The Worst Problems for Every Chevrolet Model and Generation

A large pile of crushed cars

Car problems happen. But there's something we can do about it.

By matching owner complaints with recall, investigation and technical service bulletin data we've come up with a list of the most common Chevrolet problems for every model and generation. We've even ranked vehicles by their reliability.

Trending Problems

A few problems that keep popping up. There's plenty more where that came from.

  1. 2015 Colorado Power Steering Loss

    Poor electrical connections inside the steering gear assemblies of the 2015 Chevy Colorado can cause the truck to lose its power steering. While the connection can drop out while driving, most owners report seeing a 'service power steering,…

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  2. 5.3L Vortec 5300 Engine Oil Consumption

    From 2010-2014 GM's Vortec 5300 engine had multiple design flaws that led to an excessive oil consumption responsible for soiled spark plugs, bent pushrods, and timing chain wear to name a few. The problem was compounded by an inadequate oi…

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  3. Engine Power is Reduced

    Defects with Chevy's accelerator pedal sensor and electronic throttle control system are triggering a sudden and dangerous 'Engine Power is Reduced' warning message which can lead to the car suddenly losing power and having limited accelera…

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All Problems

What Owners Complain About the Most

Sometimes it's easiest to just tally up all the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are.

Worst Issues

What Breaks

Years to Avoid

The Least Reliable Chevrolet Models

Some models just can't seem to get out of their own way. We've created a list of the least reliable GMC models using data such as complaint volume, average cost of repairs, age of the car when it breaks down, and recall frequency.

All Models

  1. Chevrolet Cruze

    Reliability
    40th of 40
    PainRank™
    58.13
    Complaints
    1023
    Continue Front 3/4 view of a

  2. Chevrolet Equinox

    Reliability
    39th of 40
    PainRank™
    53.08
    Complaints
    2325
    Continue Front 3/4 view of a

  3. Chevrolet Trailblazer

    Reliability
    38th of 40
    PainRank™
    49.84
    Complaints
    2158
    Continue Front 3/4 view of a

  4. Chevrolet Silverado 1500

    Reliability
    37th of 40
    PainRank™
    43.89
    Complaints
    688
    Continue Front 3/4 view of a

Key Numbers

  1. 40 models

    Each with their own trim levels, bodystyles, and special blend of headaches.

  2. 87 generations

    A group of years for a specific model with the same design, features, and problems.

  3. 30 model years

    Grouping all models by their year can reveal some baddies.

  4. 29,043 complaints

    Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.

  5. 64,420 service bulletins

    Documenting the process of troubleshooting common problems.

  6. 995 recall campaigns

    Time-sensitive, free repairs for widespread safety problems.

Worst Generations

A generation is a group of model years where little, if any, changes were made. They tend to have the same problems and some generations have horrible reputations for reliability. Here's a handful you should avoid.

See All Generations

  1. 1st Generation Cruze

    Years
    2011–2015
    Reliability
    80th of 80
    PainRank™
    48.27
    Complaints
    940
    Continue Front 3/4 view of a Cruze

  2. 8th Generation Impala

    Years
    2000–2005
    Reliability
    79th of 80
    PainRank™
    40.95
    Complaints
    3317
    Continue

  3. 2nd Generation Equinox

    Years
    2010–2017
    Reliability
    78th of 80
    PainRank™
    40.41
    Complaints
    1254
    Continue Front 3/4 view of a Equinox

  4. 3rd Generation Silverado 1500

    Years
    2014–2018
    Reliability
    77th of 80
    PainRank™
    39.88
    Complaints
    586
    Continue Front 3/4 view of a Silverado 1500

Recent Chevrolet News

There's a lot of news out there, but not all of it matters. We try to boil down it to the most important bits about things that actually help you with your car problem. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts over at CarComplaints.com.

  1. A federal investigation wants to know if rusty connectors are preventing 2020-2021 GM airbags from deploying.

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has received six reports of severe crashes where the airbags didn't deploy in GM vehicles, despite those vehicles receiving "significant frontal damage." All six crashes resulted in injuries.…

    keep reading

  3. GM is urging owners of the 2021 Express to park outside and away from anything that could burn until the vans get repaired.

    Late last year they said the van's batteries could drain when the positive battery cable accidently came in contact with the fuse block assembly. Now they're saying it's less drain, more flame—as in at least four vans have gone up in smoke due to the batteries short-circuiting.…

    keep reading

  6. Another owner is suing GM following their decision to cap the Bolt's battery capacity at 90%, even if that's a temporary fix to prevent fires.

    The automaker recalled the Chevy EVs last November after learning that the batteries can spark a flame as they are charging and nearing 100%. By temporarily capping them at 90%, GM can stop those fires while they search for a more permanent solution.

    But a plaintiff in Michigan says Bolt owners need to contend with range anxiety and diminished resale value while they wait. Call me crazy, but a temporary restriction on range feels a lot more desirable than a permanently charred engine.…

    keep reading

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Having car trouble?

Tell Us What's Wrong With Your Vehicle

The best way to find out what's wrong with a vehicle is from the people who drive them. Not only do owner complaints help us rank vehicles by reliability, but they're often used to spark class-action lawsuits and warranty extensions. Plus, they're a great way to vent.

Add a complaint