Overview & Reviews

GMC is a division of General Motors that focuses on producing SUVs, trucks and vans. Though GMC's vehicles are mechanically similar to related Chevrolet products, they are typically differentiated by unique features, trim levels and minor styling tweaks. The automaker's full-size pickups and SUVs are the most compelling offerings in its lineup; in many cases, its products in these categories are class-leading.

The marque's roots lie in the Rapid Motor Vehicle Company, a truck manufacturer that was founded by Max Grabowski in 1902. The outfit was purchased by General Motors in 1909 with the intention of having it serve as a division dedicated to building tough and capable trucks. The brand came to be known as GMC Truck; early models include the T16 and T20. Most of the manufacturer's trucks were very utilitarian in nature and functioned as dump trucks, fire trucks and military vehicles. GMC Truck's 3/4-ton Model 16 saw duty in World War I, serving mostly as a battlefield ambulance.

Sales continued to climb in the 1920s. After switching to a six-cylinder Buick-built motor, GMC Truck's 1- and 2-ton trucks earned the distinction of being the fastest in their classes. By the '30s, the line had grown to include everything from half-ton pickups to 10-ton trucks and buses. New models included the popular 1936 Suburban, which was essentially a truck-based station wagon that paired a truck's utility with a car's creature comforts.

World War II was a time of expansion for GMC Truck, thanks to its acquisition of Yellow Truck & Coach. Once again, the automaker's vehicles were tapped for wartime duty. New models like the Jimmy and the DUKW (nicknamed the Duck) were widely used by American troops.

Postwar, GMC Truck models became more consumer-oriented, and many were revamped to offer styling that more closely resembled passenger cars. The 1950s and '60s witnessed an upswing in sales, thanks to the popularity of recreational vehicles like GMC-based motor homes and pickup campers. The Jimmy name was revived and assigned to the brand's first ever sport-utility vehicle in 1970. That decade and the next saw a continued rise in the brand's popularity. The early '90s saw the brief appearance of the Syclone and Typhoon. The former was a small street pickup that burned up the asphalt with its turbocharged V6 and all-wheel drive. The latter was essentially a two-door SUV based on the same platform. Either one of these oddball speedsters could rip through a quarter-mile in around 14 seconds flat, making them among the quickest vehicles ever offered by General Motors. Also, by this time, GMC Truck had trimmed its moniker; the brand is now known simply as GMC.

In the past few decades, GM has consolidated its products and GMC's trucks have become less individualistic as a result. Today, most of GMC's vehicles are virtually identical to those sold by Chevrolet. The main differences lie in minor features and design tweaks that give GMC's offerings a more upscale image.

User Reviews:

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  GMC Terrain - Problem Child - 2011 GMC Terrain
  By bytefirst - April 27 - 8:58 am

  I bought a gmc Terrain in 2011 and I thought it was going to be the best car I have ever purchased. Needless to says, I was wrong. This is the worst car I have ever purchased. I have had it for 3 years and it has done nothing but given me problems. I have taken this car to the shop at least 20 times in the last 3 years and the dealers (Jim Hudson and Love Gmc) kept lying to me about the root cause of my problems. Honestly, they could not fix it. There is a major problem with the car randomly shutting off and it only happens on the v4 model. Gmc needs to be taken to court I will never buy another gmc again. I recommend you stay away!

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  Horrible MPG - 2011 GMC Terrain
  By mea5 - May 8 - 6:09 pm

  Dealer claimed 22 city and 32 HWY and I have never gotten better than 23 MPG and that was on a road trip with all highway driving. I only purchased this car because of the MPG. I would never have purchased had I know GMC lied about the MPG. I typicalley average 18-20 MPG with city and highway driving combined.

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  Milky white fluid 1st. Rusty brown 2nd. - 2011 GMC Terrain
  By gunkedmotors - January 12 - 10:42 pm

  We have a 2011 GMC Terrain SLT, and this is the second time it has been in the shop. Milky white fluid boiled out of the water reservoir the first time. The dealer said the tubes that ran inside the radiator busted causing the white milky substance. The radiator was replaced and did numerous wash cycles for 3 weeks. We got the car back and 2 days later the radiator busted in my driveway and rusty brown fluid spewed out of the radiator. The check engine light has yet to come on. The dealer said it was the same problem. I asked if they did compression check for blown head gasket, and never got an answer. Is it a bad radiator or to much compression in the radiator. January 22, 2012 is year.

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  STAY AWAY!!!!! - 2009 GMC Acadia
  By chellelynn1962 - December 30 - 10:43 pm

  I purchased my 2009 Acadia March 09. Had rack and pinion replaced, seatbelt sensor, tire sensor, keyless remote collapsed/not covered by bumper to bumper, frame around 2nd row seats coming apart not covered, inside pat of front driver/passenger door coming apart, not covered. Vehicle is a piece of expensive junk, substandard equipment and GMC has no customer relations. Save yourself the trouble and stay away. The bumper to bumper warranty is limited and that is not stated at time of purchase. You find this out after the fact.

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  Very Bad Quality - 2010 GMC Terrain
  By Hate_GMC - August 8 - 12:32 am

  The transmission oil leaking on the brand new Terrain, it has only 120 Km. The antenna is 12 inch long, I can not get it into my garage.

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  Money pit - 2000 GMC Jimmy
  By money pit - August 4 - 7:02 pm

  When I finished making payments on this truck thats when everything started to go wrong. The transmission blew twice Im on my third one same for my alternator, water pump, ball joints and the front end, the fuel pump and the intake manifold had to be replaced twice. Then I had to replace the rear wiper motor and rear door lock, the front wiper motor, the radiator, the spider injectors, the front wheel bearings, the window and lock controls never worked right, the 4x4 actuator has to looked at before the first snow fall because it has failed me many times. Thanks to gmc Ill never never buy an American car! Again

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  Crap 2009 Acadia - 2009 GMC Acadia
  By fastestnascar - July 23 - 11:29 pm

  Crap Acadia Says: 2009 Acadia purchased from Andy Mohr Pontiac in Noblesville 4-22-09. Great ride and power for an SUV, however, very strange odor when first turning on blower motor, it simply stinks! Power door locks will not operate when shifting into park intermittently, has happened at least a dozen or more times when putting in park , dealer states it is a “loose relay” after visiting them twice now, and they state it is good to go now. Not a good feeling being trapped! I state it is good to go get my lawyer a call due to GM cannot fix this $41,000 piece of crap! Your Acadia power door lock system will also fail, just a matter of time!

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  Good Bye Jimmy - 1999 GMC Jimmy
  By DoneWithGMC - August 16 - 9:50 pm

  I will try not to repeat was has been said already, we have had 99 percent of the problems listed. The Jimmy was OK for the first 30K miles - and then it started acting like other GM products - everything started to fail, just when we would fix one thing for 600 buck the next thing would go wrong also for 600 bucks! It was so bad even our car repair guy told us to get rid of it (and we probably put his kid through college on the repair bills!) In short the problems can be broken into 2 lists - Big problems that slow/stop the car in its tracks and small problems like levers breaking that are just plain annoying - especially since this was the top end flagship Jimmy model. Avoid this clunk!

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  *UPDATE*- BEWARE - ENGINEERING PROBLEMS - 2017 GMC Acadia
  By Steve Keizer - July 6 - 10:22 pm

  Update: BEWARE - Some NEW Acadias are having problems with vehicle vibrations and shuddering while holding a steady throttle. We have been in for service 5 times, on the 4th service, our entire drivetrain was tore apart and the torque converter clutch/TCC was replaced. Well.. it didnt solve the problem. We now have a copy of a GMC #PIP5488: Vibration, Drone, Flutter, or Boom Noise at 1500-1700 RPM When Vehicle Is In AFM (V4) Mode Bulletin, dated March 23, 2017, and there is no current fix - but, I should feel good because GM Engineering is investigating the issue. UNBELIEVABLE, a $50,000 new vehicle purchase with this problem, with no ETA. BUT WAIT, it gets better - have been dealing with GMC, and they told me today that they would NOT be able to offer us a buyback option, but that we had to wait for an update/fix. Hmm.. Dealership said it could take up to two years... I wont even get into all of the other rattles throughout liftgate and cabin, chair squeaks, raddle through dashboard from fuel injector solenoid (NO FIX), improperly installed interior and exterior trim - QC on this vehicle is a JOKE!! https://www.repairprocedures.com/bulletins/document/pip5488/4755310.html AND TODAY, the check engine light came on - per OnStar remote diagnostics, its an emissions code - PO430. One more issue for our never ending list!! Sixth service appointment next week Tuesday! Original Review: Coming out of a new purchase, 2014 Chevy Impala 2LTZ, which was a great car - we decided to stay in the GM family of vehicles and were drawn to the all new 2017 GMC Acadia. We quickly loaded this vehicle with options and wound up going with the AWD Denali option, our most expensive SUV purchase to date at over $50,000. (Previous new SUV was 13 Ford Explorer). This vehicle has been in the shop three times, next week will be 4 - I will focus on the MAJOR flaws with this vehicle. BEWARE, per the dealership and GMC, this vehicle will ride rough (shudders, and is getting worse) at any steady speed between 20mph and 55mph due to its flawed "TCC", torque converter clutch, but because its not throwing any error codes, were told theres nothing wrong with it - service advisor rode along and felt our concerns - this is how we learned of the "TCC". There is also an annoying high pitch frequency that comes on that is audible outside of the vehicle after it is shut off - this lasts anywhere from 30 seconds to 6 minutes. AWESOME! Squeaks and rattles with second row seating, gaps with interior molding, missing fender trim clips, rattles in lift gate (I think with the window seal)... I know, right? Shouldve stuck with Ford, but we loved the Impala so much and preferred the infoSystem of the GM over Fords mySync. Well, just over 4,000 miles now, a GMC Case number thats about 3 weeks old and off to a different dealership next week. Great job GMC and Longhammer of Waterford - really appreciate the quality and support. I would NOT RECOMMEND the 2017 GMC Acadia to anyone - this will be our last GM product, ever.

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  DONT EXPECT DECENT MILEAGE!! - 2007 GMC Canyon
  By Norman - May 14 - 7:22 pm

  Long story short, 4cyl short bed 2wd automatic. 6500 miles and regardless of ethanol blend or 100% fuel AND smooth acceleration AND following speed limits, 15mpg. Yes, 15 mpg and 17 highway. that is completely pathetic. My 110,000mi 4x4 4.0 liter cherokee did better. Why compromise with a 4cyl and get worse mileage than my friends 4x4 3/4 ton 6.0 liter with 4.10 axle ratio. Upon taking in for service, service advisor reports that everything is as it should be and that is just what mileage they get. Needless to say, that is completely pathetic. I and my family have ALWAYS owned GM vehicles. I guarantee this will be my last. I have never been this let down with a vehicle out of the 60+ ive had