, especially in the first years of owning a vehicle. Avoiding these types of problems is why buyers look for newer vehicles in the first place—but the reality is that they can break down, too.
(CR) works to help consumers go into the car buying experience armed with as much information as possible. One resource it offers is a predicted reliability report, which is based on years of recalls and user data about each model.
The most recent findings from the reports show that the 2021
Silverado 1500 and 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 are the two recent models that are most likely to have major engine problems within their first three years on the road.
What’s wrong with the 2021 Chevy Silverado and 2021 GMC Sierra 1500?
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First off, let’s make things clear: the Chevy Silverado 1500 and the GMC Sierra 1500 are essentially the same truck sold under two different names. So it’s no coincidence that both of these GM-built full-size pickup trucks share a poor reliability rating.
Both trucks share five different recalls, but all of them have to do with tires and seat belts, not the major engine issues that gave both trucks an embarrassing 5/100 reliability rating from CR.
The report is light on specifics, but CR defines major engine problems as timing chain or belt issues, turbo or supercharger problems, issues with cylinder heads or head gaskets, or even engine replacements and rebuilds. (You know, the kind of stuff you really don’t want to hear from your mechanic.)
While this doesn’t mean that your Chevy Silverado 1500 or GMC Sierra 1500 are slated to break down no matter what, it’s definitely troubling to see such major issues from such a prominent manufacturer.
Ironically, the two pickup trucks from 2021 with the best reliability ratings were also a Chevy Silverado and a GMC Sierra. The more powerful 2500 HD models from each brand both received a perfect reliability score from CR.
The Toyota Tundra sat just below them with 99 points, while the Ford F-250 took home third place with a score of 80/100. Things dropped off pretty quickly after that, with the Ram 1500 receiving a modest 59 reliability points.
Insurance coverage for the Silverado and Sierra 1500s
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for pickup trucks is already more expensive than it is for other types of vehicles, and poor reliability records definitely don’t help, but we know that a model’s track record for staying out of the repair shop isn’t the only factor people consider when buying a truck.
The more reliable and more powerful 2500 models are also a lot more expensive upfront, so it makes sense for many drivers to choose the more reasonably priced 1500 trucks instead.
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