The Chevrolet 4500 spans 2016–2026 with 1 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 4.5/5 ForCar reliability score. The years to approach with caution are 2022, 2026, 2025 (most owner complaints); the cleanest are 2016, 2017, 2018. It delivers up to 119 mpg combined and NHTSA-rated safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Chevrolet 4500 is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 2016 to 2026 across multiple generations.
How to read a Chevrolet 4500 VIN — every digit explained
Every Chevrolet 4500 carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Chevrolet and the country it was built in.
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this 4500.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. For the full year-code table (2001–2026), country codes and where the VIN is stamped on your 4500, see the complete guide to reading a VIN.
How many recalls does the Chevrolet 4500 have?
The Chevrolet 4500 has 1 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2016–2026. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
Best and worst years for the Chevrolet 4500
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint volume across 11 tracked years, the worst years are 2022, 2026, 2025 and the best (fewest complaints) are 2016, 2017, 2018.
ForCar aggregate — our own analysis of complaint volume, not published by NHTSA.
| Year | Owner complaints | Top issue | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 4500 | — | Best | |
| 2017 4500 | — | Best | |
| 2018 4500 | — | Best | |
| 2019 4500 | — | Average | |
| 2020 4500 | — | Average | |
| 2021 4500 | — | Average | |
| 2022 4500 | Fuel System | Avoid | |
| 2023 4500 | — | Average | |
| 2024 4500 | — | Average | |
| 2025 4500 | — | Avoid | |
| 2026 4500 | — | Avoid |
What are the most common Chevrolet 4500 problems?
The most-reported Chevrolet 4500 problems are Gasoline (1 reports), Fuel System (1 reports) — out of 1 owner complaints NHTSA holds for the model. Here's how they break down:
Most-reported components — tap a category to read what owners actually experienced:
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Chevrolet 4500 specifications & dimensions
The 2026 Chevrolet 4500. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the Chevrolet 4500 window sticker.
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Chevrolet 4500 cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the 4500 holds — passengers and cargo. EPA measures its interior at 107 cu ft of passenger volume and 31 cu ft of cargo. Seating capacity and legroom vary by trim.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Chevrolet 4500 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Chevrolet 4500 get?
The Chevrolet 4500 returns up to 119 combined MPG (EPA), which works out to roughly $650/yr in fuel. Pick an engine to see MPG, annual running cost and CO₂ by year:
The 2026 Chevrolet 4500 (3.6L 6-cyl) gets 21 mpg combined and costs about $2,950/yr to fuel, emitting 424 g/mi CO₂ (GHG 4/10) — about $3,750 more than the average new vehicle over 5 years.
| Year | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel/yr | CO₂ g/mi | Smog | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 4500 | 18 | 25 | $2,950 | 424 | — | 3.6L 6-cyl | |
| 2025 4500 | 18 | 26 | $2,950 | 422 | 5/10 | 3.6L 6-cyl | |
| 2024 4500 | 18 | 26 | $2,950 | 422 | 6/10 | 3.6L 6-cyl | |
| 2023 4500 | 19 | 26 | $2,950 | 417 | 6/10 | 3.6L 6-cyl | |
| 2022 4500 | 19 | 26 | $2,950 | 417 | 6/10 | 3.6L 6-cyl | |
| 2021 4500 | 19 | 26 | $2,950 | 413 | 6/10 | 3.6L 6-cyl | |
| 2020 4500 | 18 | 25 | $2,950 | 433 | 6/10 | 3.6L 6-cyl | |
| 2019 4500 | 18 | 25 | $2,950 | 426 | 6/10 | 3.6L 6-cyl | |
| 2016 4500 | 19 | 28 | $2,850 | 395 | 6/10 | 3.6L 6-cyl |
The 2016 Chevrolet 4500 (6.2L 8-cyl) gets 20 mpg combined and costs about $3,850/yr to fuel, emitting 438 g/mi CO₂ (GHG 4/10, smog 5/10) — about $8,250 more than the average new vehicle over 5 years.
| Year | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel/yr | CO₂ g/mi | Smog | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 4500 | 17 | 28 | $3,850 | 438 | 5/10 | 6.2L 8-cyl |
The 2026 Chevrolet 4500 (2L 4-cyl) gets 24 mpg combined and costs about $2,600/yr to fuel, emitting 368 g/mi CO₂ (GHG 5/10) — about $2,000 more than the average new vehicle over 5 years.
| Year | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel/yr | CO₂ g/mi | Smog | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 4500 | 22 | 27 | $2,600 | 368 | — | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2025 4500 | 22 | 27 | $2,600 | 368 | 6/10 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2024 4500 | 22 | 27 | $2,600 | 368 | 7/10 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2023 4500 | 22 | 27 | $2,600 | 368 | 7/10 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2022 4500 | 22 | 27 | $2,600 | 368 | 7/10 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2021 4500 | 22 | 27 | $2,600 | 362 | 7/10 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2020 4500 | 21 | 27 | $2,700 | 374 | 6/10 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2016 4500 | 22 | 31 | $3,100 | 353 | 6/10 | 2L 4-cyl |
The 2018 Chevrolet 4500 gets 119 MPGe and costs about $650/yr to fuel — that's about $7,750 saved over 5 years versus the average new vehicle.
| Year | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel/yr | CO₂ g/mi | Smog | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 4500 | 128 | 110 | $650 | — | 10/10 | Electric | |
| 2017 4500 | 128 | 110 | $650 | — | 10/10 | Electric |
Source: EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar-hosted, 1986–2027) — best combined rating per engine & year, with EPA annual fuel cost and tailpipe CO₂. Trim & drivetrain vary slightly; decode your VIN for the exact figure.
See how the 4500 stacks up against the most fuel-efficient SUVs, or calculate this 4500's real yearly fuel cost.
What engines does the Chevrolet 4500 have? Power & range
The Chevrolet 4500 is offered with 4 powertrains — 3.6L 6-cyl, 6.2L 8-cyl, 2L 4-cyl, Electric. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.6L · 6-cyl | Automatic 9-spd | AWD | Regular |
| V8 | 6.2L · 8-cyl | Automatic (S8) | RWD | Premium |
| 4-cyl | 2.0L · 4-cyl | Automatic 9-spd | AWD | Regular |
| Electric | Electric motor | Single-speed | FWD | Electricity |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Can a Chevrolet 4500 tow? Towing & payload
As an SUV, the Chevrolet 4500 is built to tow and haul. The exact maximum towing capacity and payload depend on the engine, drivetrain and whether it has the factory tow package.
What sets your 4500's tow & payload rating:
- Engine — a larger or turbocharged engine tows more than the base unit.
- Drivetrain & axle — 4WD/AWD and the axle ratio shift the rating.
- Tow package — the factory towing package (hitch, wiring, transmission cooler) raises the max.
- Payload & GVWR — GVWR caps the combined load; more passengers and cargo lower how much you can tow.
Exact towing capacity, payload and GVWR are added per engine, drivetrain and trim — decode your VIN above, or check the driver's door-jamb and hitch labels. Curb weight from vehicle specifications.
How much does a Chevrolet 4500 cost to own?
A used Chevrolet 4500 sells for a median of about $24,995 for a 2021 — most listed between $24,995 and $24,995, from 17 real US listings we track. That real market price is what depreciation eats into, so it's the true anchor of the cost to own:
| Year | Typical price | Market range | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 4500 | $24,995–$24,995 | 5 | |
| 2020 4500 | $28,995–$39,500 | 5 | |
| 2019 4500 | $19,995–$66,999 | 7 |
For every model year mileage-adjusted, trade-in vs private-party vs dealer pricing and a good-deal check, see what a 4500 is worth today, or browse used-market prices for SUVs.
A Chevrolet 4500 holds its value well. A typical example keeps roughly 56% of its value after five years — losing about 44% to depreciation. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 84% | $25,200 | −$4,800 |
| Year 2 | 76% | $22,800 | −$7,200 |
| Year 3 | 68% | $20,400 | −$9,600 |
| Year 4 | 61% | $18,300 | −$11,700 |
| Year 5 | 56% | $16,800 | −$13,200 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this 4500 loses about 44% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — ≈ $3,250 over five years at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the 4500 ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
Is the Chevrolet 4500 safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the 4500 yet — see the top-rated safest cars instead.
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How many miles does a Chevrolet 4500 last?
A well-maintained Chevrolet 4500 typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 4.5/5.
Check your Chevrolet 4500’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this 4500’s VIN free →All Chevrolet 4500 model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Chevrolet 4500 — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 4500 | 0 | — | |
| 2025 4500 | 0 | — | |
| 2024 4500 | 0 | — | |
| 2023 4500 | 0 | — | |
| 2022 4500 | 1 recall | — | |
| 2021 4500 | 0 | — | |
| 2020 4500 | 0 | — | |
| 2019 4500 | 0 | — | |
| 2018 4500 | 0 | — | |
| 2017 4500 | 0 | — | |
| 2016 4500 | 0 | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the 4500?
By owner-complaint volume, 2022, 2026, 2025 drew the most reports. 2016, 2017, 2018 have the cleanest records.
How many recalls does the 4500 have?
1 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2016–2026. Always check open recalls by your VIN. See all Chevrolet recalls and reliability across every model.
What MPG does the 4500 get?
Up to 119 combined MPG (EPA), depending on engine — from the base 4-cylinder to the hybrid.
How many miles does a 4500 last?
A well-maintained 4500 typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the 4500 reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the 4500 is 4.5/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Chevrolet 4500 warranty?
New Chevrolet models carry a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Chevrolet dealer.
Where is the Chevrolet 4500 made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your 4500's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Chevrolet may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much ground clearance does the 4500 have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.