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Ford Vs. GMC Reliability: One Wins, But Neither Look Great

By Karl Furlong Autoblog

Updated June 15, 2026 12:37 PM

Is "Built Ford Tough" tougher than GMC?

American automakers may dominate in the large SUV and pickup truck categories, but that domination isn't because of superior reliability. As we saw in our Jeep vs. Ram reliability comparison, these vehicles often require higher maintenance costs relative to their Japanese rivals as the miles pile up. In our latest match up, we'll assess how Ford and GMC compare in the reliability stakes. These brands feature multiple competing SUVs and trucks so are often cross-shopped, but which one will leave you with fewer headaches? Using trusted sources like Consumer Reports, JD Power, and RepairPal, we'll uncover which brand is more dependable.

Consumer Reports: Ford Is Far Ahead

This is one of the largest brand reliability studies currently available. Consumer Reports (CR) calculates a predicted reliability rating for all brands. To do this, data from roughly 380,000 vehicles from the 2000 to 2025 model years are used. The study takes into account 20 trouble areas, spanning everything from infotainment defects to electric motor faults, gas engine failures, and transmission failures. More severe, expensive faults are more heavily penalized and factored into the rankings.

In the latest study of 26 eligible brands, Toyota ranked first with a score of 66. Ford was down at 11th and scored 48, the same as Hyundai. GMC was one of the weaker performers, achieving a score of just 31 and a ranking of 23rd.

CR Brand Reliability Study Consumer Reports Consumer Reports

Ford's F-150 Hybrid had the best rating in its category, a significant improvement over previous years. The Escape Hybrid also saw a higher score. GMC's much lower score was dragged down by poor performances from the Terrain, Acadia, and Canyon. As far as the CR study is concerned, Ford is comfortably ahead of GMC.

JD Power: Nothing Between Them

To get a better idea of how three-year-old vehicles are faring, JD Power released the results of its 2026 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) earlier in 2026. The study involved 33,268 owners of 2023 model-year vehicles and issues they faced. In total, 184 problem areas were covered in the study.

Lexus topped this year's study with 151 problems per 100 vehicles, the lowest rate of problems among 28 brands.

Ford Vs. GMC Reliability Rankings: JD Power

Ford: 19th (228 problems per 100 vehicles)
GMC: 20th (229 problems per 100 vehicles)
Industry average: 204 problems per 100 vehicles

Ford and GMC were extremely closely matched, ranking 19th and 20th respectively. Ford vehicles saw 228 problems per 100 vehicles, only just ahead of GMC's 229. Both were well below the average of 204 problems per 100 vehicles.

Neither manufacturer had a single vehicle that topped a segment for reliability, although the Ford F-150 was noted as a runner-up in the large light duty pickup segment.

RepairPal: Another Slim Victory For Ford

RepairPal has a reliability ranking of 32 brands, based on data from 2010 to 2019 models. This could be seen as a more accurate representation of long-term reliability, as newer models with lower miles are excluded. Millions of vehicle repair invoices are factored into RepairPal's rankings, as are the cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance.

GMC Vs. Ford Reliability Rankings: RepairPal

Ford: 3.5 out of 5 rating (21st out of 32 brands)
GMC: 3 out of 5 rating (22nd out of 32 brands)

As with the JD Power study, both brands are below average, while Ford is only slightly ahead of GMC. 17% of GMC model repairs are considered severe relative to 15% for Ford models, while both brands' models need to visit a repair shop 0.3 times per year for unscheduled repairs.

Longest-Lasting Car Brands: GMC or Ford?

2024 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Denali Ultimate GMC GMC

Regular repairs and maintenance visits are one thing, but assuming owners take care of their vehicles, which brand has the longest-lasting models? In an iSeeCars study of cars with the highest chance of lasting 250,000 miles and beyond, data for almost 400 million cars were analyzed, including the average odometer reading. All brands' models had a 4.8% chance of achieving this feat.

Japanese brands dominated the study, holding the top 4 brand spots. The first brand outside Japan was GMC, ranked fifth and with a 4.6% chance of its vehicles hitting 250,000 miles. Ford did not rank inside the top 10 for brands, but it has one of the longest-lasting pickups, with the F-450 Super Duty ranked behind only the Ram 3500 and Toyota Tundra. In the category for longest-lasting SUVs, not a single Ford made the top 20, but GMC's Yukon and Yukon XL did. The ability of these models to last a long time is due, in part, to their sturdy body-on-frame platforms and robust V8 engines.

Final Verdict: Ford More Reliable Overall

Ford came out on top in three out of four reliability studies, with a significant lead in the CR study. GMC, meanwhile, only ranked ahead of Ford in the iSeeCars study of cars likely to last 250,000 miles or longer; we suspect this is because GMC doesn't have many small cars, which typically don't have the same lifespan as big trucks and SUVs.

While these automakers are not the worst among American brands, they're still far off their Japanese rivals. Ford and GMC may produce powerful SUVs and trucks, but they'll often require more upkeep than a comparable Toyota or Honda.

This story was originally published June 15, 2026 at 12:30 PM.