Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra Owners Complain Of Shaking At Highway Speeds
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“The seats start vibrating, the floorboard vibrates – it feels like a wheel’s out of balance”. That’s how Mike Hollingsworth describes driving his 2016 Chevrolet Silverado, reports KSHB.
The retired Kansas resident spends most of his time traveling in his truck, and says he gets nervous when driving on the highway since the vehicle rattles, making him wonder if the truck is going to break down The condition earned it the “Chevy Shakerado” nickname.
Hollingsworth bought the Silverado new and states that the shaking began within weeks of driving it off the lot. Since he bought it new, he didn’t take it for a test drive, which he now regrets not doing.
Hollingsworth took his Silverado to the dealership where he purchased it. The store’s service department tested the truck, and the technicians said that the amount of shaking was within an acceptable range for the vehicle.
“I get to drive a truck that shakes,” says Hollingsworth. He told KSHB that he recently took his truck back to the dealership, at which point an employee drove with him on the highway and recognized that the truck does, in fact, shake. It isn’t clear what will be done to fix the issue.
The GMC Sierra is also report to have shaking issues at highway speeds
Other owners of GM’s trucks on the GMT-K2 platform — model year 2014 and newer Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra — report having the same experience as Hollingsworth. Various publicly-available videos show the trucks exhibiting similar behavior. One such customer is Bill Burdette, whose YouTube video shows him driving his truck on the highway while his keys rattle and water visibly vibrates in the cupholder.
There have also been various complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). One customer states that his truck has been at the dealer for over two weeks with no tangible outcome.
Another owner wrote, “This truck has vibrated since day one. It has been at the dealer for over 17 days. The tires were balanced and the dealer informs me at this point that the truck falls into what GM finds acceptable.”
Another owner reports having his truck at the dealer nearly a dozen times without any results.
“I’ve been dealing with the same vibration issue since November 2015, it is now March 2017. It has been in the shop 10 times without any results.”
It is unclear whether the issues are limited to models with certain engines, transmissions, axles or other configurations. GM has so far been mum on the matter.
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My 2014 Silverado as a vibration, too. Had wheels balanced at dealer twice in first 20k miles. Took truck to tire shop and one of 17″ factory steel wheels was total whacked out. Out of round and didn’t run straight either. Shop said Bridge stone Duelers are junk tires. Very sensitive to tire pressure.
Bridge stone duelers are good tires. Mine lasted 214k miles on my 2005 Silverado
I am not believing that you hot 214k miles on Bridgestone tires! Must not drive over 25 mph!
Nope. Drove them everywhere city highway. Off-road
If you take CARE of your TIRES they will take care of you
NO SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! , Hell mine lasted for ever too….. IN STORAGE……
YEP, The stock Goodyears not any better… Mine came with 20’s and I took them off and replaced them with after market wheels and 305/55/20’s the same back space and 9inch width with COOPERS AT3’s fixed the shake and drifting…. I run 35lbs in them and with 36000 miles they still have 10 to 12 32nds left… All hi way driving, even at 120 plus they run true and no shaking at all… Seeing the All Terrain come with RANCHO struts and shocks, I did the front leveling spacer, and upgraded the rears to RANCHO 9000’s set on the 5 setting…
Not only did I fix the shaking problem, I also changed the personality of my truck to boot….
Just off the phone with GM Executive Office..they say the vibration with my 2015 Silverado is a “Characteristic”
of the truck..nothing they can do to fix it..I say bull anyone who has this problem we need to get it out there that GM knows the problem exist..so they should let the consumer know before they buy..If it’s a Characteristic of the vehicle then it should be on the Sticker just like all the other Characteristic’s are EX: Mileage..Options..Seating etc… No longer a GM guy unless GM steps up and makes this right.There is a “Facebook” Chevrolet Vibration use it to pressure GM to do something
Any Ford guy could have told you that… Lol
This is a very well known issue and is referred to as the Chevy Shake. Our dealership has seen it on trucks with a 143.5″ wheelbase (double cabs and Crew short boxes). We’ve tried almost everything from rims, tires, drive shafts to universal joints and both body and engine mounts. It improves with some of these changes but never truly goes away. And a moderate fix on one truck has no affect on another truck. So it is a design flaw.
GM is very aware of this issue as they have even bought back some vehicles already if the customer pushes hard. The engineers are saying it is within normal vibration specs, but if it actually was, they wouldn’t have authorized dealership to try so many different fixes. Personally I think GM will stay mum on this issue until the new truck comes out and they hope this goes away slowly as owners trade in their shakin’ Chevys.
Unfortunately this issue is getting around and customers are talking about it when looking at our trucks, and we’ve lost customers who have traded their shakin’ Chevys in on Fords and Rams because GM has no fix.
This is one of the three reasons I haven’t traded my 2013 Silverado for a current generation. The other two reasons are the wax coated frames (my 2013 with 22,000 kms which sits in a garage and never moves has had the “fix” done as the pieces were falling onto my garage floor – but the fix just slows it down) and a lack of a 6.2L in an cloth truck.
Anywhere someone has any kind of winter, the wax coated frames are the biggest waste ever.
I live in SO.California in the high desert, in the 37000 miles since new My truck has never been off road, let alone in the snow, yet…. Well that shit they used on my frame has come off and started to show RUST just from normal conditions, not much rain driving either….. Dealer told me that it only on there for storage and shipping, what the fuck???????? But than again, $50,000 doesn’t by anything worth a shit these days I guess…. Next they’ll blame the car wash I go to that has the chassis wash watch…..
True that. Add AC condensers that go out all the time as another reason not to buy one, failing injectors, also no real rear headrests in a $50k vehicle, you can’t get this anywhere else … in a world in which Toyota, Ford and others are real options, GM truck buyers need their heads examined.
Sorry but I don’t need my head examined. I’ve owned F350s, F250s, F150s, the Silverado and multiple Sierras. The bottom line? My 2016 Sierra is by far the best truck I have owned. The 6.2 is a monster and gets great fuel economy. It tows everything I ask of it and it is smooth as silk. With that, I have no doubt that people have experienced vibrations. My last F250 would rattle your fillings out and the dealer couldn’t find a single thing wrong yet my buddies truck was damn near perfect. In any event, I’ll be buying another on in the future…
okay I am new here but I have a 2017 Silverado with 43,000 miles it has fallen victim to the 70 miles per hour vibration it has P275/55R20 Goodyear eagles I had the tires balance didn’t change anything I know if I take it to the dealership they are going to tell me it’s the tires. I guess that’s possible but sure feels like a driveline vibration (tires would be an expensive guess) not sure where to start
No need to examine heads (Magirus being dramatic again). GM makes a good truck, just one that randomly has a vibration. And let’s not blow it out of proportion; not every truck has this issue. It is the vast minority of them that are experiencing this issue. But it is very frustrating to those who have it.
Injector and AC condenser problems are again, issues blown out of proportion. GM’s have no more issues with the current engines than Ford has with theirs. Toyota is over priced for what you get (lack of safety features, still a weaker frame, and butt ass ugly nose).
I just bought a 2017 Silverado 1500 crew cab 5.3l 4wd Lt and at 6000 miles it drives wonderfully! Although, the dealer had me bring it in a few weeks ago to reprogram something called , ” Chuggle”. It never had a problem but I took it in anyway. Does anyone know if this is the name of the problem being described here?
No it doesn’t. Chuggle is transmission related.
I have the same issue 2017 2500HD crew Duramax constant shake! Have had it in twice and was told by the local General Manager that it’s the way they drive we can’t do anything more for you!
Perhaps a harmonic balancer is in question. I have a 2017 LTZ Black widow edition with a factory installed 6″ Fab tec lift. I have a shaking problem between 48- 54 miles an hour and only when the truck is under torque. If I’m coasting down a hill or just coasting down from say 60 to 40 with my foot off the gas there is no vibration. To me this eliminates the rims, tires,. Its a driveline problem. So if its happening under torque it has to be driveshaft, transmission, rear end. I am lost and I am going to begin my quest to get Chevy to repair it. For $74,000 this thing is driving me crazy.
My ’03 had (until I sold it) and my ’13 (both Silverado, 4X4, 5.3 litre motor, different transmissions though) has a mild case of of shaking at highway speeds. It doesn’t matter what tires (summer, winter, new, old, on road, off road) I have on at the time, but I find that the quality of the pavement makes a big difference. The worst seems to be new pavement, I don’t know if the pavement packers have vibrators on them, but the shakes are sometimes the worst on newly/recently paved roads, they are not as smooth as a new road should be. Not overly objectionable on mine, and nothing has broken yet.
I have a 2016 Silverado that listed at near $60,000 and it has the “shakes” bad. It also shifts extremely hard at times and shakes a vibrates going up long hills at highway speeds. I have taken it to the dealer and they tell me that they can find nothing wrong, noting that it could be the way I drive with the way I accelerate. That to me is crazy, I have been driving for 55+ years in a multitude of vehicles and have NEVER had one that acts the way this truck does. My wife even has said “are you running out of gas” because of the way the truck was running. I certainly am fed up with it, and sick about the money I spent for a vehicle that is inferior!!!!
I have a 2006 2500 HD 4X4 crew cab and when I hit 70 it shakes but at 80 it stops I bought new rims and tires and wheel alignment and still shakes at 70mph
Hi Steven. I have the exact same truck, and the exact same problem. Now it starts the shake at 65. Did you ever get it figured out?
Yep I am in the shaking club. Alignments, rims,tires, wasted more than 100 hrs of my own time taking it to different places. The dealer ingnors any problem you have. The steering column makes noise when turning they can’t hear it. The truck shakes at 71 to 80 they can’t drive that speed. It is complete crap because the truck is beautiful and bad ass 4×4.
If I was a journalist, I would ask the owner of the truck for a test drive to experience what he was experiencing then go to the same dealership to test drive a new truck especially as one of the owners said of having experienced the issue from Day One; I would also take the truck to someone I considered as being an expert mechanic who could diagnosis what might be the cause of the problem and what might be necessary to fix.
A friend of mine said that the shaking comes from GM taking too much material out of the chassis and frame in attempt to shave weight. That would explain the lack of a solution and response to the issue. My 2010 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab (2WD) has had no vibrations that I can remember.
They didn’t do anything to take weight out the frame as it is within a couple pounds of what the previous gen frame weighed. But it does have more ultra high strength steel in it. I wonder if the stronger the steel, the more it exaggerates vibrations from the road up into the rest of the chassis?
yes they used thin sheet metal to reduce weight on this generation of trucks
What is puzziling I’d I have seen where many said it had done it since new.
Does no one take a decent test drive anymore?
I have not looked but it looks like the crew short bed is the problem. Is it a on piece or two piece drive shaft? That my be the issue if the shaft is flexting.
We built a street rod once and found the shaft would flex more than you would thing.
We put in a carrier bearing and it was gone.
Many times a salesperson will just tell the customer it needs a wheel balance (as sometimes even new vehicles have an unbalanced rim/tire. So they buy the truck and bring it back a few days later to have it done and find out it doesn’t fix the issue.
The majority of the ones I know out have said it develops shortly after they buy it (usually within the 5000-10,000 kms mark). That is why GM first figured it was tires or an alignment/balance issue.
A service bulletin (#16-NA-175) has been issued for this problem. Apparently the shaking is being attributed to torque converter clutch shudder and they have a fix.
I will speak with our shop foreman who has been working with GM engineers on this issue to see if that is a fix for this vibration, as there have been other vibration issues that have developed which are different from the one in the story. (much less common issue)
Just spoke with our shop foreman and this bulletin is for a different vibration that can sometimes occur with the 8-speed transmission. It has nothing to do with this Chevy Shake vibration.
I have had the torque converter replaced on my 2017 Silverado High Country and also had the newest fix which is a flush and fill with a new type of fluid. They say that I need to wait 400-500 miles to see if it fixed it but I can tell you as soon as I hit 70mph the truck is shaking something awful. The passenger seat is very animated and loud.
I had a 2003 Silverado, and 2013 and upgraded to a 2017 a few months back. I’ve never experienced any shaking, or any other problems for that matter. However I had a 2015 Silverado rental after I was T-Boned and that truck drove horribly, zero pick up it was like driving with a failing transmission.
In my experience GM vehicles have always had some vibration issues. And I personally have dealt with the newer GM truck vibration complaints. It only makes sense that many newer vehicles are sensitive to road imperfections due to the massive wheel/tire combos they are running these days. But I’ve often wondered if it is just powertrain NVH that engineers simply just didnt worry about? Who knows cause there are a ton of variables at stake.
I’ve owned several RWD cars and full size trucks where I have noticed when its in a direct drive gear (1:1 ratio) and the torque converter is locked…you could feel vibrations through everything (seat, cupholder, etc.). But yet when you shift to a different gear or go to a different speed the problem goes away.
So one has to wonder…do they even balance the driveline/engine assembly like some manufacturers?
This isn’t rocket science on a basic pick-up truck chassis. I have several cars/trucks and none vibrate at over 100mph. Any competent mechanic or engineer should be able to get to the bottom of this.
Yea Buddy, Mine doesn’t vibrate over a buck and a quarter either, now at 37000 it just started at 70mph to about 78mph… Now I take very good care of my tires by getting them rotated and balanced at every 5000 miles, and keep them at 35 lbs, and I’m hoping to get 300,000 miles out of mine, lol Seriously, I mark my wheels and keep records on where they are and where they are rotated to plus the weight amounts if changed…. Still acts like a wash machine at 70 mph now….. God I hope they don’t fuck up the new design of the 2019’s, that will KILL GM truck sales for real….. Just read all these comments, and how many of us are waiting a year for the 19’s, to pay by than $60,000 or more for a1/2 ton wash machine…….
Another thing, if the 6 speed transmission or converter is the cause, I’ll be at my dealer in the morning to find out, than MAYBE hold off on the EIGHT and TEN speed transmissions…. I don’t want or understand why an 8 speed let alone a 10 speed, in a 1/2 ton…. My 6 speed works damn good with what I do with my little 5.3 after getting used to the 1/2 throttle and full throttle down shifts….. Love the shift now that I programed them to 25% over, and some other adjustments when it breaks the ass loose when it shifts from 4th to 5th at over oh lets just say the speed limit for now…
I owned a 2003 that I drove for 13 years and currently have a 2017 and I have never experienced the shake. These are the best trucks of any make that I have ever owned. The 6.0 and now the 6.2 are work horses with minimal to no maintenance. One set of brakes in the 2003 and oil changes.
The shake occurs most often on vehicles with the Bridgestone Dueler Alenza 285/45R22 tires. Other tire brands are less prone to the shake, but some sets still can shake at 55 to 75 mph.
I have had 4 Silverado’s since 2008. None of them have had the shakes.
2004 2500HD CC 4×4 6.0L
2012 1500 CC 4×4 5.3L
2014 1500 CC 4×4 5.3L
2016 2500HD CC 4×4 DURAMAX
Guess I am just lucky. 🙂
Some owners on another website have found driveshafts with too much runout. Replacements had the same problem. A custom made driveshaft cured the vibration. I am considering this option but hate to spend $500 to find out if that will fix it. I agree, a qualified technician should be able to find the root cause of the issue.
Well have the DRIVE SHAFT shop check the stock drive shaft for balance and the u joints first… A hell of a lot cheaper than a new custom if you don’t need to buy one….
REMEMBER All the PARTS of your High Dollar truck are only assembled here in the states and made all over the Orient and MEXICO and we know how good they do their jobs…. Just look at the parts tags on what you can see and when you order anything in the parts department…..
I returned a 14 Sierra 2 wheel drive after 3 months and 3 grand on the clock…. Seeing I have been a good customer for some time at my GMC/BUICK dealer, they bought it back after I complained about how badly it did the same shaking at 70mph plus…. As I told everyone there from the service department, to the big bosses, and even the owner himself about it, and as I explained to them that I wasn’t happy about it, when I paid so much for that OVER PRICED pickup to start with….
Seeing it was only 2 wheel drive and a very loaded SLE, I wasn’t that happy about owning it either….
They told me that they thought it was because of the 20’s and 275×55’s, so we took another set off a new truck on the lot and there was no difference….
So long story short, I up graded to a SIERRA ALL TERRAIN and sure glad I did….. They even gave me a great deal, seeing how much they wanted to keep my out of a FERD, or RAM”S ASS….
The only complaint I have in the 35 grand on the clock now, is the way that lousy light weight hood LIFTS when I get her wound up in the THREE didgets , when I get the chance to kick ass on the competition….
Was going to trade her in on a 2017, last month, but It would have cost me a few grand to DOWN GRADE…. The 16’s and 17’s don’t offer the chrome package, or the 20’s either…. My 14 is loaded and seeing the only differences on the 17’s is the Grill and front bumper, and oh yes the led tail lights, so I didn’t see any reason to trade mine for a lessor truck.. I have all my lights up graded to ANZO LEDS including the steps, and the cap on my tailgate and 3rd brake light…. Up front I have all LEDS 7000k fogs and headlights, as well as a 34 inch light bar behind the grill… I decided to wait for the 2019’s to come out next fall 2018…. From what I’ve seen and heard so far about the 18’s nothing new on them either….
Bob O,
“over priced” and “only 2wd”. No one made you buy it. That was your decision.
Sounds to me like you had buyers remorse and just wanted out of that truck.
Sorry, couple years back almost dropped $55k on a High Country. If I got stroked by the dealership(very unlikely based on prior experience), I would be taking with a lemon-law attorney in PA where I live. Believe they have 3 visits to rectify and if not, they buy it back.
Heck of a way to. Hilda’s loyalty in a highly competitive and profitable market.
EXACTLY Martin…..
Build not Hilda. Fat fingers and auto correct with an old fart on an IPhone can be hilarious or a disaster!
Our dealership shop foreman’s 2014 Sierra DC All-terrain has this issue. He has tried many things with the help of GM engineers. Here’s what he’s concluded: (his opinion)
– there are multiple factors affecting the degree of vibration a truck has
— tires (off-road tires are causing more vibration, as do 10-ply tires when compared to regular P-series tires)
— drive train angles (when he puts a little weight in the back of his truck so it squats a couple inches, no vibrations at all)
— Ultra-high strength steel frame (the hardness of that metal really accentuates any vibrations from the tires/road into the cab)
— body mounts (the hydraulic body mounts are really hard and again, can accentuate vibrations
— drivetrain alignment (affects balance and angles)
Overall, he had concluded it is a total design issue and that is why GM has no real fix for it; they would have to start from scratch with a re-design (hence waiting until the redesigned 2019’s).
GM did a great job at designing each component, and tested individual components really well; they just missed testing the entire package really thoroughly with all the parts put together. Either that, or they discovered and knew about it at test/release time but couldn’t find a solution (because they’d be starting over) and decided to live with it for this generation.
Dpach,
Everything you said is plausible. However, both my 2012 & 2014 were very commonly configured. There were 10s of thousands made exactly the same and I never had a problem. LT All Star Edition.
A total design issue. No wonder GM trucks have fallen behind RAM. I’m in the market but will now buy a Ford with confidence. 2018 5 litre with 10 speed here I come. This site was worth visiting. Thanks.
Best of luck Troll
A total design issue!!!!!! No wonder GM trucks have fallen behind RAM. I’m in the market but will now buy a Ford with confidence. 2018 5 litre with 10 speed here I come. This site was worth visiting. Thanks.
I have a 2017 Silverado , extra cab , larger wheels & tires , less than 2500 Miles . I thought it was the tires I installed until my mechanic who has a stock 2016 Identical truck same problem. I called my dealer today & spoke to the service mgr. and what he told me I was experiencing was from the 8/6/4 part of the engine. When you excellerate , especially under a load it is looking to place the engine in the correct mode & until it does that the vibration takes place . He has a 2016 Same vehicle & is doing the same and told me GM has no fix for this issue. I cannot believe they sell millions of vehicles & never try to rectify there issues just keep building theses problematic vehicles .
Mike,
I just bought a brand new 2020 F150 King Ranch/145 inch WB. Took delivery only 2 days ago. Above 80, it shakes violently. I have been researching and apparently it’s a major problem with Ford also. Taking it in tomorrow for probably the same runaround that GM owners are getting. At least I’ll know my tires are in balance.
I am good friends with the general manager at the local Chevrolet dealership. He admitted to me that GM has been plagued with a vibration issue for a number of years.