US-made cars aren't known for ranking the highest in reliability. Compared to cars made in Asia and Europe, cars made in the Home of the Brave require that much more bravery from its drivers to operate. Some American cars tend to break down more often than the cars of other automakers based outside the country. Consumer Reports delved into the major car brands in October 2017 and created a breakdown of how each of them fares when it comes to reliability. Gathering opinions of drivers through a survey, Consumer Reports discovered that GM has struggled with producing dependable cars, at least in the eyes of the public.
Updated March 2022: If you're looking to purchase a car made by General Motors, you'll be happy to know that we've updated this article with more information regarding the models you're better off avoiding.
GM is one of the "Big Three" automakers in the country, along with Ford and Chrysler (now under the Stellantis umbrella), which means they oversee a lot of divisions that are household name brands. It’s worth noting that not all of GM's divisions have a reputation for unreliability. Buicks, for example, fared well. However, Consumer Reports details that the other major brands GM oversees, including Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC, haven’t done as well in making reliable cars. While the reliability issues drivers experience can be limited to the vehicle's technology and features alone, often, there are deeper problems underneath the surface. These tend to be the major mechanical issues that plague the engine, the transmission, or the drivetrain. There's no shortage of GM cars failing to stand the test of time. Assembled here is a list of GM cars that failed to live up to customers' expectations due to their failing parts and poor quality.
25 Cadillac Escalade
SUVs and trucks are doubling down even more when it comes to luxury. The Cadillac Escalade has been doing it long before it became fashionable, though. In spite of making its owners more comfortable, its reliability has suffered.
According to Consumer Reports via USA Today, the Escalade has a reputation for some of its features, including climate control, not working properly. It sounds like the SUV that’s always strived for comfort hasn't been as pleasant of a driving experience for many.
24 Chevrolet Corvair
In retrospect, the Chevrolet Corvair has something of a checkered past to it that’s defined its legacy. According to CNN, that's partly due to a book called "Unsafe at Any Speed" by former presidential nominee Ralph Nader.
He didn't have the best things to say about the Corvair, and that hurt its image over time. Part of the problems, according to CNN, had to do with its rear engine and the toll it took on the overall performance of this precarious vehicle.
23 Geo Metro Convertible
While all the cars on this list lack dependability, only a few have the infamy of being unsafe. Many consider the Geo Metro Convertible to be one such vehicle. According to NY Daily News, it's a flimsy automobile that can be compared to a golf cart, which seems apt, considering the small 3-cylinder engine the Geo carries.
NY Daily News also reports that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave it less-than-stellar scores. With that kind of reputation, it's hard to get behind the Geo Metro Convertible.
22 Pontiac Fiero
The Pontiac Fiero is a polarizing machine. On the one hand, the public liked what was a midsize performer, and this reflected in the initial sales. On the other hand, the car had some problems. Jalopnik reports that reliability is something of an understatement when it comes to the Fiero, with engines even catching on fire.
A car that bursts into flames is about the furthest from reliability as possible. These days, the car is rare and gaining more appreciation from car enthusiasts for what it is.
21 Cadillac V8-6-4
The Cadillac V8-6-4 is proof that GM bit off a little bit more than it could chew back in the early '80s. Making its list of the worst cars of all time, Time details one of the adversities that lay before GM during this era: equipping vehicles with variable engine displacement before the technology was ready.
In attempting this new venture that would go on to become common among automobiles of the future, the V8-6-4's performance suffered as a result.
20 Chevrolet Colorado
Before raising any alarms about this pickup, the 2015-2016 model is the one with reliability issues. According to Consumer Reports, there are six recalls out for this truck, which isn't the best of news.
Airbags failing to inflate, brake fluid leaks, and seats struggling to lock in place are just some of the issues afflicting the 2015-2016 models. Those looking for a used pickup on the market are better off avoiding this one, at least within the 2015-2016 model years.
19 Chevrolet Vega
Many believe the Chevrolet Vega to be a disappointment. Jalopnik reports that the Vega’s interior isn't very durable. In a matter of years, owners complained of the interior's worn-away materials, including one whose door handles on the inside of the car fell off over time.
While comfort isn't something owners can rely on, what GM put under the hood didn’t get much praise either. The source notes that both the engine and the suspension showed problematic signs in a matter of years.
18 Hummer H2
Hummers went through a popular period in the 2000s. Now, the car's image appears dampened by car enthusiasts at large. While the initial intrigue with its design and capabilities was what latched owners on in the first place, people are now taking a closer look under the hood.
According to a report by Jalopnik, one issue has to do with a supposed flaw in one of the cylinders for models produced from 1996-2000. As a result, the engines are prone to giving out.
17 Chevrolet Citation
While many consider the Chevy Vega a failed automobile, there's a vocal opinion gaining steam claiming the Citation is GM's all-time worst. The Truth About Cars paints the Citation as a cash grab by GM that actually worked for them in the beginning until customers wised up, which led to a plummet in sales.
The engine had problems that manifested most whenever a driver pushed the pedal to the metal and dared to get any power out of it.
16 Buick LaCrosse
GM has a number of divisions that aren't as well known for reliability. Buick, on the other hand, is one of GM's exceptions. Consumer Reports that Buick stands in the top ten list of most reliable cars, which is something GM has to be proud of.
What's alarming, however, is how far down Buick dropped from where it was. In October 2017, Consumer Reports put Buick at number 8 for reliability when they had been in 5th place previously. The reason for this sudden drop? The Buick Lacrosse.
15 Cadillac Allante
The Cadillac Allante is a stylish '80s offering from one of the biggest car makers. Nothing could go wrong, right? According to Motor1, despite selling well at first, drivers soon discovered an issue with the roof. It was common for water to leak through, and that left a lot of owners understandably upset.
Despite Cadillac making a new version, the issue still persisted. They wouldn't get the roofs right until 1989, proving that the Allante's reputation in retrospect was flawed.
14 Chevrolet Tahoe
Many of the automobiles on this list are from throughout GM's long history, which goes all the way back to 1908. Instead of there being an isolated era where GM produced all these unreliable vehicles—as if it were somehow excusable—there still exist unreliable cars plaguing the automaker today. Take the Chevrolet Tahoe, for example, which The Truth About Cars notes has reported issues with their transmissions. With the Tahoe's transmission being suspect, it proves that even reliability continues to be a challenge for GM today.
13 Callaway Twin Turbo Corvette
The Callaway Twin Turbo Corvette makes car enthusiasts stop and consider their favorite high-performing vehicles. This Corvette makes those other high performers look like miracles of design and machinery. According to Edmunds, despite getting an impressive twin-turbocharged engine for its time, it was too much for this Corvette to handle.
The engine took a toll on the Corvette, which, in the end, undermined the performance. Despite the Callaway having an engine that car enthusiasts could get behind, owners couldn't count on it to stand the test of time.
12 Chevrolet Chevette
On the surface, the Chevrolet Chevette looks like a competent hatchback. Who can fault an honest person for buying one while expecting a simple daily driver in return? Sadly, it wouldn't be reliable enough for the daily driver.
CNN reports that the Chevette wasn't only plagued with mechanical problems but also couldn't even produce decent enough power to make up for it. Car enthusiasts haven't forgotten about GM's blunder with the Chevette and don't appear to be letting up any time soon.
11 Cadillac Cimarron
The name alone should've been some indication to prospective buyers, with "Cimarron" in Spanish meaning "Wild" or "Untamed," according to Fly Anglers Online. According to Time, the Cimarron was a rebadged offering that came equipped with cheap quality materials.
One could argue it was a first for Cadillac, entering the smaller car market to compete with other brands. Unfortunately for GM—due to the Cimarron—they stalled from the start. Although the Cimarron is long in the past, having come out in 1982, some will never forget.
10 Saturns
Saturns had a rough road during their tenure. It wasn't a pretty time for GM, which might explain why they don't make them anymore. The Motor Digest notes that GM used poor materials to craft these machines—which, weirdly enough—seem to handle accidents better than they do aging.
Leaving a Saturn out in a sun-beaten spot could leave irreparable damage to the exterior. While the styling certainly stood out for these fledgling automobiles in the 1990s, it wasn't necessarily a good thing.
9 Cadillac Catera
GM may not have a reputation for making the most reliable cars, yet they continue to remain one of the biggest automakers today. People recognize that they still make good cars. There are some instances, however, where safety has become a concern.
According to Slate, as per a report by Automobile Magazine, the Cadillac Catera emitted a blue cloud of smoke after going up a two-mile stretch. The driver also reported the emission of an aroma of burning oil, which doesn't give much assurance.
8 Chevrolet Series-C Copper Cooled
The next car is a throwback to the 1920s, when the car industry was still burgeoning. Out of 1923 came the Chevrolet Series-C "Copper Cooled," which NY Daily News reports possessed exactly what it sounds like: an engine that circulated air to keep it cooler.
While there were some behind-the-scenes challenges within Chevrolet at the time, the final product ended up having major flaws. Because the vehicle became known for overheating, Chevrolet was only able to make so many and soon halted production on the failed venture.
7 Chevrolet Cavalier
The name "Cavalier," which means to "lack proper concern," certainly fits this Chevrolet offering. If there's one thing the Cavalier lacks care in, it's reliability. First, there's the interior, which Jalopnik reports is full of flimsy plastics and materials. Second, there are the poor handling and performance.
Last but certainly not least, it had a major design flaw that didn't safeguard drivers enough from side impacts. Jalopnik notes that there are actually statistics about how this car is unsafe, which makes this one of the least reliable ones on the list.
6 GMC Acadia
When it comes to the Consumer Reports survey on what cars were most reliable, GM can't get a break. Adding to the list of unreliable cars—including the Buick LaCrosse and Cadillac Escalade—the GMC Acadia is right at home. Customers who took part in the survey noted they’d had issues with the Acadia's technology features.
The issue described involved the vehicle's display screen suddenly blacking out for no apparent reason. To make matters worse, that's just one of several problems customers cited.