Reliability

[jeffroski]

I currently own a F150 and had numerous probs. I' am considering selling it to buy a newer Chevy 4X4. What kind of failures do I have to look forward to. For Example my Ford blew #4 spark plug , two trannies, head leaks and door cracks. These were all part of TSBs or recalls. Wondering if switching brands will get me a better truck or new set of probs after 70K miles. You know I heard and still hear nothing but good things about these trucks so I just want to know what some common problems are for the chevy. Any help would be appreciated.

[Silverado Brethern]

The 88-98 chevys were far less problematic than any of the newer ones. My father has a 2000 Z71 and he has had more problems in 38,000 milies than i have had thrashing the hell out of my truck for the past two years. Get a 96-98 with lower miles and wont cant go wrong. I personally think the 350 is a far better engine than a 327 anyway.

[Faze3]

If you're looking to buy used, take it to a mechanic first and have it checked out. Invest a little up front to save a lot in the long run.

Even if you buy new, you're not guaranteed to have a vehichle thats free from problems, and that's true of any manufacturer. I bought a new 2001 Ram 1500 that developed an intermittent engine shake at 1500 miles. After a year, Dodge still wasn't able to figure out the cause. 6 trips to the dealer, PCM flashes and parts replacements ended in a vehicle buy back.

Personally, other than a dirty throttle body and a short in my driver's window control panel (a $90 part) I haven't had any problems. I bought used.

[BlenderWizard]

Originally Posted by Silverado Brethern

The 88-98 chevys were far less problematic than any of the newer ones. My father has a 2000 Z71 and he has had more problems in 38,000 milies than i have had thrashing the hell out of my truck for the past two years. Get a 96-98 with lower miles and wont cant go wrong. I personally think the 350 is a far better engine than a 327 anyway.

The 5.3 is actually a 323. I got excited, because I thought it was a 327, but I checked, and i was wrong.

[jeffroski]

Thanks I have no idea what I'm going to do, I'm set to leave the country for a couple of months and the truck will not be done before I leave.

[Dirtsled]

I just turned 90K on my GMC Sierra New Body Style and have had great luck so far. The motor runs like a raped ape and the tranny shifts like a champ with my 24' boat behind it in the AZ mountains just like new. She's gettin a little loose and makes some noise in the front end now-a-days, but to me thats normal wear and tear and just needs some maintenance.

It seems there are more satisfied GMC owners as opposed to Chevy owners, the theory always has been they are the same truck but the satisfaction says otherwise. I own both, but my Chevy is an Old Body Style Suburban with half the miles. I have always owned GM vehicles except for two cars, the only real problem child I ever had was a Nissan. All makes have there known "syndromes" though.

[who fan]

Originally Posted by Silverado Brethern

The 88-98 chevys were far less problematic than any of the newer ones. My father has a 2000 Z71 and he has had more problems in 38,000 milies than i have had thrashing the hell out of my truck for the past two years. Get a 96-98 with lower miles and wont cant go wrong. I personally think the 350 is a far better engine than a 327 anyway.

I`m with Silverado Brethern. I have a 01 silverado just bought it, it has the cold start knock. I went to get a alinement it needs a steering intermediate shaft and inner tie rod end $700 57000 miles on it. I get a clunk when I shift into reverse which is normal in most trucks but much more pronounced in mine. I am more than a little worried about the durabilty of this truck. My previous truck was a 93 ford, I never liked it the truck before it was a 88 chevy which I loved. My 88 had 188000 miles on it ran great with a 350 in it. I can`t see my 01 lasting this long but it is pretty. Who cares about pretty? I wish mine was a 88-98. I have read about GM`s current finacial trouble. They blame a aging line up and are rushing to get their new truck design out early. Boy will they ever learn? QUALITY QUALITY QUALITY!!!!!!!!!!! Thats how Toyota is kicking GM`s ass, At $30000+ a pop the customer demands it and rightly so. Sorry for the long post I had to vent.

[Chevyman15004X4]

Originally Posted by Silverado Brethern

The 88-98 chevys were far less problematic than any of the newer ones. My father has a 2000 Z71 and he has had more problems in 38,000 milies than i have had thrashing the hell out of my truck for the past two years. Get a 96-98 with lower miles and wont cant go wrong. I personally think the 350 is a far better engine than a 327 anyway.

Dido. I say the 88-98 and expecially the 95 and up, (i think the 88-94 models had a small electrical problem that would Ignite the truck) I have 118K miles and my front end has no stearing play, no squeeks, grinding, clunking or anything like that. I have put it through hell.. I have broke 3 average sized chains and one chain hook pulling out trees, (If that aint yanking on something, I don't know what is) Thank god for the head ach rack which stoped the chain from entering the cab when it broke. They pull very well with even with larger loads yet lack passing power while pulling. I drive this truck very rough in the mude, fields and on the back roads. The only thing that has gone wrong, which it was my falt, I fried the alternator which was $150. The truck looks physicaly new after what I put it through because I am very picky about dents and scratches.I would say if you can live without all the real new features of new trucks, I would definatly go with a 95 year because it has the newer dash style than the <94 and it has the 350 tbi which is darn near error free. Im not saying this because just because I own one, but thats why I got it instead of a 1999 chevy truck. The 96 to 98 models have a more powerful vortec engine yet they are somewhat more complicated than the regular tbi engine.

Bottom line is, get a 95 chevy, Interior looks up to date, very little problems, has enough power for the average person and many of the parts for them are cheap and still widly produced. LMC TRUCK even has a catalog out for the 88 to 98 chevy trucks that has literaly every part that those year models have so you know all you can always get parts cheap. WWW.LMCTRUCK.COM and order their cataloge.