While Asian and European auto brands outshined their U.S. counterparts in the Consumer Reports annual reliability survey, achieving average scores of 57 and 48 respectively, GM’s workhorse Chevy brand fared even worse than the dismal reliability score reported for American models.
Specifically, Chevy got a 37 rating from consumer feedback, a point below the U.S. average of 38 rating for reliability, according to the CR report on the results of its study.
Chevrolet’s performance slipped compared to the reliability report issued in 2023, when it scored 43 points out of 100, putting it above the U.S. average of 39 points for the year. Two other General Motors brands scored even lower for 2024, with GMC third to last with a rating of 33 and Cadillac second to last with a score of 27. However, both considerably outperformed last-place Rivian with just 14 out of 100 possible points for reliability.
Individual Bow Tie brand models varied in reliability from high-scoring models on par with vehicles from Asia to some of the lowest ratings in the survey. At the top, the Chevy Trailblazer got an excellent 67 score, while the ratings of three other nameplates – the Chevy Corvette, the Chevy Trax and the Chevy Silverado 2500 HD – were above average at between 45 and 51 rating.
However, the Chevy Blazer EV came in close to last for the entire automotive market with a score of 5 points out of 100 for reliability. This resulted from “problems with the EV battery, electrical accessories, the climate system, in-car electronics, and other components,” shared with the Cadillac Lyriq, another extremely poor performer.
Rather better, but still well below average, was the GMC Canyon with a score of 15, thanks to issues with “engine, transmission, in-car electronics, and other problems” according to Consumer Reports. The Chevy Tahoe, Suburban and Blazer all scored slightly below average for U.S.-made vehicles.
Overall reliability trends seen last year continue this year, with hybrids scoring best (with some notable exceptions among individual models), ICE vehicles offering solid reliability, and EVs showing a host of problems. Plug-in electric hybrids have 70 percent more problems than baseline ICE vehicles, though this is half the 146 percent more problems in 2023, while all-electric EVs have 43 percent more problems, down from 79 percent last year.
Plug-in hybrids and EVs are therefore still considerably less reliable than internal combustion and hybrid vehicles, but appear to be improving rapidly. Also problem-riddled, according to data analyst Steven Elek, are “non-EV components, such as the latest infotainment and electronic features.” As for vehicle types, sedans are most reliable, minivans and SUVs follow, and pickup trucks are the least dependable of the major body styles.
Consumer Reports rated the models based on feedback regarding 300,000 individual vehicles, rating them in 20 potential problem areas. The overall winner was Subaru with a rating of 68, largely due to the Japanese automaker’s use of highly reliable, thoroughly developed and tested components shared between many of its models.
Comments
Putting the Mediocrity in General Mediocrity
It’ll be even lower next year, with a new Traverse and Equinox. And the Equinox EV.
I hope that GM Authority will report that Buick was the highest-rated domestic automaker, ranking above such brands as Nissan, Genesis, Volvo, Tesla, Volkswagen, Jeep, and Rivian.
It was tied with Nissan, which isn’t flattering. I’m not sure which Buick caused it to be as low as it is, since the Envision, Encore GX and Envista are all rated highly. Can’t be the new Enclave, yet, so it has to be the old one.
Interesting that subaru started advertising consumer reports on their website a few years ago, and now they are rated #1. I prefer to use the NHTSA website for actual reported issues and compare it to the number of vehicles sold for a specific model.
Well, I am super proud to be the owner of an above average, Korean-built Chevrolet with 2% US parts content. GO TEAM! 🙁
Don’t believe any of this. these reports have them like rollercoasters up and down and up and down.
CR is full of lies..I will never USE them.
CR is about a 20 on reliability .
HA Consumer Reports is still around my wife and I both own GM products Chevy and a Buick. I say these are lies because the Trax just over took the Cros trek is sales and the Equinox has been reliable for years as well as the Traverse. If you really want to know how a car brand does talk to someone you know in person. My mechanic recommendeds Chevy vehicles enough said.