GMC is a USA carmaker founded in 1911, now part of General Motors. The cars themselves are another matter: across 25 VIN prefixes on record they came off lines in 3 countries — the United States 79.5%, Canada 14.2%, Mexico 6.3%. 25 models are tracked here (1981–2026). Reliable? yes, on balance — 4.1 out of 5 across 25 rated models, though the spread between model years is far wider than the badge suggests (every model ranked →).
Who makes GMC
GMC (originally General Motors Truck Company) is the truck and SUV division of General Motors, headquartered alongside its parent in Detroit, Michigan. Founded in 1911 by William C. Durant through GM's acquisition of Reliance Motor Truck Company and Rapid Motor Vehicle Company, GMC has been GM's premium truck brand since the 2010 GM bankruptcy reorganization eliminated Pontiac, Hummer and Saturn. GMC trucks share platforms and powertrains with Chevrolet equivalents but receive distinct grille designs, interior trim levels and the Denali luxury sub-brand introduced in 1999. The Sierra 1500, Sierra HD, Yukon, Yukon XL, Acadia, Terrain and the revived 2022 Hummer EV pickup and SUV define the lineup. GMC sells exclusively in North America (US, Canada, Mexico and the Middle East), unlike Chevrolet's global footprint. General Motors trades on the New York Stock Exchange under GM. Recall data for every GMC VIN is reported to NHTSA, and EPA fuel-economy ratings, IIHS crash-test scores and J.D. Power studies provide independent benchmarks. ForCar.org decodes any GMC VIN to surface trim, factory options, open recalls and original window-sticker MSRP.
GMC traces its founding to 1911 when GM founder William C. Durant acquired Reliance and Rapid truck companies and consolidated them as the General Motors Truck Company. The 1962 Sierra trim package introduced GMC's upmarket positioning relative to Chevrolet siblings. The 1999 Denali sub-brand, named after the highest peak in North America, established GMC's premium-truck pricing strategy. The 2022 Hummer EV revived a discontinued GM nameplate as GMC's electric flagship.
| Item | GMC |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1911 |
| Founded by | William C. Durant |
| Headquarters | Detroit, USA |
| Owned by | General Motors |
| Listed as | GM |
| Slogan | «We Are Professional Grade» |
| Models tracked here | 16 (1981–2026) |
| Assembled in | 3 countries |
Technology it is known for: Denali Ultimate luxury trim, Super Cruise hands-free driving, MultiPro tailgate (Sierra), Ultium electric platform (Hummer EV), Adaptive Air Ride suspension.
This page covers GMC, the GM truck brand — not the General Motors corporate parent or the GMC acronym for any other manufacturer.
Where GMC cars are actually built
A badge says where a company is registered, not where its cars were bolted together. The first three characters of any VIN — the world manufacturer identifier — say the second thing, and that is what we counted: 29,889 vehicles on record, 25 distinct manufacturer codes.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 1GK, 1GT, 1GD, 1GN | 1983–2026 | |
| Canada | 2GT, 2GK, 2CT, 2GC | 1985–2017 | |
| Mexico | 3GK, 3GT, 3GN | 1995–2026 |
Read your own: the first character is the region, the first three together identify the plant's manufacturer. A GMC beginning 1GK was assembled in the United States.
All GMC models 25
Every GMC model we track, grouped by body type. Click any model for its VIN decoder, recalls, MPG, safety and ForCar Reliability Score — broken down by year.
GMC SUVs & crossovers 6
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMC Acadia | 2007–2026 | 80 | 5,620 | 25 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| GMC Terrain | 2009–2026 | 45 | 3,172 | 32 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| GMC Yukon | 1992–2026 | 202 | 7,133 | 23 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| GMC Yukon XL | 1995–2026 | 91 | 4,192 | 23 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| GMC Envoy | 2002–2009 | 45 | 3,189 | 17 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| GMC Hummer EV SUV | 2024–2026 | 4 | 17 | 53 mpg | 4.0/5 |
GMC Trucks 5
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMC Sierra | 1989–2026 | 419 | 6,907 | 26 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| GMC Canyon | 2004–2026 | 84 | 1,464 | 25 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| GMC Sonoma | 1991–2004 | 50 | 1,575 | 23 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| GMC Hummer EV Pickup | 2022–2026 | 4 | 7 | 53 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| GMC Caballero | 1981–1987 | 15 | — | 21 mpg | 4.0/5 |
GMC Minivans & vans 3
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMC Savana | 1996–2026 | 165 | 368 | 17 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| GMC Safari | 1985–2005 | 70 | 1,384 | 22 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| GMC Vandura | 1981–1996 | 28 | 56 | 20 mpg | 3.5/5 |
GMC More models 11
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMC NE | 1985–1995 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| GMC Jimmy | 1981–2005 | 53 | 2,268 | 22 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| GMC Typhoon | 1992–1993 | 6 | 21 | — | 3.5/5 |
| GMC Suburban | 1981–2000 | 48 | 2,019 | 18 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| GMC AT | 1985–1995 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| GMC Sierra HD | 2019–2026 | 1 | 1 | — | 4.5/5 |
| GMC Electric Vehicle | 1997–2000 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| GMC WIS | 1985–1995 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| GMC FE | 1985–1995 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| GMC Sierra Limited | 2019–2026 | 2 | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| GMC C/K Pickup | 1981–1986 | 2 | 3 | — | 3.5/5 |
GMC by the numbers
What the federal records say about the marque. Each line links to the full breakdown by model and year.
| Topic | GMC | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 1,414 campaigns | Most recalled: Fuel System, Gasoline |
| Owner complaints | 37,539+ filed | Most reported: Yukon |
| Fuel economy | 53 mpg best | Leader: Hummer EV Pickup |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ top rated | 7 models tested by NHTSA |
| Insurance | $1,172/yr typical | Cheapest: Acadia |
Compare model years like a dealer does.
- Full research report on any model year
- Market chart: how this model holds value
- Exact values with mileage adjustment
- Price-drop alerts on the trims you're watching
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
GMC hybrids & electric models
GMC's electrified lineup — 2 hybrids and 2 electric / plug-in. Click any model for its full powertrain, MPG and range by year.
GMC hybrids 2
| Model | Years | Best figure | Recalls | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMC Sierra | 1989–2026 | 26 | 419 | 4.0/5 |
| GMC Yukon | 1992–2026 | 23 | 202 | 4.5/5 |
GMC electric & plug-in 2
| Model | Years | Best figure | Recalls | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMC Hummer EV Pickup | 2022–2026 | 53 | 4 | 4.5/5 |
| GMC Hummer EV SUV | 2024–2026 | 53 | 4 | 4.0/5 |
Electrified variants from EPA fueleconomy.gov powertrain data. A model may offer gas, hybrid and electric versions across years.
Get a GMC window sticker by VIN
Recreate any GMC's original Monroney label — MSRP, factory options, EPA MPG and safety — free from the VIN.
GMC window stickers →How to read a GMC VIN
Every GMC built since 1981 carries a unique 17-character VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). It encodes where and when the vehicle was made, its engine and body — here's what each part means:
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a GMC 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 it.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
The remaining digits — engine (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard. To decode a VIN number position by position, including the year-code table and where to find the number, use our free tool.
Who owns GMC, and what you get
GMC belongs to General Motors. GMC competes in full-size pickups, mid-size pickups and SUVs against Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado (its mechanical sibling) and Ram 1500 in trucks, and against Chevrolet Tahoe (sibling) and Ford Expedition in full-size SUVs. The Denali line targets buyers willing to pay 15-25% above Chevrolet equivalents for upgraded interior materials, distinct exterior trim and exclusive options. GMC has no passenger-car presence and no plans to add one.
| Item | GMC |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | USA |
| Ownership | General Motors |
| Stock ticker | GM |
| Basic warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 years / 60,000 miles |
| Assembly countries | United States, Canada, Mexico |
⚠ Worth knowing before you rely on it: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, while basic cover here runs 3 years / 36,000 miles. See when GMC models actually start to break →
GMC — frequently asked
Is GMC usa?
GMC is a USA company, headquartered in Detroit and founded in 1911. The cars are a separate question: 79.5% of the GMC vehicles in our records were assembled in the United States.
Where are GMC cars made?
Across 25 manufacturer codes on record, assembly splits as: the United States (79.5%), Canada (14.2%), Mexico (6.3%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the manufacturer and plant country — that is where these shares come from.
Who owns GMC?
GMC is part of General Motors.
How many GMC models are there?
We track 25 GMC models spanning 1981–2026. The full list is above, ordered by how often each is searched.
What is the GMC warranty?
New vehicles come with 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Terms vary by model year and market — confirm with a dealer.
Is GMC reliable?
It depends far more on the model and year than on the badge. Every GMC model is ranked by complaint rate here, along with the age at which each starts to fail.
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