Last updated: 2026-10-10
GMC Reliability Ratings — Every Model Ranked
Used GMC models hold up well. The brand rates good and lands close to the average for all brands on the site. Terrain leads the lineup and Yukon trails, but all five models rate good, so the gap between best and worst is small. Model year matters more than model. Each one has years that owners complain about far more than others.
The same trouble turns up across the lineup. The most common is a car that fails to recognize Park. A "Shift to Park" message stays on, the car won't shut off or lock, the battery drains, and some cars have rolled away after the driver got out. Shifter repairs often don't hold. Failed engine lifters show up on the Yukon and Sierra 1500, and transmission slipping and hard shifts appear on several models. Before buying, test the shifter and Park behavior, and ask for repair records.
GMC Best Year Score Comparison
Each bar shows the best single model year score for that GMC model. Longer bars indicate higher peak reliability.
GMC Model Rankings
Scores below are averaged across all tracked model years. The “Best Year” column shows the highest-scoring model year that has been on the road for at least two years, where available.
| # | Vehicle | Best Year | Score | Rating | Recalls | Complaints / 10k | Maint. Rating | Est. Repair Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GMC Canyon | 2024 | 73/100 | Good | 12 | 0.8 | 3 | $548/yr |
| 2 | GMC Terrain | 2024 | 73/100 | Good | 19 | 10.2 | 3.5 | $558/yr |
| 3 | GMC Acadia | 2024 | 70/100 | Good | 17 | — | 3 | $734/yr |
| 4 | GMC Sierra 1500 | 2024 | 69/100 | Good | 42 | 15.4 | 3.5 | |
| 5 | GMC Yukon | 2020 | 68/100 | Good | 56 | 21.1 | 3.5 | $747/yr |
GMC Models
GMC Canyon
3rd gen (2023–2024)
Rated good overall and above average among trucks, the Canyon is a reasonable used buy with repair costs in line with other midsize trucks. The 2024 is the pick, though its headlights can flicker off and on by themselves.
GMC Terrain
3rd gen (2025–present)
Used Terrain buyers get a model that rates good and sits above average among SUVs, as long as the year is chosen with care. Skip 2018 and 2019.
GMC Acadia
3rd gen (2024–2023)
Park-recognition faults are the main worry on a used Acadia: the shifter leaves a "Shift to Park" message on, and some cars have rolled after the driver got out. Reliability is good and close to SUV average, but repairs run $734 a year against $573 for midsize SUVs.
GMC Sierra 1500
5th gen (2019–present)
Failed valve lifters are the big risk with used Sierra 1500 trucks, and they can wreck an engine with little warning. Reliability rates good and close to average among full-size trucks.
GMC Yukon
2nd gen (2015–2023), facelifted 2020
Used Yukons hold up well, and yearly repair costs run a little under the full-size SUV average. The 2020 is the safer pick, and 2021 is the year to avoid.
Common GMC Problems
Top complaint categories across all GMC models, based on owner-reported issues to NHTSA.
GMC by Category
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the most reliable GMC model?
- Terrain is the most reliable GMC on the site. It rates good, sits above average among SUVs, and costs about $558 a year to repair. Skip the 2018 and 2019 model years. The 2024 is the safer pick. Watch for brake booster vacuum pump failure and transmission slipping.
- Which GMC models and years should I avoid?
- Yukon is the weakest of the five, though it still rates good. Specific years to skip are the 2021 Yukon, the 2019 and 2020 Sierra 1500, the 2018 and 2019 Terrain, and the 2023 Canyon. The 2023 Canyon's forward collision system brakes hard with nothing ahead.
- Are GMC vehicles expensive to repair?
- Mostly not, with one exception. The Acadia runs $734 a year against $573 for midsize SUVs. The Yukon costs about $747 a year, a little under the full-size SUV average. The Terrain is about $558 and the Canyon about $548, in line with similar trucks.
- What is the most common GMC problem?
- Park recognition is the most common complaint by far. The "Shift to Park" message and chime stay on, the car won't shut off or lock, and the battery drains. Reports cluster between about 12,000 and 48,000 miles. Several owners say the car rolled after they left it.
- Do GMC trucks and full-size SUVs have engine problems?
- Yes. Failed valve lifters are the big risk on the Sierra 1500 and can wreck an engine with little warning. The Yukon has engine lifter and camshaft failure, with ticking, misfires, and sudden power loss, often with no warning light. Test drive any truck for hard, lunging shifts.
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Most Reliable Used SUVs
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Most Reliable Used Trucks
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Best GMC Years
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How we score GMC models
Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
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