Consumer Reports Says To Avoid Buying These Used Chevy Models From These Years

Even if you don't dainty each connection that Consumer Reports (CR) publishes arsenic gospel, it's worthy paying attraction erstwhile nan statement says not to acquisition a peculiar vehicle. In a precocious published roster of 42 cars to avoid, six Chevys made nan list. These aren't clunkers from a decade ago, but newer models, immoderate of which are only a twelvemonth old. These much caller examples are premier targets for utilized car shoppers seeking to return advantage of depreciation without bypassing nan latest technology.

Without keeping you successful suspense immoderate longer, present are nan Bow-Tie-brand models CR says to enactment distant from: 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV, 2021 Chevrolet Bolt, 2025 Chevrolet Colorado, 2025 Chevrolet Equinox, 2021 Chevrolet Suburban, and 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. In fairness, Ford besides had six entries connected nan list, but that's different story.

Here's a breakdown of nan issues pinch each model, according to Consumer Reports and others. We'll besides constituent retired alternatives that whitethorn origin you to second-guess nan acquisition of 1 of these Chevys.

On paper, nan Blazer EV seems for illustration a bully idea. Its midsize position and crossover functionality checked nan boxes. And a scope of up to 324 miles besides added appeal. But CR's thumbs down connected nan 2024 version points to nan often-held contented of avoiding nan first twelvemonth of an all-new model.

Consumer Reports proprietor surveys show mediocre reliability scores, pinch nan powertrain and high-voltage artillery being peculiarly troublesome. Meanwhile, build value and in-car electronics besides person reddish flags. Other sources connected quality, for illustration J.D. Power and CarComplaints, don't person overmuch to opportunity astir nan Blazer EV's first year. That's unsurprising arsenic nan institution only sold astir 23,000 examples successful 2024 – a driblet successful nan bucket erstwhile Chevrolet sold complete 1.7 cardinal full units nan aforesaid year. However, a reappraisal of proprietor complaints connected record pinch nan National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows dozens of criticisms involving nan electrical system, powertrain, and exertion issues.

If an all-electric crossover is still connected your shopping list, location are much dependable options retired there. For nan 2024 exemplary year, Consumer Reports gives nan Nissan Ariya and Ford Mustang Mach-E nan apical reliability scores (both successful nan bully range).

First appearing successful 2017, nan Chevrolet Bolt helped bring affordability to nan EV segment, beating nan Tesla Model 3 to nan punch by a twelvemonth and astir $10,000. Yet, nan 2021 Bolt stands out, and not successful a bully way. Among each nan Bolt years that CR has evaluated for reliability, this version is nan worst, and it's nan only 1 that falls into nan mediocre range.

Not only was nan 2021 exemplary twelvemonth wrapped up successful nan infamous callback complete fires involving nan high-voltage battery, but complete half of proprietor complaints connected record pinch NHTSA subordinate to nan electrical strategy aliases powertrain. Consumer Reports' information besides shows that nan EV artillery is astatine nan halfway of nan 2021 Bolt's debased reliability ratings. Meanwhile, location are still reports of troubles pinch in-car electronics.

While choices successful nan EV marketplace were less successful 2021, location are different models pinch precocious reliability ratings. At nan apical of nan database is nan Hyundai Kona Electric. Its bully standing is nan highest among immoderate electrical conveyance evaluated by CR for nan 2021 exemplary year. The Nissan Leaf is different option, though reliability drops into mean territory. With immoderate observant shopping, you tin find examples of utilized Leafs connected trader tons for nether $10,000.

Chevy's reliability woes widen beyond nan EV realm, pinch nan Colorado getting attraction for each nan incorrect reasons. The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado marked nan debut of nan all-new 3rd generation. This midsize truck's dependability scores hovered successful nan mean scope for nan first mates of years, but things turned disfigured for nan 2025 exemplary year. CR's reliability standing plunged to a mediocre level, making nan Colorado 5th successful dependability among nan six trucks evaluated successful this category. The Colorado's firm clone, nan GMC Canyon, was sixth, pinch an identical score. The 2025 Jeep Gladiator besides falls into this class but wasn't rated by CR. 

Starting pinch nan 2025 exemplary year, nan 310-horsepower type of nan turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder powerplant became nan sole caretaker of nan motor bay. Yet, this alteration isn't straight connected to nan Colorado's mediocre showing. The motor only gets cited for insignificant reliability issues. The problems are connected to nan drivetrain. CR points to nan 4WD system, nan differential, and nan transportation lawsuit arsenic communal problem areas. There aren't galore proprietor reports submitted to NHTSA astir nan 2025 Colorado (the motortruck is only a twelvemonth old), but respective attraction connected brake issues, which is different strategy flagged by Consumer Reports.

Based connected CR data, much dependable alternatives for nan 2025 exemplary twelvemonth are nan Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier. Both midsize trucks person above-average reliability scores, pinch nan Tacoma earning nan apical spot.

The Equinox is different 2025 Chevy exemplary that Consumer Reports dinged for reliability issues. Along pinch nan Silverado pickup, nan Equinox was one Chevy's best-selling vehicles successful 2025, moving almost 275,000 units. This coincided pinch nan merchandise of nan fourth-generation Equinox. Among nan 20 compact SUVs analyzed by Consumer Reports (plus 3 models not tested), nan 2025 Equinox (and nan 2025 GMC Terrain) classed dormant last. Within nan group, this General Motors (GM) brace was nan only introduction pinch mediocre reliability rankings.

Transmission issues mostly relationship for nan antagonistic rating. However, these are what Consumer Reports categorizes arsenic insignificant problems, often concentrated connected shifting issues, sensors, and software. To a lesser extent, drivetrain problems are besides a concern, while in-car electronics is simply a much superior problem spot. The 2025 Equinox had 150 complaints submitted to NHTSA, pinch various criticisms involving nan transmission. However, issues pinch nan electrical strategy relationship for astir 1 3rd of these reports.

There's nary shortage of options successful nan hypercompetitive compact crossover segment. For nan 2025 exemplary year, CR ranks nan Ford Escape arsenic nan astir reliable among much than 2 twelve models. The Kia Sportage slots successful conscionable behind, pinch some these alternatives and respective others having bully reliability rankings.

The 2021 exemplary twelvemonth marked nan motorboat of an all-new procreation for nan Suburban/Tahoe duo. And successful lawsuit you request a reminder astir nan header of this article, you tin conjecture wherever this is heading. These full-size SUVs (again, including nan near-identical GMC Yukon and Yukon XL successful nan mix) person mediocre reliability ratings successful Consumer Reports' findings.

But let's put nan results successful perspective. It's a mini category, pinch nan Ford Expedition ranking astatine nan apical pinch a below-average dependability score. Although nan 2021 editions of nan Toyota Sequoia and Nissan Armada are besides connected nan list, CR doesn't person reliability rankings for these Japanese models. There's only information for nan Detroit entrants. Consumer Reports gives nan Suburban and Tahoe such debased dependability ratings owed to awesome issues pinch nan motor and transmission. That's capable to almost place nan arsenic mediocre results for nan suspension, steering, substance system, emissions, and ambiance controls. A reappraisal of NHTSA filings shows that astir half of each complaints for nan 2021 Suburban are connected to nan motor aliases transmission, validating Consumer Reports' efforts. NHTSA says nan aforesaid astir nan Tahoe.

There's not a batch of prime successful this category, arsenic GM's offerings are ubiquitous. Heck, nan Suburban moreover has its ain prima connected nan Hollywood Walk of Fame. If nan 2021 exemplary twelvemonth is simply a must, past nan higher-rated Expedition is connected nan table, arsenic are nan unrated Sequoia and Armada. Newer Suburbans and Tahoes are possibilities. They person higher CR reliability ratings, but still person below-average reliability scores.