Whether hauling cargo, towing, or just going to the grocery store, no one wants a truck that breaks down unexpectedly. In December 2025, Kelley Blue Book found that pickups sold for more than $16,000 on average compared to new vehicles overall. One of the major reasons trucks as a category enjoy this higher premium is that drivers expect them to be more rugged than more affordable cars.
Unfortunately, trucks don’t always come with the reliability their price tags reflect. That’s why the nonprofit consumer protection agency Consumer Reports (CR) took it upon itself to find out how reliable these vehicles are. Every year, CR surveys thousands of drivers to get data on the problems they’ve encountered with various makes and models across the automotive industry. Real people on the ground weigh in on the problems they’ve had with their cars, from minor annoyances to major breakdowns. In its reports, CR considers items such as the vehicle’s safety features, engine, transmission and electrical systems in each of its judgments, paying particular attention to areas that can lead to costly repairs.
As of 2026, five American-made trucks have become the object of CR’s wrath. Whether you prefer combustion engines or electric vehicles (EVs), these are some of the most unreliable pickups on the market.
Read more: What you should never say when buying a car
Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Red Chevrolet Silverado truck exposed inside with black wheels and a Z71 badge on the front fender – Just dance/Shutterstock
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is among the best-selling trucks – and vehicles – in the US. This model is a heavyweight in the light-duty full-size pickup category, competing directly with the Ford F-150 and Ram 1500. But just because it’s popular doesn’t mean it’s pocket-friendly. The experts at Consumer Reports have been collecting reliability data on this truck since the 2000 model year, and the verdict isn’t great. Consumer Reports’ reliability history shows that the Silverado 1500 has struggled with powertrain and electronics problems over several generations, making it a potentially expensive long-term ownership bet once warranty coverage expires. From 2007 to 2024, the Silverado 1500 built a consistently poor reputation due to those factors and overall build quality.
Since the powertrain includes the engine, transmission, transmission and other major components, any problem in this segment usually means expensive repair costs. For context, according to RepairPal, some powertrain and driveline replacements will cost more than $1,000, with engine parts replacements running between $2,500 and $5,000.
That said, it’s not all bad news for this truck; CR’s data also suggests that the suspension, steering, brakes and climate control haven’t fared too badly in more recent generations. The 2025 model year, in particular, is generally well-regarded, though its reputation could change the longer it spends on the market.
Tesla Cybertruck
Side profile of a stainless steel Tesla Cybertruck parked along a curb on a suburban street – Jetcityimage/Getty
Tesla’s Polarized Truck might look futuristic, but its reputation is less than favorable. According to CR, the Cybertruck is decent overall, but it’s sorely lacking in build quality and electric motor reliability. The 2024 model year has been recalled 10 times for problems ranging from sticking accelerator pedals to electric motor failures. Sometimes components have fallen right off the vehicle and onto the street while people were driving it.
Those looking for a reliable vehicle to tow heavy loads may also want to look elsewhere, as the Cybertruck’s frame has been known to break completely when its trailer hitch is overloaded. If you’re looking for a work truck, the roughly $80,000 to $115,000 you’d spend on a Cybertruck would probably be better spent on a more reliable brand alternative.
In addition to the recalls and durability tests, Consumer Reports also reported major issues with the Cybertruck’s electrical accessories, body hardware, paint and trim. Some users reported that the car’s keyless entry system failed to unlock the door, while others complained that the wireless charging pad got dangerously hot. Even seemingly simpler features such as paint and exterior panels proved problematic, peeling off the surface of the car or falling off completely. All of these issues, combined with rumors that Tesla won’t accept trade-ins for the Cybertruck, give this truck a very questionable value proposition.
GMC Canyon
Yellow GMC Canyon AT4 truck driving down a city street with a bold black grille and red GMC badge – Art Ops/Getty
Consumer Reports has been collecting data on the 2015 GMC Canyon, and while it’s had some respectable model years, its overall reliability record is spotty. After the redesign of the 2023 model, drivers reported serious declines in the car’s build quality and electronic systems. Meanwhile, CR also found that previous models had major hiccups involving the powertrain, which remains a severe pain point on the 2025 Canyon as well.
Interestingly, RepairPal and iSeeCars both have a more positive review of the Canyon’s reliability. The GMC Canyon has an above-average reliability rating on RepairPal, and the site ranks it No. 2 on its list of seven popular vehicles in the midsize truck category. iSeeCars also gives it similarly high reliability ratings, but doesn’t take into account data from the 2022 model years. Given that even CR ranks 2023-and-later Canyons as some of the worst on the market, those older models could skew those higher rankings overall. CarEdge’s costs for the model are more balanced, suggesting owners could spend about $9,500 on maintenance and repairs in the first 10 years, with a more than 27 percent chance that at least one major repair will run an owner $500 or more during that time.
Rivian R1T
Blue Rivian R1T electric truck parked in a lot, with distinctive oval LED headlights and black wheels – Jetcityimage/Getty
Among the many electric vehicles that made Consumer Reports’ list of least reliable vehicles of 2026, the Rivian R1T remains one of the worst performers. Since CR started collecting data from the first model in 2022, the Rivian R1T has had almost the same problems. In both 2022 and 2023, the R1T built a reputation for below-average reliability, with recurring issues centered around build quality and electrical systems. Consumer Reports data shows repeated owner complaints involving exterior features like paint, windows and doors, as well as other issues involving factors like seat controls and locking mechanisms. Each R1T model year saw at least six NHTSA recalls, with issues with safety equipment, unpredictable driving systems and suspension failures making recurring appearances from 2022 to 2025. This lack of improvement is likely why Consumer Reports named Rivian the least reliable car maker of 2025.
To be fair, things could be going well for the brand as a whole. Rivian owners tend to say they are happy with their purchases, even in the face of all these reliability issues. R1T drivers have always complained that the truck’s software was heavily plagued with bugs that made driving the truck and using its electronic features frustrating, but regular updates to these operating systems have improved the company’s reputation over the years. Of course, software updates can only go so far: if you experience an engine failure or a piece of hardware comes loose on the highway, it’s not too much of a download of an update to fix it.
I have 1500 left
Black Ram 1500 truck parked on a residential street with all-terrain tires and a chrome front bumper – Roman Belogorodov/Getty
As of February 2026, the 2026 Ram 1500 may be the least reliable truck American drivers can buy based on Consumer Reports’ findings. Looking at CR’s reliability chart, the 2025 struggled in several heavily weighted categories. Drivers have experienced problems with electronic features in particular, and even core components like the battery and screen have been known to malfunction – if not fail outright – on a regular basis.
That said, the previous model years show that Ram 1500 reliability was not uniformly poor. In fact, CR’s reliability history charts indicate that both the 2022 and 2024 models performed closer to average in several categories, with the transmission system and engine cooling proving particularly reliable. This stretch of relative stability suggests that the truck can perform well once a design cycle matures.
Volatility tends to occur around major updates. The 2019 redesign, for example, was followed by a drop in predicted reliability before improving in subsequent years. The 2025 1500 model also received what appeared to be intended to be a serious facelift to both its engine and the car’s electronics. However, these updates clearly fell flat in CR’s eyes and obviously shook the nonprofit’s confidence in the Ram 1500 as a whole.
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