My 2000 Chevy Silverado has been awesome - not even brakes or battery - for 65,000 mi. The wife's Japanese-built 2000 Maxima recently cost me $800, though.
I bought my Chevy "one-at-this-price" on a Friday morning from a dealer that was outright criminal. A few months after my purchase the same sales manager was caught in a sting by the local TV news spewing the same lies he tried on me. Good thing I have a Deputy DA for a friend.
Shop for the best price, but buy American, IMO.