Consumer Reports GM Reliability 2024-2026-big Shift?
- 01. Key findings at-a-glance
- 02. What changed between 2024 and 2026
- 03. Representative reliability table (illustrative)
- 04. Why Consumer Reports flagged GM (context and dates)
- 05. Comparing CR with other studies (J.D. Power context)
- 06. Model-level examples and dates
- 07. Practical advice for buyers (2024-2026 market)
- 08. Quote and interpretation
- 09. FAQ
- 10. Data-driven takeaways
Short answer: Consumer Reports' data show a clear decline in General Motors (GM) brand reliability from 2024 into 2026, with Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac scoring below the industry median in CR's 2024-2026 surveys and several GM models losing CR recommendations by late 2025-early 2026.
Key findings at-a-glance
Consumer Reports' annual reliability surveys (based on roughly 380,000 owner responses per year) flagged an overall downward trend for GM across the 2024-2026 period, with GM nameplates showing more reported problems per 100 vehicles and an increase in electronics and software complaints.
- Chevrolet: below U.S. brand average in 2024; scored ~37/100 in CR's December 2024 reporting.
- GMC: one of the lower-scoring GM brands in 2024 and with mixed 2026 survey placement.
- Cadillac: weakest among GM luxury nameplates in CR's 2024 metrics (mid-20s score).
- Model-level volatility: multiple GM models were removed from CR's recommended list for 2026 after owners reported increased problems.
What changed between 2024 and 2026
The period saw two simultaneous industry trends: an increase in reported problems for EVs and complex electronics, and GM-specific issues tied to new electronics-rich platforms and early-generation EVs; Consumer Reports' dataset shows EVs historically had higher problem rates, though the gap narrowed slightly from 2023 to 2025.
- Electronics and infotainment complaints rose sharply across GM models, contributing to lower overall reliability scores in CR's owner-survey data.
- New EV architectures (Blazer EV and other early EV entries) had concentrated reliability issues and low CR reliability scores in late 2024-2025.
- Some GM ICE/hybrid models performed closer to the U.S. average, but not enough to offset problems in high-profile models that shaped public perception.
Representative reliability table (illustrative)
The table below presents a concise, machine-readable snapshot synthesizing CR-reported scores and notable status changes for GM brands and select models across 2024-2026. Numbers are aligned with Consumer Reports' reported ranges and public reporting for those years.
| Brand / Model | CR Reliability Score (approx.) | Notable status (2024-2026) | Primary complaint categories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet (brand) | ~37/100 (Dec 2024) | Below U.S. average; some models removed from CR recommended list by 2026 | Electronics, drivetrain, EV systems |
| GMC (brand) | ~33/100 (Dec 2024) | Low placement in some 2026 dependability studies; mixed model results | Engine, transmission, software |
| Cadillac (brand) | ~27/100 (Dec 2024) | Second-to-last among brands in CR's late-2024 reporting | Electronics, overall build issues |
| Chevrolet Blazer EV | ~5/100 (example low score) | Flagged as one of the poorest-scoring models for reliability in 2024-2025 | EV-specific hardware and software problems |
| Chevrolet Silverado | Variable (mid-range) | Some strong segment placements in J.D. Power studies (2025) but mixed CR results | Traditional mechanical vs electronics variance |
Why Consumer Reports flagged GM (context and dates)
Consumer Reports' results reflect owner-reported problems collected in annual auto surveys that span model years roughly through the prior calendar year; CR published notable 2024 reliability reporting in December 2024 and follow-up model recommendation changes for the 2026 model year in late 2025 and early 2026.
CR's methodology weights problem severity and frequency, so a spike in high-severity electronics or powertrain failures can materially drop a model's score even if other systems are fine.
Comparing CR with other studies (J.D. Power context)
J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and CR's owner-survey results sometimes diverge because the VDS measures problems after three years of ownership for a particular model year, while CR aggregates broader owner reports across many model years; GM showed stronger placements in some J.D. Power 2025 categories even as CR showed weaknesses in late-2024 and early-2026 reporting.
Model-level examples and dates
Specific examples that shaped perception include the Chevrolet Blazer EV scoring very low in CR's late-2024 reporting (single-digit reliability score reported by CR coverage) and CR's 2026 recommended-list adjustments announced in late 2025, which removed several models from the recommended list based on 2025 survey responses.
Meanwhile, in February 2025 GM highlighted J.D. Power awards for several models - a contrast illustrating how different methodologies and time windows can produce divergent narratives about reliability.
Practical advice for buyers (2024-2026 market)
Buyers should treat brand-level CR scores as a starting point and examine model-year-specific survey entries, production-year fixes, and extended warranty or service-bulletin history before purchase; mid-cycle refreshes (announced repairs in model-year updates) can materially change reliability outcomes for later buyers.
- Check the exact model year and CR survey results for that year before buying.
- Compare CR owner-reported issues with J.D. Power 3-year dependability findings for the same model-year generation.
- Prioritize warranty coverage or certified pre-owned programs for early-generation EVs with higher reported problem rates.
Quote and interpretation
"Owners reported increases in electronics and EV-related problems during the 2024-2026 survey cycles, forcing several models off CR's recommended list for 2026," according to the coverage of Consumer Reports' releases and subsequent reporting in late 2025.
FAQ
Data-driven takeaways
From an empirical perspective, GM's brand-average CR scores shifted materially downward between late 2024 and early 2026, driven mainly by electronics and early EV production issues; variance among models means a selective buying strategy (model-year checks, warranty, and cross-referencing other dependability studies) remains the best practical approach.
Everything you need to know about Consumer Reports Gm Reliability 2024 2026 Big Shift
[How does CR measure reliability]?
Consumer Reports collects owner-reported problems via its Annual Auto Surveys (hundreds of thousands of responses) and converts those reports into a 1-100 reliability score, weighting by problem severity and frequency; CR then issues recommendations and a "recommended" list that can change when new survey cycles reveal model-year issues.
[Did CR remove GM models from its recommended list]?
Yes. Consumer Reports removed multiple models from its 2026 recommended list after owners reported below-average reliability in the 2025 survey cycle, a process CR announced in late 2025 and early 2026.
[Are GM problems mainly EV-related]?
GM's most acute reliability hits in 2024-2026 were concentrated in EVs and in new, electronics-heavy model generations, though some ICE and truck models also registered complaints; CR's data shows EVs and plug-in hybrids generally had higher problem rates across the market during these years.
[Has GM disputed CR's findings]?
GM has publicly cited other industry studies (for example, J.D. Power awards and model-level dependability wins in 2025) to argue that some GM models perform well in multi-year dependability metrics even when CR's owner-survey snapshots show weaknesses.
[Is GM overall unreliable now?]
GM's brand-level CR scores fell below the U.S. average in late 2024 and remained under pressure into 2026, but results vary by model and powertrain; some GM models still perform acceptably while EVs and electronics-heavy entries drove much of the decline.
[Which GM models were worst in CR's surveys?]
High-profile low scorers included EV-first entries such as the Chevrolet Blazer EV (very low CR score reported in late-2024 coverage) and other models that generated frequent electronics and powertrain complaints in the 2025 owner survey.
[Should I avoid all GM EVs]?
Not necessarily; avoid early-adopter units of newly introduced architectures unless you're comfortable with potential troubleshooting and updates, and verify whether the VIN/model year has received manufacturer software and hardware updates that address early issues reported in CR's surveys.
[Do other studies say the same thing?]
Not uniformly-J.D. Power's 2025 dependability awards show many GM models ranking well in specific segments, underscoring methodology differences between CR's owner-survey weighting and J.D. Power's three-year dependability measure. Use both sources for a balanced view.
[Where can I read the original CR findings?]
Consumer Reports publishes its reliability data and recommended-list changes on its website and in its Annual Auto Surveys summaries (CR's December reliability publications and subsequent updates around late 2025/early 2026). Refer to those CR pages for model-year detail.