Head-to-head safety comparison of Chevrolet vs Gmc. Compare total recalls, complaints, reliability scores, and NHTSA safety ratings across all models.
Choosing between Chevrolet and Gmc is one of the most common decisions car buyers face. Both manufacturers have loyal followings, but their vehicles differ significantly in terms of safety track record, recall frequency, and long-term reliability. This comparison uses official NHTSA data — including consumer complaints, manufacturer recalls, crash test safety ratings, and computed reliability scores — to give you an objective, data-driven look at how these two brands stack up. Whether you are cross-shopping specific models or evaluating brand-level reliability, the numbers below can help inform your decision.
Chevrolet vehicles have accumulated 32609 total consumer complaints and 544 recalls across 124 tracked models in the NHTSA database. Gmc, by comparison, has 14014 complaints and 227 recalls across 87 models. On a per-model basis, Chevrolet averages roughly 263 complaints per model while Gmc averages about 161 complaints per model. Raw complaint volume alone does not tell the whole story — a manufacturer that sells more vehicles will naturally receive more reports — but the ratio of complaints to models tracked provides a useful benchmark for brand-level reliability.
In NHTSA crash test ratings, Chevrolet vehicles average 4.7 out of 5 stars compared to Gmc's 4.4 stars. Our computed reliability score — which factors in complaint frequency, severity, and safety outcomes like crashes, fires, and injuries — gives Chevrolet an average of 9/100 versus Gmc's 4/100. These metrics help distinguish between brands that have many minor complaints and those with fewer but more serious safety concerns. Review the detailed table below for the full side-by-side metric breakdown, then explore individual model pages for the most specific data.
| Metric | Chevrolet | Gmc |
|---|---|---|
| Models Tracked | 124 | 87 |
| Total Complaints | 32609 | 14014 |
| Total Recalls | 544 | 227 |
| Avg Reliability | 9/100 | 4/100 |
| Avg Safety Rating | ★★★★½ | ★★★★☆ |
Gmc has fewer total safety issues (14241 combined) compared to Chevrolet (33153), suggesting better overall reliability.