Are GMCs Expensive to Maintain?
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General Motors Company is a classic American car manufacturer with many loyal followers. But are GMCs expensive to maintain?
The company's vehicle models, such as SUVs and heavy-duty trucks, are known for their reliability. The average cost of repairs for a vehicle from the company is around $744.
But there’s more to it than that. Let’s see just how expensive GMCs are to maintain.
Table of Contents
Are GMCs Reliable?
A survey conducted by RepairPal revealed that about 0.3 times a year, GMCs visit a repair shop for regular maintenance.
Sounds pretty good. However, 17% of these repairs are considered severe, significantly higher than the national average.
According to carcomplaints.com, transmission failure is the most common issue with the company's vehicle models.
The survey also revealed that the vehicles from Ford have the same frequency of unexpected repairs as those from GM.
Are GMCs Expensive to maintain?
The average cost of repairs for a vehicle from GMC is $747, which is higher than the average cost of repairs for other brands.
Are GMC Parts and Services Expensive?
It's important to talk about the average cost of various maintenance tasks, as this will allow you to compare the costs of different services for your vehicle.
Oil Change
An oil change for a GMC vehicle typically costs around $92 to $139, while a conventional oil change costs, on average, around $40 to $60 and a full synthetic oil change is around $60 for cars.
Filters
The average cost of replacing a fuel filter for a vehicle from GMC is around $80 to $150.
The cost of replacing the cabin air filter is about $60 to $80.
Timing Belt/Chain
The cost of replacing the timing belt or chain on a GMC is $507 to $1,121, depending on the model.
A car like the Canyon can cost around $507 to $599 to replace the timing belt, while a vehicle like the Sierra 1500 or the Terrain can cost you more than $1,000.
Brake Pads
The cost of replacing the brake pads on a GMC vehicle varies depending on the model but costs anywhere from $228 to $359.
Battery
The average cost of replacing a battery for a vehicle from GMC is between $40 and $250, which is average for the industry.
Spark Plugs
The cost of replacing a set of spark plugs for a vehicle from GMC is between $139 to $366.
Tire Rotation and Replacement
A set of tires for a vehicle from General Motors can cost around $300 to $650.
Headlight Bulbs
The cost of replacing a set of headlights for a vehicle from General Motors is typically around $47 to $410.
GMC Extended Warranty
The GMC Extended Limited Warranty extends the powertrain and bumper-to-bumper coverage that comes with a new vehicle’s factory warranty which gives you a total of 5 years or 60,000 miles of coverage.
GMC also offers a Platinum Protection Plan that gives you a range of options for term lengths, from 2 years/24,000 miles to 5 years/60,000 miles. This flexible warranty can be purchased any time before your vehicle hits the 80,000-mile mark.
An extended warranty from General Motors could be a good alternative if you have a major breakdown and need to make repairs. It could also help you with rental cars or roadside assistance.
Why Are GMC Expensive to Maintain?
One of the main reasons why vehicles from General Motors are expensive to maintain is that their manufactured models are essentially the same.
The company's products mainly focus on SUVs and trucks, making them naturally more pricey to maintain.
Vehicles from RAM and Ford are more expensive to maintain, making the average vehicle from the GMC brand less expensive. It's just that the company makes larger cars that require more costly repairs.
One of the main advantages that Asian brands have over American brands is their ability to produce car parts in various Asian countries where labor is relatively cheaper. This allows them to sell their products for less.
Unfortunately, some major carmakers, such as Ford, Chevy, and RAM, don't have this advantage. As a result, they're more expensive than Asian brands.
Are GMC Less Expensive Compared to Other Brands?
After comparing several brands, it's clear that the GMC brand is costlier than average.
Based on the average annual maintenance cost of $744, the company costs significantly more than the national average of $646.
Although it's common to think that the prices of vehicles from the GMC brand are higher than those of other brands, it's important to remember that they're only focused on a small segment of the market, and they make larger vehicles that are supposed to cost more.
