Combing through reliability information from Consumer Reports, combined with our reporting on recalls and known problems, we can present a worst-to-first look at heavy-duty pickup truck reliability for the 2026 model year.
Consumer Reports bases its predicted reliability findings on owner surveys covering the engine, transmission, steering, suspension, brakes, electronics and other potential trouble areas. We are not reproducing its proprietary scores, but we can examine the trends behind its findings.
2026 GMC Sierra 2500HD
The 2026 GMC Sierra 2500HD takes the least desirable position despite sharing its engines, transmissions and basic architecture with the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD.
Consumer Reports evaluates the two GM trucks separately, and Sierra HD owners reported a different experience. The GMC’s overall reliability remained below average for 2025, even as its mechanically similar Chevrolet sibling improved.
The Sierra’s powertrain was its strongest area for 2025, representing a significant improvement from the previous model year. Its brakes and climate system also performed well. However, suspension and steering remained below average, while in-car electronics emerged as its largest trouble spot. Build quality improved but continued to produce mixed results.
The Sierra HD uses the same 6.6-liter gasoline V-8 and available 6.6-liter Duramax diesel as the Silverado HD. Both engines are paired with Allison-branded 10-speed automatic transmissions. That means the transmission valve-body failures and complete transmission replacements reported by some Silverado HD owners could also be relevant to Sierra HD buyers.
Pros
- Strong latest powertrain results
- Proven Duramax diesel option
- Favorable brake and climate-system history
- Denali and Denali Ultimate luxury trims
Cons
- Below-average overall reliability
- In-car electronics are a significant weakness
- Mixed build-quality history
- Shares the Silverado HD’s transmission hardware
2026 Ford F-250
The 2026 Ford F-250 lands in the second least desirable position on this list, although the latest information provides reasons for optimism.
The current Ford Super Duty generation arrived for the 2023 model year. Consumer Reports’ reliability history shows several years of below-average overall results, followed by a noticeable improvement for 2025.
Steering and suspension were persistent trouble spots in earlier model years. These findings match longstanding owner complaints about steering oscillation commonly called “death wobble.” Ford has issued multiple service bulletins addressing steering-wheel oscillation, but no single repair applies to every truck experiencing the condition.
Consumer Reports’ latest information shows better results for suspension, steering, brakes, build quality and in-car electronics. The climate system was a notable weakness for 2024, while insufficient information was available to provide a 2025 powertrain assessment.
Our examination of 2023-2026 Ford Super Duty known problems found electronic glitches, fuel-system concerns and several recalls. These included improperly hardened rear axle shafts that could break and high-pressure fuel pumps that could fail on certain diesel trucks.
Ford offers four Super Duty engines: two versions of its 6.8- and 7.3-liter gasoline V-8 engines and two versions of the 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel. All are paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Pros
- Broad selection of engines and configurations
- Strong towing and payload capability
- Available Pro Power Onboard and extensive towing technology
- Improving recent Consumer Reports reliability history
Cons
- Long history of steering and suspension complaints
- Electronic and climate-system trouble spots
- Multiple fuel-system and rear axle recalls
- Insufficient Consumer Reports data for the latest powertrain
2026 Ram 2500
The 2026 Ram 2500 takes the middle position. Like Ford, its Consumer Reports reliability history improved for 2025, but missing information makes it difficult to know whether its updated powertrain will deliver better long-term durability.
Ram significantly revised the 2500 for 2025. The 6.7-liter Cummins high-output diesel became the only Cummins offered in the pickup, replacing the previous standard- and high-output versions. It is paired with a new TorqueFlite HD eight-speed automatic transmission instead of the six-speed automatics used previously.
Consumer Reports’ history shows the Ram 2500 struggling with powertrain reliability across several previous model years. Overall reliability improved for 2025, as did the reported performance of its suspension, steering, brakes and climate system. However, there was not enough information to assess the 2025 powertrain, build quality or in-car electronics.
That missing powertrain information matters because both the engine and transmission changed for 2025. Early trucks equipped with the updated Cummins were involved in a recall concerning excessive valvetrain lash. Stellantis said certain engines could have improperly seated valvetrain components, potentially causing engine damage.
Our narrower examination of 2025-2026 Ram 2500 known problems also found software problems, including trucks being limited to approximately 15 mph and Tow/Haul mode becoming unavailable. These concerns do not mean every Ram 2500 will experience a failure, but they complicate an otherwise improving reliability picture.
The standard engine remains the 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Pros
- Improved overall Consumer Reports reliability history
- Comfortable coil-spring rear suspension
- Strong Cummins torque and towing capability
- Available 10-year, 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty
Cons
- Poor powertrain results in several earlier model years
- Insufficient data for the redesigned 2025 powertrain
- Early Cummins valvetrain recall
- Software and electronic problems reported by owners
2026 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
The 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD finishes in the most desirable position based on Consumer Reports’ latest reliability history. That is notable because the Silverado shares its major powertrain components with the last-place GMC Sierra 2500HD, yet Chevrolet owners reported a considerably better overall experience (see: scratcher, head).
Chevrolet refreshed the Silverado HD for the 2024 model year with updated styling, technology and powertrains. The 6.6-liter gasoline V-8 gained the Allison-branded 10-speed automatic previously limited to the Duramax diesel. The 6.6-liter Duramax also received more horsepower and torque.
Consumer Reports shows the Silverado HD making a significant improvement for 2025. Its powertrain went from a below-average result for 2024 to one of the strongest areas for 2025. Suspension, steering, brakes, the climate system and build quality also performed favorably. In-car electronics remained its most apparent weakness.
The favorable powertrain result is notable because some 2024 and 2025 owners have reported valve-body failures, harsh shifting and complete transmission replacements. GM also launched a customer satisfaction program covering certain 2024 trucks built with an incorrect bearing in the transmission’s direct overdrive carrier. The remedy calls for complete transmission replacement, although it is not an NHTSA safety recall.
These newer concerns are separate from GM’s major transmission recall involving diesel-powered 2020-2022 Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD trucks. That recall did not include gasoline trucks or the refreshed 2024-2026 Silverado HD.
Our full examination of 2024-2026 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD known issues also found recalls involving tailgates opening unexpectedly, plus owner complaints about cameras, infotainment features and other technology.
Pros
- Strong improvement in Consumer Reports’ latest powertrain findings
- Proven 6.6-liter Duramax diesel
- Gas and diesel engines use 10-speed automatic transmissions
- Favorable recent suspension, brake and build-quality results
Cons
- Valve-body and complete transmission replacements reported
- In-car electronics remain a relative weakness
- Tailgate and software recalls
- Some 2024 trucks required complete transmission replacement
Our Take
The biggest takeaway is not that one heavy-duty truck is dependable and the others are destined to fail. It is that Consumer Reports shows all three improving for 2025.
The Silverado HD displayed the strongest recent powertrain improvement. Ram’s overall results improved, but there is not enough information to judge its redesigned Cummins and eight-speed automatic. Ford also improved overall, though its longer history contains recurring steering, suspension and electronic concerns.
There is also a difference between broad survey results and the severity of individual failures. A truck can perform well across dozens of systems while a smaller number of owners face a transmission, fuel-pump or engine failure costing thousands of dollars.
Consumer Reports’ information is one tool for evaluating reliability. Recall documents, manufacturer campaigns, technical service bulletins and verified owner experiences provide additional context. We will combine all those sources in an upcoming comparison to determine which 2024-2026 heavy-duty truck presents the greatest reliability risk.
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