Are Chevrolets Reliable? A Complete Breakdown
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Chevrolet makes some of the most popular cars and trucks, representing the brand all over the United States. This doesn’t mean that it’s a reliable brand, however. You may be surprised to learn that even though Chevrolet is so popular, it’s considered to be one of the least reliable, popular car brands. Finding exactly what you need to know about how reliable Chevrolets are can be tricky, so CoPilot is here to give you all the necessary information on Chevrolet.
Quick Answer: Not Really, But Some are Better than Others
Despite many of Chevrolet’s claims, the brand is generally regarded as an unreliable one. Chevrolet often ranks low on reliability rankings and has even gotten worse in some of them over the last several years. This brand is often compared to its competitor Toyota in terms of reliability, but Toyota beats it out consistently at every turn by a wide margin. You can get specific Chevrolet models that are better than others, like the Chevy Bolt, but it’s not a reliable brand across the board.
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What’s the General Consensus on Chevrolets?
Chevrolets have been consistently rated as unreliable cars for years. According to RepairPal, Chevrolet has a Reliability Rating of 3.5⁄5.0, putting it in 20th place for reliability out of 32 car brands. In 2019, Consumer Reports ranked Chevrolet 23rd out of 29 car brands, another poor rating. Given its surface-level similarities to Toyota, an extremely reliable car brand, it’s not entirely clear why Chevrolets are so often faulty.
There are likely a variety of reasons for this. One of the biggest reasons is that Chevrolets aren’t typically made with high-quality parts. They’re known to break down and need repairs in many places. Chevy engines are a particularly controversial material, as they are usually plagued with defects and faults. Beyond this, loss of power steering and car fires are additional significant issues that many Chevrolets suffer from.
The bulk of this problem can be directed back to a lack of manufacturer accountability. Chevrolets will leave the lot already having severe problems, but General Motors tends to deflect and not claim responsibility for the problem. There’s even a class-action lawsuit against them because owners of Chevrolet models containing the 5.3-liter Vortec are experiencing widespread engine failure. The claim is that General Motors knew about the problem, and the engine was destined to fail. But they released the cars anyway and are now facing litigation. All Chevrolets may not experience such catastrophic failure, but many have serious flaws, and it’s clear that the manufacturer doesn’t care enough to fix them.
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Does Reliability Vary for Different Chevrolet Models?
Yes, the reliability of your Chevrolet will differ depending on the model. There aren’t many Chevy models that are very reliable, but a few are better than the rest. The Chevrolet Bolt is the best you can get and is widely accepted as Chevy’s most durable offering. Consumer Reports has praised this electric car’s reliability for the last few years, stating that the model has had almost zero complaints overall and is one of the safest in its class.
Other reliable Chevrolet models include the 2020 Chevrolet Impala and the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD. The Impala is in the process of being phased out, unfortunately. However, the 2500HD is still going strong and delivers incredible performance, a suite of luxury features, and a good reliability rating.
On the other hand, let’s talk about some completely unreliable Chevy models you should steer clear of. Infamously known as one of the worst cars ever, you’ll want to avoid the Chevrolet Vega. These cars were made with shoddy parts and had poor design, causing most of them to fail. Other notably poor Chevrolet models include the early 2000s Monte Carlos, the HHR, the SSR, and the Tracker. If you’re sold on getting a Chevrolet, make sure it isn’t one of these models.
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How Long Is the Average Lifespan of a Chevrolet?
Despite problems, many Chevrolets can last you quite a while if given proper maintenance and care. Silverados, for example, have been known to last for over 200,000 miles on many occasions. The same is true for several other types of Chevrolets, but it can vary greatly depending on the model. Chevrolet Silverado 2500HDs, Suburbans, and Tahoes have excellent mileage records showing a history of lasting well past 200,000 miles. For other Chevrolet models, history doesn’t give us a clear prediction of the future, so it depends on each particular vehicle’s condition.
We recommend buying a trusted, used Chevrolet if you’re going to get one for the sake of saving money. However, if you purchase new, Chevrolet guarantees certain warranties for its 2021 vehicles, including a 3-year/36,000 mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty. Other warranties you may be able to get (depending on the car, your state, and how much you’re willing to spend) include a limited powertrain warranty, emission control system limited warranty, and electric and hybrid warranty.
What Else Should I Know About Chevrolets?
When it comes to a huge brand like Chevrolet, there are many different models and features to choose from. It’s best to research the type of vehicle you want and then decide which Chevrolet fits your needs the best if you go with this brand. As we’ve stated above, there are specific models that you should avoid and some that stand tall above the rest, so keep this in mind.
Like we always say, the most important thing you can do when buying a vehicle, used or new, is to have a mechanic you trust take a look at it. This way, you have an unbiased, knowledgeable party looking out for any problems you may need to be aware of. It would be best if you asked the dealer for a pre-inspection report to analyze the car’s history. If it looks clean and you have the seal of approval from your mechanic, you can rest easy knowing that your purchase is responsible.
The Verdict on Chevrolet’s Reliability
Overall, Chevrolet is a reliable brand, with about average ratings than other manufacturers.
Many people swear on Chevy’s reliability, thanks to its strong warranties, rare recalls, and cost-effective repair costs. As mentioned, RepairPal gave Chevy a reliability score of 3.5 out of 5.0, ranking 20th out of 32 car brands. Numerous owners have complained about several significant issues, but engine troubles seem to be the most pressing concern. On the flip side, J.D. Power awarded Chevy three dependability awards in 2021.
Popular vehicles like the Tahoe and Colorado have struggled with reliability issues, but the recent models seem to be faring better. Meanwhile, Consumer Reports wasn’t impressed with Chevy’s track record in reliability, giving the American brand a score of 42⁄100. It did put Chevrolet ahead of its sister companies like GMC and Ford.
It’s also worth mentioning that the company got into a bit of trouble for allegedly false reliability claims. According to the ads, Chevy was said to be more reliable than Ford, Toyota, and Honda. The companies mentioned challenged this claim, and Chevrolet quit airing the ads.
Controversy aside, Chevy is a reliable brand, and like all manufacturers, some models and years are more reliable than others.
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