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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  My Nightmare - 1995 GMC Sonoma
  By Jason L - December 9 - 2:00 am

  Had noting but bad luck with this truck. EGR valve died with one week of purchase. Had to have new ball joints, idler arm, and continual alignments. Still wore tires unevenly. New starter, (2) batteries, universal joints, rear axle developed hum @ 90k. Front axle did not like to disengage when supposed to. ABS died. Had 3 sets of front rotors/pads. I could not wait to get rid of this truck. Body developed unexplainable rust @ 6 years! Leaky oil cooler lines. Leaky heater core. So many repairs I cant list.

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  1999 GMC Jimmy - 1999 GMC Jimmy
  By YSUMARK - December 9 - 2:00 am

  At first, this vehicle seemed great while it was under warranty - solid ride, not too many unwanted noises, good performance. After the warranty was gone, major expensive repairs started: Front Wheel bearings @ $550 each (a very common problem that GMC continues to ignore), 4-wheel drive encoder motor at $750, throttle position sensor at $150. I cant afford the repairs while Im still making the monthly payments, and the vehicle only has 38K miles. GMC just wants to survive the warranty period, and then lets the consumer bear the costly repairs. Ill never buy another GMC product again.

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  Lots of Repairs - 2000 GMC Yukon XL
  By wthtlh - December 2 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle has had many major repairs for the price paid. At first, many problems with the brakes (funny noise),after warranty went out air- ride shock went out (very expensive!), air conditioner unit(very, very expensive, fuel pump along with several little things. Think this vehicle should last longer for what I paid Have 82000 miles and ready to get another vehicle, NOT GMC

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  disapointed - 2004 GMC Yukon XL
  By tr36 - December 1 - 2:00 am

  the denalli drives like no other. it looks stylish and draws extra attention on the road. the inside is roomy and comfortable. Quality on the other hand is a hugh disapointment driving off the lot my kids had broken both the covers for power adaptors, when i shut the drivers side door the electrical control for the windows came off the door. after looking at my sisters 35,000 dollar mini van i felt shorted both on Quality and Options

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  Piece of crap - 1995 GMC Sonoma
  By G-Doggy - November 28 - 2:00 am

  I hate this truck so much but I cant afford to buy another right now.It has been in the shop more times then I can count,and I always say what else can go wrong I wish I had more space to tell you why I will never buy another GM truck the rest of my life.

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  Sad Owner - 1998 GMC Suburban
  By disheartened - November 24 - 2:00 am

  Purchased with 83,000 miles. Now 96,000 miles on the clock. Repairs so far: AC hoses & condensor, ($1,000), front breaks, (Repaired by the dealer), shocks, (%150), front end alignment, (twice so far, $200 combined), intake manifold gaskets, due to coolant leak, ($350). Next trip to the shop is scheduled for 12-2- 03 to diagnose another coolant leak. The dealer cant work on this truck for a week due, I suppose, to all of the other 1998 Suburbans in the shop. Do not buy one of these vehicles.

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  Expensive to own/maintain - 1999 GMC Safari
  By MadMom - November 17 - 2:00 am

  Purch 1/99 4/99 transfer case prob 7/99 8k mi trans replace solenoid-2 visits 3/00 17k mi transfer case 5/00 21k mi overhaul trans asmbly 7/00 24k reconditd valve body/trans expensive brake, trans + transfer case maint for life 1/02 53k idler arms $600 1/03 74k intake gskt $500 5/03 76k AC comprsr, door lock actuators $1,300 7/03 82k NEW ENGINE $7k (spun bearing, threw rod)on family trip from NC to NY 8/03 83k AC control head $350 11/03 85k ignition coil/rotor $400. Expensive to own has been a $10,000 year.Sadly, this Safari has never "wanted" for anything + the maintenance schedule has been followed +/or exceeded.

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  GMC Farewell tour - 2000 GMC Jimmy
  By lwusra - November 8 - 2:00 am

  traded my 97 jimmy with more problems than can list, for the 2000 hoping for better luck to no avail. Comfortabloe my all means for long trips, but cant deal with paying 400 a month for a truck i have to worry about breaking down. only owned it 6 months, was in shop 3 times, smog pump at 36k, alt was going bad, trim was peeling on roof rack.

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  poor quality. will buy foreign next timt - 2003 GMC Yukon
  By burney - November 2 - 2:00 am

  First american product in 25 yrs..now I know why should have stayed there,,,no comparsion in quality..vehicle has been in the repair shop 5 times..replaced rear -end at 12m miles..steering shaft problems//rattles eveywhere...

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  Tried American, but back with import - 2001 GMC Yukon
  By ptm - October 29 - 2:00 am

  Bought GMC ext warranty because of the high mileage driven. We had a piece of side molding replaced, and the car had a terrible knocking sound when there were high winds. Took dealer several times to find the problem. The water pump failed ($100) at 67K. The auto-down switch failed ($100). Engine de-carb, and fuel inject cleaning at 65K ($300+) for an intermittent hesitation problem. Hinge on the rear window lift- glass failed. Extended warranty would not cover hinges - $793 to repair. Toyota dealer offered us 16K and Carmax offered 14.8K. Wound up taking the dealers offer. We won’t be buying GM products again.