Transmission complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 4 | 15% | 5,000 miles |
| 2018 | 2 | 12% | 87,000 miles |
| 2017 | 26 | 34% | 13,000 miles |
| 2016 | 9 | 25% | 48,000 miles |
| 2015 | 11 | 15% | 16,000 miles |
| 2014 | 11 | 10% | 5,000 miles |
| 2013 | 5 | 11% | 3,000 miles |
| 2012 | 2 | 5% | 66,000 miles |
| 2011 | 8 | 11% | 44,000 miles |
| 2010 | 1 | 2% | 78,000 miles |
| 2008 | 2 | 2% | 74,000 miles |
| 2007 | 4 | 7% | 73,000 miles |
| 2006 | 3 | 5% | 35,000 miles |
| 2005 | 11 | 9% | 5,000 miles |
| 2004 | 19 | 10% | 10,000 miles |
| 2003 | 29 | 14% | 4,000 miles |
| 2002 | 18 | 7% | 40,000 miles |
| 2001 | 14 | 5% | 46,000 miles |
| 2000 | 26 | 6% | 52,000 miles |
| 1999 | 37 | 6% | 79,000 miles |
| 1998 | 15 | 8% | 84,000 miles |
| 1997 | 28 | 12% | 73,000 miles |
| 1996 | 24 | 10% | 109,000 miles |
| 1995 | 12 | 5% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Sierra Denali. The contact stated while parking the vehicle, the vehicle inadvertently stalled without warning. The contact attempted several times to restart the vehicle however, the vehicle would not restart. The contact attempted to jump start the vehicle and the failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the starter was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced due to metal shavings in the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered to partially pay for the repair. The contact stated that he believed that the vehicle was not repaired correctly under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V650000 (Power Train). The failure mileage was 91,000.
Vehicle has faulty transmission system that at shakes during use of the vehicle at all speeds. The vehicle also experiences "hard shifts" at low speed to the point that the vehicle rear tire "chirp" with such force that it feels like you've been hit from the rear by another vehicle.
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the transmission inadvertently shifted from high to low gears and the RPMs revved up. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be duplicated. However, the failure recurred while driving. The vehicle was then taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the valve body, the clutch, the piston, and the transmission plates needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that while driving and an undisclosed speed, the transmission was shifting hard into a lower gear, then into third gear without warning. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer but was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra Denali. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked, failed to accelerate, and stalled. The vehicle was unable to shift into third gear. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was drivable and was taken to the dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed with a wiring harness failure on the transmission. The vehicle was repaired based on the diagnostic test but failed to fix the vehicle. The vehicle was parked at the residence and was undrivable. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.
Brake failure issue at low speed. This happened in two separate occurrences in parking lots. The brake pedal became very still and required grabbing the steering wheel and using it to pull myself down harder on the brake pedal to get the vehicle to stop. This resulted in greatly increased stopping distance. Fortunately no vehicles or people were in my path during these occurrences. GM has since repaired my vehicle. I have since received a notice that they are repairing this issue only after the owner has a brake failure problem. This is extremely unsafe and is unacceptable. Owners need a solution and do not need to worry that this issue will arise again. If I hit a person or a vehicle, will GM pay for medical bills, vehicle repairs, legal fees? This truck as well as my last 2009 Chevrolet silverado had issues with the drive train that GM classified as normal. …
8 speed transmission bucks, hesitates, lurches forward, clunks, while startung acceleration or coming to a stop. I try to keep a big gap between my truck and cars in front of me at stop signs because it randomly lurches forward and I almost have bumped cars in front of me. I have had the truck into the dealer so manu times to fix the vibration issues as well, they said 3 tires that came in the brand new truck were defective so I had to replace them all and the shake is still there, the balanced, rebalanced, road force balance and nothing works. Last time at the dealer said it is probably the tires, he said dont rotate them again and when they wear out he will put me in a 'better' tire. I am past my warranty so the dealer says any costs are my responsibilitt, if the NHTSA could please step in to assist us to make GM fic theae vehicles which are a safety hazard.
The contact owns a 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali. The contact stated that while shifting the vehicle from park(P) to drive(D), the vehicle hesitated and then jerked into gear. The contact stated that the entire vehicle was shaking when it jerked into gear. The contact stated that the failure was also occurred while shifting the vehicle into reverse(R). Additionally, the failure occurred while slowing down for a traffic signal. The contact stated that the failure was a constant. The contact stated she had not noticed any warning lights during the failure. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who advised the contact that there were no open recalls for the transmission on the VIN. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Tl* 2015 GMC Sierra. While the vehicle was parked, it began to coast backwards and collided into the side of a building without warning. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. After the crash, the gear shifter remained in park. The vehicle was not diagnosed, but was currently being repaired for damages sustained from the crash. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V374000 (power train). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000. The consumer who wrote in, works at the car wash. An employee at the car wash, drove the vehicle out of the car wash and place the vehicle in park to have the detail work completed. The vehicle was left while another vehicle was retrieved from the conveyor belt. The GMC rolled back and crashed into the car wash building. …
Related recalls (8)
Power train › Axle assembly › Axle shaft
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles manufactured November 24, 2014, to November 25, 2014. Due to an improper heat-treatment, the rear axle shaft may fracture while the vehicle is being driven.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear axles, and replace any that were improperly heat-treated, free of charge. The recall began on December 17,2014.
Power train › Transfer case (4-wheel drive)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles, and model year 2015 GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. In the affected vehicles, an electrical signal short may cause the transfer case to shift to neutral without the driver's input.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will re-program the software in the transfer case control module, free of charge. The recall began in early August 2014.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Cooling unit and lines
General Motors LLC (GM ) is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Silverado Light Duty Regular Cab, Double Cab, and Crew Cab 1500 series and model year 2015 Suburban and Tahoe; GMC model year 2014 Sierra Regular Cab, Double Cab, and Crew Cab 1500 Series and model year 2015 Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission oil cooler line connection and repair the vehicles, as needed, free of charge. The recall began on May 19, 2014.
Power train › Automatic transmission
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Express, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, and Tahoe; and GMC Savana, Sierra HD, Sierra LD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles, manufactured between November 7, 2012, through December 18, 2012, for…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the affected vehicles and replace the steering column as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 21, 2013. Chevrolet owners may call 1-800-630-2438.
Power train › Manual transmission › Shift pattern indicator
Certain sport utility vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 102, "transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock and transmission braking effect." under certain vehicle starting conditions, the shift lever position indicator…
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the instrument panel cluster free of charge. The recall began on February 14, 2005. Owners May contact Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, and GMC at 1-866-996-9463.
Show 3 more recalls
Power train › Driveline › Driveshaft
Some pickup trucks, vans, and sport utility vehicles equipped with a hydraulic pump driveshaft that can fracture, resulting in immediate loss of hydraulic power steering assist. On certain vehicles equipped with hydro-boost power brakes, the same condition can result in loss of power assist for braking after the reserve…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the hydraulic pump. The campaign began on February 14, 2005. Owners May contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC at 1-866-996-9463.
Power train › Automatic transmission
The transmission shift-cable lock clip can back out of its installed position resulting in a loss of cable adjustment. When the shift lever is placed in the "park" position, the "park" indicator light May not illuminate.
Remedy: Dealers will adjust the shift cable and install a lock clip.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Cooling unit and lines
Due to a thin case casting, an external transmission leak can occur.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the transmission case assembly for the involved case casting. If the assembly is involved, the transmission will be replaced.
Frequently asked questions
Which GMC Sierra years have transmission problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1999 (37), 2003 (29), 1997 (28), 2000 (26) and 2017 (26) model years. Transmission complaints make up 6% of all complaints for the 1999.
Is there a recall for GMC Sierra transmission problems?
Yes — 8 recalls, including 14V-819 (axle shaft, Dec 24, 2014); 14V-374 (transfer case (4-wheel drive), Jun 27, 2014); 14V-152 (cooling unit and lines, Mar 31, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do GMC Sierra transmission problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 28,000 miles; 63% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the automatic transmission (129 mentions), followed by the manual transmission (13).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.