The GM 8-Speed Transmission Needs To Go Away ASAP: Opinion
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It’s no secret that the GM 8-speed transmission is not great. Also known as the 8L90 and 8L45, the 8-speed pairs to rear-wheel-drive architectures in GM’s bread-and-butter products, including pickup trucks, SUVs, sports cars and luxury cars, and to say that it has a few issues would be a major understatement. Owners have complained far and wide about the 8-speed’s strange tendencies, such as waiting too long to upshift, downshifting at odd times and lurching when coasting or coming to a stop light. Long story short, GM needs to do away with the 8-speed and replace it with the much-improved 10-speed automatic… and quick.
In fact, GM was recently slapped with a class action lawsuit over the 8-speed gearbox. The plaintiffs assert the GM 8-speed transmission is defective, creating violent shakes, jerks, and a “hard shift” when selecting a gear. For its part, GM has filed 13 technical service bulletins concerning the unit, none of which remedied the issue. Following the lawsuit, more owners have spoken out over the issue, and we’ve even heard from our own readers about it on our forums.
The GM 8L90 transmission.
The issue seems to be most common when accelerating or decelerating as the transmission tries to find another gear, with the problem believed to stem from the torque converter as well as the gearbox’s shifting logic.
Following a litany of complaints, GM tried to “improve” the 8-speed in the 2019 Silverado and 2019 Sierra. In a press release, the automaker said it made “enhancements designed to improve shift quality, while also adding a new centrifugal pendulum absorber torque converter” to improve smoothness. The new revised transmission was assigned RPO code MQE, replacing the M5U 8-speed unit on the half-ton Silverado and Sierra, but not (yet) on other GM products like full-size SUVs or mid-size pickups.
The far-superior GM 10L80
Taking all that into consideration, The General seems to have grossly mishandled the entire situation with the 8-speed transmission. What it should have done is replaced the GM 8-speed transmission outright with its new 10-speed automatic (jointly developed with Ford) in every vehicle application. Of course, that would have required some doing, as the GM product lines that would qualify for the change-over today include:
- The 2019 and 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 as well as the 2019 and 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 equipped with the 2.7L turbocharged four-cylinder L3B engine and 5.3L V8 L84 engine, with other engines being paired to either the 6-speed or the new 10-speed.
- The entirety of the full-size SUV lineup, including Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon and Yukon XL, as well as the Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV. All of these will soon be replaced by all-new models for the 2021 model year, and here’s to hoping that GM doesn’t continue offering the 8-speed on lower-end trims.
- Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana models equipped with the 4.3L V6 LV1 engine.
- Sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro LT equipped with the 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder LTG engine
- Second-generation Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon
Previously, the GM 8-speed transmission was also used in sunset models like the Cadillac ATS, third-gen Cadillac CTS (except for the CTS V-Sport, which used an Aisin eight-speed), and the 2016-2018 Cadillac CT6 (the vehicle switched to the 10-speed transmission for the 2019 model year). In addition, the GM 8-speed transmission was also used in the 2016-2018 Camaro LT and SS, along with the now-discontinued C7 Corvette (apparently the 10-speed was too wide to fit into the C7).
The GM Authority Take
To play armchair quarterback for a quick minute, The General should have bitten the bullet and replaced the GM 8-speed automatic transmission in any applicable vehicles with the new 10-speed unit as soon as the new 10-speed was launched, no matter if the model was due for an update, refresh, or overhaul, or not. Instead, The General dug its heels in and continued to offer vehicles with the lackluster 8-speed, going so far as to launch all-new products – most notably the 2019 Silverado and 2019 Sierra – with the 8-speed that was “improved,” but that didn’t deliver any noticeable improvements.
Sure, switching to the 10-speed mid-stride would have created additional expenses and required additional engineering work. So yes, it would have cost GM money. But wouldn’t those funds have been well-spent when compared to the gobs of money GM will probably end up spending in legal fees to defend itself (and potentially pay out on the class action), while also causing reputation-based damage as a result of customer dissatisfaction in its bread-and-butter products, thereby potentially losing customers for life?
Why, yes it would have.
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So, after decades of building millions of automatic transmissions, GM no longer knows how to?
Why does it seem that lately the more new/complex the technology is, the worse it works.
I think the real problem is the public feeling that they are never satisfied with how their product performs? And thinking they know how the component is suppose to work.
Brian,
If GM themselves have said this is a small quantity of transmissions.
And the majority of the 8 speeds ” work fine”
And the other 99% of GM products the customers drive, work like people have expected a transmission to work for the last 70 years.
And 99% of all the other auto makes transmissions work like the customer has expected a transmission to work for the last 70 years.
Then the customer DOES know how an automatic transmission is suppose to work !!!
None of that gives you the right to tell the manufacturer how their products operate.
Well it DOES give the customer the right to tell the manufacturer how the customers product operates.
You are correct it does NOT give the customer the right to tell the manufacturer how the manufacturers product was designed to operate.
The manufacturer in this instance HAS told the customer how their product is to operate.
The manufacturer has said this is a small quantity having troubles, that statement alone has now told the customer that the large majority that operate fine is how the product is to operate.
So if the customer owns two of these products and one is junk, YES the customer knows which one is operating fine and which one is NOT.
It’s a shame. The 6-speeds are so darn smooth and reliable and Chevy has. or had such a good reputation in this area. I don’t know why going to a more complicated tranny – a 10 speed – would be a fix though. I imagine they need to figure out what’s going with the 8 before moving to the ten.
2016 Silverado 112,000mi 4 reprograms… 4 fluid changes started at 16,000 about every 18-20,000 clunking,shutter ,and rpm dancing vibration (like a pulse) 3 times FM 1 time ext. Warranty…now no warranty ..escalated complaint to gm for at least some goodwill
Got told have a nice day… I figured it out for the idiots the fluid goes bad and effects torque converter pressure and solenoids start sticking .. about over 18 to 20000 miles july 8 2019 a new program needed and fluid again..54,0000.00 multiple same issueif you drive it like a daily driver called dealership bought 4 since 07 …SO TEST DROVE 2019 LTZ SILVERADO 6.2L 10SPEED ….ITS REAL SPONGY …unless balls to wall 0-40mph to next stop light…This will be worse….They cant as of yet fix 8 speeds …complicate by adding 2 more….been up for 3 days….
Nissan titan xd platinum reserve built so much better it has a 100,000mi bumper to bumper warranty …4,000.00 less and cant find were there being sued for there trucks….my company fleet has been nissan v8’s 94,000mi no issues normal maintenance…
Chevy lost my confidence my support and my recommendations and my money…
Of course this will go on dead ears but buyer beware..ford,chevy,and dodge…all are behind on quality…Nissan
For the midsized, Frontier V6 drivetrain beats the new Taco. If Nissan would have restyled/upgraded interior, cab, etc they’d be pulling ahead. Lifelong Chevy guy here but Colorado dropped off my radar with the 8L45 problems, a shame. GM use to have some of the best trans for decades, many going to 200K mile (4Ls). Heard that cheap aluminum and plastic valves/solenoids the problem. Any shop that could offer a rebuild upgrade with remanufactered parts might be the solution. Otherwise, I think GM will ride out the drivetrain warranty.
my 2017 6.2 ltr 8 speed has all the shifting problems you people are listing. dealer changed the fluid and it worked good for a few month. now it is doing the same thing again and the dealer told me it is learning. now i get a letter that the vac assist on the brake system has issues but they will not fix it until it won’t work ? it is a silverado. no help from dealers or chevy.
CVT transmission is very weak for hauling and towing capacities it’s the worst thing you can do on a truck you have to have a torque converter in order to have heavy duty truck towing capacity. Not sure what you’re talking about with the new Cadillac because that is a transversely mounted front wheel drive with engine mounted all the way forward it’s a piece of junk compared to the new Lincoln Aviator.
Sorry ….New Lincoln Aviator not good at all……trust me don’t buy one. All I can say is that you need to get rid of the Lincoln before the warranty is up if not sooner.
Why is GM still working on gear shifting transmissions when they have a CVT that works with high powered engines? Just look at the specs for the PHEV Cadillac CT6!
I have a 2019 Silverado and i wish I wouldn’t have paid my hard earned money buying this trash. It jerks violently accelerating and coming to a stop. It has 6,315 miles on it. Ive taken it to the dealership only to be told its normal. Its embarrassing leaving a store in a brand new truck that shifts so hard, it feels like another car has rear ended me.
Check and be sure that they know about the Factory Bulletin. It took me 4 visits to get them to get right.
https://gm-techlink.com/?p=11127 This is it. So show it to them and make sure they do it. My Dealer didn’t know anything about it. I had to show them. Big joke but it’s all good now. Good luck
Is there a factory bulletin? how do i get to it?
My 18 Sierra Denali has 55K miles on it and the trans has been perfect. Zero issues. As per warranty requirements it’s getting a trans and transfer case service this afternoon. EXPENSIVE….as GM is the sole supplier of the HD trans fluid required and they are charging something like C$45/litre for it. No options if I want to maintain my warranty though.
I bet there are way more GM owners of 8 speed transmissions that work just fine compared to the people who have problems with them. The people who have problems with them scream the loudest.
I had a higher up gm guy near production tell me that 20% are defective that’s unheard of failure rate
Since the proper transmission fluid was put in it has been perfect.
Everything Ford/Gm built is still modified ZF designs after the 5speed. Wiki them.
I can believe people are still drinking the Gm kool aide. Gm has been putting out junk with there burning oil engines and there 8 speed transmissions. Gm Just doesn’t give a shi**. They should change there advertising from like a rock to what a piece of sh**t. So many people have been burned by Gm.
And there are millions of people that have had decades of worry free driving. Just like myself!!! I cant believe people like you expect a automotive company to be perfect, hell any company for that matter.
So just because a few of you who have had problems scream the loudest doesn’t mean that is the norm.
My 4.8 L engine and 6-speed is picture perfect at 165K and I expect it to remain that way for a considerable period of time.
I have a 2019 Silverado rst 5.3 8 speed 5000 miles. The transmission is smooth as butter and makes shifts so quick and refined they are hardly noticeable. This truck was built feb 2019, rather early in the new production run for the new body style. I have no complaints so far and I hope I don’t have any as this transmission ages. I think there are many good ones out there and I hope for everyone’s sake I am in the majority of owners that are very happy with this transmission.
How do you get to it ….
NO thanks ill chill smoke my self stopped then call me when u done f*^” that s”¤☆☆ ¿♡♧♤€ get that not u me your onld ladys side pice o and thanks for that lunch she got me bro good looking out
Haha got u didnt i see all in the fillings zone now right chill hers a blunt sit down smoke one and dam creeper bro
Is this transmission in the 2020 Express van with the 4.3? If it is then i guess i will pass on buying one.
The 4.3L has the 8-speed tranny. The 6.0L engine, on the other hand, comes with the 6-speed which has had superb reliability.
https://www.chevrolet.com/commercial/express/cargo/build-and-price/trim
It doesn’t appear from this article that the “improved” 8-spd is found in vans but you would have to check.
” Following a litany of complaints, GM tried to “improve” the 8-speed in the 2019 Silverado and 2019 Sierra. In a press release, the automaker said it made “enhancements designed to improve shift quality, while also adding a new centrifugal pendulum absorber torque converter” to improve smoothness. The new revised transmission was assigned RPO code MQE, replacing the M5U 8-speed unit on the half-ton Silverado and Sierra, but not (yet) on other GM products like full-size SUVs or mid-size pickups.”
Yeah I just wanted the V6 because of being more fuel efficient with the 8 speed but if the transmission is junk I guess – dare I say it – I will have to look at the Ford Transit – lol.
In the end people just love to complain! And they love complaining loud enough so people can hear them. They want other people to live in the misery!
There are far more 8 speed transmissions the work seamlessly as apposed to the ones you hear about on this site.
The 2021 model will feature a stronger, more efficient 6.6L engine. I wonder if the efficiency of the 6.6L will be near the V6?
The tranny used in that van has not been determined, though.
The V6 will get the M5U tranny which has had problems which may or may not be resolved. I haven’t been able to find complaints yet on it.
The 2.4L diesel will get the best MPG of all and will come with the improved MQD 8-speed tranny
I believe I read somewhere that the 6.6 was still going to use the 6 speed.
I paid a ton of $ on my 2019 sierra. The transmission is terrible. I am completely disappointed with my experience with dealer service department. I will fight to get it right. I love the truck but only if it is corrected. They said gm says it is normal. I have never had a truck shift this badly.
Have you had them flush the system and replaced with the new fluid? I’ve heard that takes care of a lot of shifting problems.
4 Years after the tranny was introduced GM was still having problems. Does that mean I have to wait at least 5 years after a model introduction for GM to fix the problems on its trucks?
Good luck! The tranny is so vital to a good driving experience.
If they fix it at all. GM still thinks “it’s normal” so I doubt they will do much unless a lot of people complain, file a lawsuit (currently there is one) or stop buying their trucks.
It’s a shame – the 6 speed is an absolute gem.
I just dropped off my 2018 Colorado at the dealers this morning. They are going to connect a computer to it that interfaces with the GM Tech line, drive my truck, then the Tech line can see why the torque converter keeps unlocking /relocking from 1100 rpm to 1400 rpm. Have them do the same with yours. Good luck.
I have a 2020 RST 6.2L 10 speed.It has been in the shop for almost 8 weeks with no eta for a fix.Made it not even 800 miles.GM states the valve body is defective,and will not authorize a replacement.Only a newly redesigned one.Beware the 8 speed issue,is also a 10 speed issue.As soon as it threw a diagnostic light,i felt exactly what everyones complaining about.So glad i spent 55,60k on a non functional paperweight.Do yourselves a favor,contact the BBB Auto line Program as complaining to Chevy Corporate got me nowhere.
Under most lemon laws, they have four tries, or 30 days to fix a defect, or they eat it. The only exception is commercial purchases. If you are a private owner, start lemon law procedings.
Yes i know.But the process is a little drawn out.Im working on it with BBB.GM refused a buyback initially.Now i get to go rent a car out of my own pocket since i have a death in the family.The sweet base model blazer they loaned can not be used for long distance.ALSO they only reimburse 35$ a day for rental(i have to pay up front)That covers a Hyundai and i still have to pay the taxs and fees.Im really just over this whole situation.
That is so weird. If they have to redesign it that would seem to mean they are all bad which I don’t understand. How do they say they will resolve this situation? You deservè your money back or a new car.
I was at the dealership the other day. Turbocharger failed on a big truck. Somewhere around 5k repair. Luckily he had extended the warranty.
If you check around the internet you’ll see the same problems with the Ford 10 spd which GM and Ford built.
They did not offer a “fix”.Stated the valve body has to be redesigned/engineered.There is nothing for them to sweeten the deal at this point.I have a 6 year extended,Sirius for life,4k rims and tires package,running boards,washes and oil changes included already.My RST 6.2 is 4 options short of a High Country.Its basically what the Trailboss wishes it was with better aesthetics.Honestly i just want my truck running and functional.I worked for 13 years to buy the exact truck i wanted,they need to make it right.
Very disheartening. Sorry you had to go through this. Is GM just saying live with it? Is that their answer? They’ve done that with the bad shifting and clunky transmission – they say it’s normal…(lol)
I was planning on getting a 4.3 van with 8 speed and now I don’t know what to get. Everybody says Ford is crap so what is a person to do??
It has been a couple of years since the problem cropped up and they have worked on it. I would hope that it’s been fixed by now. Always dangerous to buy a new model or model in which major changes have been made.
Very disheartening. Sorry you had to go through this. Is GM just saying live with it? Is that their answer? They’ve done that with the bad shifting and clunky transmission – they say it’s normal…(lol)