More Owners Complain Of GM Transmission Defect Amid Pending Lawsuit
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This past April, a class-action lawsuit surfaced as consumers bound together to voice their displeasure over General Motors vehicles. Specifically, models equipped with the eight-speed automatic transmission. Now, more owners are speaking out.
Local North Carolina news station Action 9 WSOCTV reported on one local owner who showed the problem off for the camera. While the lawsuit alleges shakes, jerks, or a “hard shift” when selecting a gear with the automatic transmission, this owner highlighted the “Chevy shudder,” as he called it. At speed, he showed the steering wheel shuddering and shaking. He claims the problem is nearly constant in his $52,000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500.
GM told the news station that owners should visit a dealership to walk through the protocols with a technician to solve the problem. Numerous technical service bulletins (13 as of this past April) exist for issues like so many owners describe in their vehicles.
The transmission is the 8L90 or 8L45 automatic transmission, which is found in numerous GM vehicles. The transmission pairs to cars on a rear-wheel-drive architecture, meaning owners of GM’s sports cars, luxury sedans, trucks, and SUVs have the 8-speed automatic transmission in question. A full list of vehicles that house the transmission is below:
- 2015-2019 Chevrolet Silverado
- 2017-2019 Chevrolet Colorado
- 2015-2019 Chevrolet Corvette
- 2016-2019 Chevrolet Camaro
- 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV
- 2016-2019 Cadillac ATS and ATS-V
- 2016-2019 Cadillac CTS and CTS-V
- 2016-2019 Cadillac CT6
- 2015-2019 GMC Sierra
- 2015-2019 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL
- 2017-2019 GMC Canyon.
Supposedly, the problem is most common when accelerating or decelerating as the transmission moves to select another gear, though, it’s not specific to a gear in particular.
In the lawsuit filed earlier this year, owners said the issue may be the torque converter, which could be exposed to undue friction. In this case, gears may not function properly as metal shavings move throughout the transmission. We need to note this is not a definite cause and only an alleged problem stated in the lawsuit.
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Source: Action 9 WSOCTV
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I sold my 19 Silverado about 4 months ago and havent missed it once. Gents and ladies, there’s better out there. I’d recommend you cut your losses and try again. I’m so much happier without that truck. For the record, I gave up at about 3500 miles. For the record, Carvana gave me what I paid for it.. they even picked it up at my house.
My 2019 Sierra is at the dealer now, the tech felt what I said was happening and they had the truck for 3 days. Now they are saying the transmission issues is it acting normal as stated in some TSB .. well, I don’t agree and I only have 6k on the truck.. not what I want in a $50k vehicle.. how can they assume owners will be ok with this. I am irritated!
Hey Joe M.,
I had a 2014 Chevy Silverado 1500 LT that had the “Chevy Shake” and when I took the truck in to the dealership they said they would have a technician check the vehicle because I was also getting my oil changed at the same time. Well when I picked up my vehicle, I was told that the technician did not find anything wrong. But yet when I would drive down the highway my cup in the cup holder would shake so bad I was afraid of having a full cup because it would go everywhere. So I took it back again for the recommended time for an oil change and told them again about the “shake” that was still there. They had my truck ALL DAY and when I went to pick it up I made sure this time to pay attention to the mileage because I don’t believe they test drove it the first time. Well come to find out, they didn’t test drive it this time and I knew for sure. I had to ask the guy if the technician found anything and he then told me no and that maybe we needed new tires or maybe the tires need to be balanced. I then asked him, then why wasn’t that done if you guys had it all day? He said that it wasn’t scheduled for that. (confused face)!?!?!? I told him that I specifically told them that it was shaking and wanted it fixed. How more clear is that? I really started to believe that it was because I was a woman and they felt like I didn’t know what I was talking about. I would drive the damn truck everyday back and forth to work which was 30 miles away. I knew what it felt like and I knew that it was normal. Anyways, I traded it in for a 2016 Silverado 1500 and have had issues with a humming or growling noise that goes in and out when I reach 50 mph. My 2016 has 69,000 miles. I’m about to take it in to get looked at. The problem just started, but I have other issue with this truck as well. The upper control arm bushings and probably the lower ones as well need to be replaced. You would think as much money as we paid for these trucks it would be more reliable. Not to mention the crappy dealership repair guys I took it to. I was totally treated differently because I am a woman.
Just bought a 2019 silverado and start doing that shaking , jerking at the beginning I tough that someone hit me but it was the transmission shifting hard . The truck have 7000 miles on it and problems already that really sucks especially in a 45k truck
My truck was at the dealer for 3 days, they admit it was shifting rough and noticed the surging when accelerating hard, they said they did some updates but it still is happening and the surging seems worse. Wish I never bought this POS now. I am going to bring it in again.
I’m here at the dealer now cause mine is doing the exact same thing like I’m driving on the side of the interstate. They said it’s probably the transmission fluid and they’re going to check it. Hopefully they’ll fix the problem or else they’re gonna have one mad woman on their hands.
Just took my 2018 1500 Silverado in when the transmission went out. 64000 miles and they say it was the torque convert sending metal into the transmission. Of course the warranty is out and they want me to pay for a new one. What a gimmick. Get it together gm. You know it’s a problem so fix it! My 2006 Silverado has 260000 miles on it with zero transmission problems…just saying.
My truck drop transmission 25k over warranty due to torque converter how do get involved in class action lawsuit
My 2017 Silverado is sitting at the dealer with 71,000 miles on it with the transmission needing to be replaced due to the torque converter failing and causing particles in the fluid. GM wants me to pay for 60% of the cost of repair. This is premature failure and they’ve known about issues since 2014. It’s a shame that my father worked at the Arlington plant for 30 years and I’ve purchased 22 GM vehicles in my 30 years of driving. This will be the last I promise!!!!
2017 Silverado High country same thing shaking eradicat shifting from day one.79.000
Transmission out.In Chevrolet dealership now. All Chevrolet dealership and Gmc know there is a problem .I have freinds members working for GM they know. In Mi
Our 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 started having problems about a month ago. Seemed like it wanted to drive in low gear, but will still allow you to accelerate. Although the vibrating sound (sounded like i was revving it up without shifting) happening it didn’t feel right to go faster. I started googling how much a transmission cost for this truck and i stumbled across these articles. But when i did a recall search on my vin. Nothing came up. Any helpful info is appreciated.
My wifes 15 Escalade has been doing the hard shift. Today will make it twice I’ve had it in for the same problem. First was a module tht was changed out supposedly. Today will be a different fluid “special trans fluid” GM jus came out with… I call BS
I have a 2018 I got it new with 4 miles on it . I they rebuilt the transmission at 28000 miles took them 2 months to do it. After having it back and putting 2000 miles on it the transmission is worse then before they worked on it I have took it back and they are telling me nothing is wrong with the transmission it run 2000 rpms at 60 mph now
My 2019 trail boss with the 6 speed is doing the same thing. All the dealer ship has done is a relearn to the transmission. The truck also has radio and camera problems that the dealer told me today there is still no fix for.
Just bought 2020 custom with the 2.7 turbo within 24 miles trans acted like it was slipping and did not want to go anywhere. Had them tow it buck took them over a week to say they just needed to reprogram the computer. Got it back and with 1120 miles it now shakes going to 2 nd gear and slips. Now I have a 40 thousand dollar pease of metal they want me to bring back.
Tim, I would trade it in ASAP. Take your money and run. I traded mine in. 2019 2500 HD with 11,000 miles on it. Owned it for 9 flipping months. My Chevy that I traded in was 13 years old and going strong but needed a truck with more payload to pull my horse trailer. Did I take a financial hit, yup. However on the bright side I’m glad it is gone and I don’t have to deal with 15 years of tranny issues. Sorry for your issues. Just my advice. It looks like this is a chronic problem with some of the 2019 Allisons they used and they cannot figure out why they are having the problems like you are detailing. My rear transfer case totally self destructed but the truck was also having shifting issues between 2nd and 3rd gear. I’m driving a Dodge 3500 now, love it.
I traded mine for a work car and bought a 2001 7.3 ford diesel. Love it.
The first day I drove for 20 miles to my home and had to get it towed back because it would not go any where (transmission slipping ) Dealership said had to reprogram computer. When I got it back it had multiple scratches and a name scratched in the hood (tweety) took it back they tried to buff it out and in one day it showed back up so the name was on the hood so I bought a bug shield to cover it ( not right but what can I do ) I talked to tech after I had to take it back with the same issue two weeks later the dealership has had it more than I have I bought a new truck so it would not have to be worked on. This is the second time it has been in the shop for the same problem. I feel that the only satisfying choice is to give me another truck.
My 2019 Silverado LT is 5 weeks old and has 2k miles, and I have had to take it back in twice for transmission issues. First time they told me that the wrong transmission fluid was in it from the factory so they changed it. Now it is back in the dealership service again because it felt like the engine dropped out yesterday and would not accelerate at all, check engine light came on. Now they say that they have to replace the Valve Body for the transmission. I don’t feel comfortable with the truck now. What are the chances I can get them to work me into a new truck since I just bought this one. I’m sure this goes on the Carfax, and kills the value for the future. Thanks for any replies.
I have the same problem with a 2020. The first day with 26 miles the dealership told me the same thing. Got it back 15 days later put 1200 miles on it and the same thing GM told me the dealership said they have the option to rebuild it. I am coming up on my first payment and they have had it longer than I have. Lemon laws suck it has to be in the shop for the same problem 4 times before something can be done about it. I’m sure they can figure out a way to get out of it.
I have trail boss I was driving the vehicle with my family and the emergency brake apply and I skidded gmc think it funny tuck off the nothing to get
Brought my truck to Alexander Buick & GMC Simi Valley because of a bad vibration in my NEW 2018 GMC Sierra transmission. My truck was not scheduled for any service it only had 47,000 miles. I had the engine oil changed, air cleaner checked and replaced as required since day one. Service department said the bumper to bumper had expired at 36,000 miles and that I would have to pay $640.00 for a complete transmission flush with a new upgraded Mobile 1 synthetic trans oil that would fix the problem. How is this my problem! This is the trans fluid that came from GM? They did say if there’s a component (a physical part) causing the problem that my drive terrain warranty (6 years, 60,000 miles) would cover the costs. I asked ” isn’t fluid a part of the transmission, answer “NO, fluids are not covered under the drive terrain warranty it’s preventative maintenance” So if I’m not scheduled for a service I would have to pay the costs. Then I asked if I just kept driving the truck and didn’t service the transmission what if it fails? Answer, “good chance the drive terrain warranty would not be covered because I refused to fix the problem”. After paying $524.00, I did a little research and found this problem was known by GM in 2015-2019 GMC trucks with 8 speed transmissions and a bulletin was published recommending Dealers to replace trans oil with new Mobile 1 synthetic oil in new vehicles on the lot. “BUYER BEWARE” I checked the box below saying “I agree that GM or the dealership can publish my response” LOL we’ll see if that happens.
Go get your money back that was covered there’s a service bulletin for that. matter you’re still covered under the five-year hundred thousand mile. Not your fault they put the wrong transmission fluid in the vehicle when it was built you did not make the transmission this is their problem.