires.
Would never buy another GM vehicle. Buy only Toyota now
Our 2006 GMC ranch truck (100K+) has been great. However, have gotten negative comments from other people who own much newer GMCs. Our 2021 RAM 1500 has been perfect so far.
I had 2000 GMC Sierra I drove for 16 years. Nothing but normal wear and tear from driving it. Rusted brake lines from salted roads, break pads, etc. I have 2014 Sierra with just minor issues so far. Original brake pads lasted 75k miles, original tires went almost 60k. I would buy another but the body style now I don’t like.
I guess GMC didn’t pay Consumer Reports enough to get an endorsement. CR became irrelevant after what they did to Suzuki Samurai in the 90s with their biased and rigged tests
CR has never liked GM vehicles. Their subscribers are focused on small cars and green vehicles, as evidenced by their best vehicle being a Subaru. It’s not up to these magazines to tell consumers what to think. Each buyer has his own specific needs and should make car buying decisions based on that, not CR.
Theres no way, these are American luxury vehicles far from Jap crap. Best vehicles I’ve ever had. Support American especially when its your second largest purchase in your life. Stop giving China your hard earned money for vehicles that are crap
They buy the cars right off the lot and run them through tests that tell them what the car will do, then use their criteria to rank the car. Over the years they have been pretty close to the actual behavior of the car. If they predict the transmission will fail it usually does
Well guess I will chime in here . I have 3 GM trucks a K 3500 dually V2500 suburban and a 93 k1500 ! The k1500 just rolled over 720000km on natural gas . My Burb has rolled over 1000000km 6 trips across Canada 3 engines only because we wore them out . I have lost faith in how the newer ones fail after ten years . All of mine are still rolling along fine after sinking the Burb in the lake I thought it would be a mess but dryed her out changed fluids and she fired up still has sand under the plastic floor covers as a reminder . So ya I’m a Gm guy but I do have my doubts about the new ones as well . Partly because I work on my own vehicles and they are making it tougher for us gear heads to do our own work
I have a 2019 GMC Sierra Denali 1500.
Worst nightmare I have ever gotten into.
Transmission bangs in gear, shakes and slips but the dealers say oh I see no problem.
Running boards hardly ever work. Battery drained and had to be jumped started by a huge tow truck. Tons of error messages and cannot use the remote start by OnStar or key fob.
Worst vehicle I have ever owned. You won’t see me in a GMC ever again.
Have own 3 GMC trucks 1Sirrera 2 Denali,have two replace transmissions in both Denali’s, one at 80,000 miles the other one at 67,000 miles need I say more
Bought a new At4GMC and had the worst experience ever drove my RAM 250000 miles and then went to the at4 after 400 miles engine light was on in shop 14 times at 6200 miles poped 3 lifters and after two computers poped lifters again dealership was horrible finally traded in for another Ram
New 2017 GMC Sierra Denali has known Trans issue and dealer said it was normal. Trans slams into second when first start. Not normal. They deserve the rating.
If every car shopper used the recommendations from CR, we’d all be driving Priuses. I would never buy a vehicle based on their reviews. The Corvette is fortunately an outlier.
I own a2017 GMC Sierra doublecab 4×4. At 90000 miles the transmission went out. 4 thousand to fix it. Just our of warranty. Then the upper A Arms went bad. Another 1600 dollars. I dont even have 12000 miles on the rebuilt transmission a d it’s going out again. My neighbor has a 2018 Chevy 4×4 Silverado and the engine is going out. Only 35000 miles on. I would never buy another GM product and I have been a GM all my life.
So then the Chevrolet should rank same, considering the gmc and Chevrolet brands are one in the same, parts interchangeable etc… love how these rating companies ALWAYS hype brand names and EV without any real evidence that they are better.. my gmc has some wiring issues, but, it was a company owned truck before I got it and had stuff added and then removed. It runs like a top, nice ride and it’s not ever left me stranded on the side of the road. The issue with all the new cars and trucks is all the freaking sensors, take them out, we don’t actually need them, that would totally fix 85% of everyone’s car/ truck issues. Emissions my butt. Personally they do this to convince the consumer to buy the product they want us to buy with no other reason than it’ll cost us a lot and make them a lot..
I own a 2017 gmc canyon. So far at 75k its been good. I figure if I get up to 125 k without many problems mechanic or computer then it’s a good truck
I had the drivers seat out a few times because of a fold that keeps cold back in the leather.
So not thrilled with the seat 😒 looking worn.
It gets good gas mileage with the disel and rides great.
I had a gmc 2010 terrain before and that had a ton of problems. So I will see how much longer I can go without any problems but I def bought a extended warranty and would advise others to do so.
Does anyone with even an ounce of automotive expertise place any value in the anti-American swill CR continues to report on a regular basis?
So… Just wondering.. The C F comment or statement. Is that your handle or admission as to what you are ? Grow Up !
So I have Subaru forester, what a over rated vehicle. It uses 1 quart of oil (mobile one) every 2 -3 k miles Subaru says this is normal. Its noisy, cheaply made commuter. I am an automotive engineer and I have owned a automotive body shop. Every manufacturer has good and bad products. For domestic manufacturers I prefer GM. Yes I have had some issues but overall GM vehicles have been very good. One thing is if they need repair its usually less cost than a Ford and less frequent than Chrysler products. So when it comes to Japanese products in the 70s they told everyone they were better and people bought that idea. The only good thing they bought was competition which drove quality up in the market place. Same thing apple computers did. But soon the real test will come with electric vehicles. The reliability of all vehicles will be very even or not predicated by drive trains.
I have loved gm products over the years but since 1999 GM has really made poor quality decisions that has affected customers, and tarnished their products.
In my opinion these are prime examples: The infamous ignition parts that cost lives, the lifter failures on AFM engines, excessive oil consumption, gauge cluster failures on digital instrument clusters, air ride suspension failures in multiple ways, water leaking into bodies, dashboards disintegrating, fuel evap. failures due to dust, daytime running lights, locks and window motor frequent failures, clear coat, and primer breakdown, melted wiring in dash at dc outlets, and relays to blower motor, actuator failure for hvac controls, suspension failures due to elements, seat belt hardware improper installation, knock sensor contamination due to water and dirt, diesel injector leakage, infamous gauge needle servo problem, and fuel pump problems on dual tank trucks.
I could go on and on I’m sure, and what I have listed are issues that in my opinion are so very frequent and many deserving in my opinion of recalls but that boils down to money and comes at the expense of owners in one form or another.
These are reasons I would question Mary on the expectations of reliability, and safety of the future electric cars GM is about to produce.
I understand any brand can have failures but it’s how they are dealt with that defines the business.
Some of these issues still continue in some form and I believe it is how CR came up with their ratings.
Fun Fact…
Meryl Streep receives $20 Million for acting.
Mary Barra receives $20 Million for acting.
Only one has won Academy Awards, the other should have for her performance under oath before Congress.
Gee… And to think I thought it came down to advertising dollars spent.
When C.R. doesn’t like you, there is nothing you can do about it. I have been in the appliance business for 40 years. They never had anything good to say about Maytag, always nit picking tiny, unimportant little things that had nothing to do with the overall quality of the product. In a couple of instances, Maytag made changes to the product to try to appease C.R., they would just find something else to bash. If you keep trying to please them, which Maytag did, you eventually lose your direction as to what you were trying to offer in the first place. Maytag did that and it nearly put them out of business, only to get swallowed up by their competitor.
CR is a rag.
Re CR is a rag comment. True but somebody wants to buy it. Who wants a product from the General these days ?
Only Second-to-Last…
At least GM holds the True Honor of Killing so many customers, then Lying about it for so very long…
Well I for one trust the opinion of people that test washing machines, exercise bikes and bed sheets… obviously experts all the way around.
Who do you think Consumer Reports asks about GM cars? People who own Toyotas? They ask people who own GM cars and trucks. They are the people who drive CR ratings – so you’d better blame them if you don’t like what CR reports
I have a 2019 GMC and in 3 yrs not even 1 issue. You have to remember that Consumer Reports sways data… example surveys returned by people over 60 have a curve on the results. The reason being is that CR believes old people dont report issues. Also to turn in a CR Survey you have to pay $20. So only people with expeendable income are going to do a survey…. thus the Audi , Mercedes , Tesla , Lexus , Infiniti type owners.
Agree. gm is junk.