General Motors has initiated a pilot program to repair or replace the 9T65 9-speed transmission that is found in a variety of its crossover models.
GM 9-speed transmission
Some owners of vehicles with the 9T65 have reported various problems with the 9-speed transmission. These include fifth through ninth gears being locked out at times, transmission slip and/or flare up between the first and second gear upshift, a high-pitched noise when decelerating, slippage of the torque converter, a transmission fluid leak and a flashing ‘D’ on the PRNDL display.
This pilot repair program will address the various issues owners are experiencing with the 9T65 9-speed transmission. The automaker says the intent of the pilot “is to favor replacement over internal repair,” and that “if diagnosis determines internal repairs are the root cause,” of the issues described above, then further disassembly should not occur and the entire transmission unit should instead be replaced.
That said, GM is permitting dealers to perform some repairs that may help address the issues with the transmission. These repairs are limited to external components and include replacing external seals, replacing the transmission oil cooling lines, replacing the external transmission controls, replacing the torque converter assembly and replacing the external transmission mounts, sensors, plugs and caps.
The following vehicles are affected by this issue:
- 2018-2021 Buick Enclave
- 2020-2021 Cadillac XT5
- 2020-2021 Cadillac XT6
- 2019-2021 Chevy Blazer
- 2018-2021 Chevy Traverse
- 2020-2021 GMC Acadia
This pilot program only applies to vehicles that were sold in the United States and that are less than 18 months old from the date of delivery. Additionally, the vehicle must have less than 18,000 miles on the odometer. The program will run for 12 months from the date the bulletin was released on December 1st, 2020.
Owners of affected vehicles can contact the GM owner center at 1-866-694-6546 for more information on this pilot repair program.
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Comments
The 8 speed could use a similar program. I’m planning to buy a 2022 5.3 Silverado but if the RST & LTZ 5.3 is still mated to the 8 I might have to rethink
It doesn’t. The issues that were well known early have been solved and very few have any troubles after. As you probably know it was the fluid that caused 90% of the issues and a flush with the correct new fluid fixed most problems. Some had torque converter issues but that was few and far between and most never has issues. All the new ones are filled with the proper fluid and should provide trouble free outside of the few rogue issues any manufacturer can have… Reviews afterwards have come back very positive by both people who have bought them, those that have had any repairs done and those that review and compare vehicles regularly. Buy one and enjoy.
I bought a 2021 xt5 400 AWD July 18. Wife was driving. After waiting at a red light she was making a left turn from a two way road to a two way road, the car bucked a few times, failed to upshift from first gear and displayed “unable to shift gears, have transmission serviced”, this was at 666 miles. My wife refuses to even get in this car.
At service two faults were reset, TCM program was reloaded, and test drive that brought milage to 699 miles produced no faults. Average milage shifted from 21.7 to 20.4 mpg. Current milage is 734 miles, and will probably not change much till trade in.
Wife has fear this car will get her t-boned if it fails like this in heavy traffic.
These failures were happening since 2017 and have not been solved, the cause of my cars failure was not identified.
GM should put the correct fluid in transmission, not charge me extra, and damage my transmission.
yes,I have a stutter (slipping) 8l90 with AFM problems double junk.
After reading about the 9 speed transmission, I am not sure I want to consider the XT4. I had a 2020 Pacifica that had a 9 speed as I understood was German made. Never broke down or lock up, but was scary when it would jerk when shifting in the lower gears.. 9 speed seems like a problem no matter if foreign or US made.. I would appreciate additional info regarding the GM 9 speed.
Is it any wonder this companies market share keeps shrinking as time goes on? They have been designing and building transmissions for over a hundred years and are still pumping out crap even on upcoming 2021 models on 6 high profile crossovers. And then they have the nerve to only cover up to 18K miles knowing full well that most early 2018/19 owners will be well past that. There will never be one of these vehicles in my driveway which is a shame because the Traverse is a roomy, nice looking CUV with a lot of features for around 40K
Move on…
Yes….move on to another car maker.
I had GM’s for most of my life, they’ve had transmission problems on so many different cars. I just bought a Honda Accord and compared to my last GM, it’s a night and day difference. Never going back.
Bring us the Lectrics Mary.
Is GM going to notify owners of affected vehicles?
Only after warranty expires.
😆😆😆
After reading about the 9 speed transmission, I am not sure I want to consider the XT4. I had a 2020 Pacifica that had a 9 speed as I understood was German made. Never broke down or lock up, but was scary when it would jerk when shifting in the lower gears.. 9 speed seems like a problem no matter if foreign or US made.. I would appreciate additional info regarding the GM 9 speed.
My Acadia started slipping shifting from 2nd to 3rd…bout 20-25mph, 2000 rpm… fluid was low, they said wrong fluid had been used at factory.. they drained the fluid, checked for metal shavings in it..New filter n Different type tranny fluid… Hadn’t slipped again since..
Apparently not notifying owners, I own a 21 acadia 19k miles, have never been told. I started having shifting issues around 3rd gear, dealer didn’t know bout this or played dumb when I mentioned this tsb.. took it in, they looked this up..fluid was low, no visible leaks according to them. Supposedly Didn’t find shavings in fluid But they changed fluid n filter per bulletin..so far, after 300 miles no shifting issues yet!.. if didn’t fix it right its Their problem..lol. on lease, they’re getting it back in 3 months..😉
19 year old son has a 2017 Camaro RS V6 A8 that we bought for him new. Read about the shutter on Camaro 6 forum. I thought it was just our rough NE MS roads. Had the old flush at about 4K miles in \November 2019 & it didn’t help. Went back to the same local dealer for the new flush 01/20 & was in & out in about 2 hrs. Not a shutter since, now at 15K. Love the car and trans is now great.
Is Ford’s fwd 8 speed related to GM’s 9 speed as the 10 speeds are related?
I GM knows of problems with these transmissions used since 2018, they should take care of the customer regardless of the mileage. These customers bought these vehicles to meet their transportation needs. GM ought to be grateful for customers, some of which are continuous GM customers, for buying their vehicles. Don’t disappoint them GM; there are other manufacturers for customers to buy vehicles from.
Why limit coverage to 18k miles and 18 months?
What about the new vehicle warranty?
I agree, why the mileage and time limits? If it’s bad it’s bad. Maybe another “secret” warranty is in the works. Where they send you a letter, and tell you to keep it in a safe place. I’ve had a couple of them. Bottom line, take care of it regardless, customer satisfaction equals sales.
Transmission is part of the power train so why 18 months 18,000 miles, what am I missing?
I agree, maybe it only pertains to a new transmission type which normally would not be covered under the standard powertrain warranty?
Is this all a example of GM think? Cut a dime in cost today, knowing it will cost a dollar later?
here in Europe on some Opel and Chevrolet models, we have the crappy 6t45 and 6t40 which caused a lot of problems with the solenoids and internal breakage..
6t45 and 6t40 Gen1 are catastrophic, 6t40 and 6t45 gen 2 a little better but still with problems, Gen 3 still problems.
After the 2 year warranty, Opel does not want to take care of anything, and if there is a breakage problem the repair costs thousands of euros.
As he said Joe Yoman :”They have been designing and building transmissions for over a hundred years and are still pumping out crap even on upcoming 2021″
So, re-reading the article, it sounds like the transmission would still be covered under the powertrain warranty period and mileage. The pilot program would differ in that they will replace the transmission if it requires any internal repairs, instead of having the dealer perform the internal repair. After 18 months or 18K miles, any internal repairs could then be repaired by the dealer instead of replacement.
Having said that, are the replacement transmissions addressing whatever design or manufacturing issues these have or will it potentially experience the same failure again? The article makes it sound like there are multiple symptoms and repairs, so are they having a variety of issues?
The Acadia was high on our list for a next vehicle in another year or so, but this doesn’t make me feel too confident. I’m still rather skeptical on the reliability of the 3.6 as I have heard horror stories about them for years and it seems to impact a wide range of models and years.
Are these 9 speeds the same model across both the 4 and 6 cylinder models?
I’ve had two Acadia’s with the 3.6; a 2011 with 95,000 miles and a 2016 I currently own with another 75,000 miles. The 3.6 is a decent engine. Of course both of mine have been linked to a 6 speed. The biggest enemy I’m aware of in the 3.6 is timing chains. Forget the oil life monitor on these engines. Strict oil changes are your friend; 5K for semi synthetic and no more than 6K for synthetic. I run Mobil 1 Extended Performance a 15K oil according to Mobil but I still change it a 6K. I love my older full size Acadia. Roomy, rides nice, can tow an occasional utility or UHaul trailer and can carry a lot of cargo inside with seats folded down (we volunteer in a food bank). I wasn’t ready for the 2016 when I bought it; just didn’t want to get stuck with the new smaller size Acadia. The next gen Acadia is supposed to go back to the same size as the Traverse and Enclave for 22 or 23; Covid has shifted GM’s plans from what I’ve read.
GM Authority, are you sure there is a “pilot program” for Enclave and other GM transmissions? My contact atGM on my transmission issue claims there is no “pilot program” as you have described. I have a 2020 Enclave. Can you help me verify the “pilot program” exists? I had the transmission flushed at about 5,500 miles. Seems to have helped for now.
anyone interested in a lot of this being caused by excessive assembly lube being the culprit in the first place? GM caused some of this clutch slippage by their own practices and are half assed taking care of it. The flush removes the assembly lube causing the issue and they are adding friction modifier to the replacement fluid with fingers crossed it bites again. Hence the “several flushes” sometimes. Google long enough… you will find it.
GM’s application of afm and dfm on ther engines along with there 6,8,9, speed transmissions totally fail in the real world test. These cars are total trash and gm will BS you right thru you’re warrantee.
I bought a brand new buick envision with 20 miles transmission failed on my drive home. this 9 geared transmission problems are still not resolved. been in shop over ten days still dont have it back.
My 2021 Acadia has recently started shuddering at takeoff in low gears..Hmm..funny I was Never notified of this repair/recall on 9 speed transmission..19500 miles Now..n 2 n half years into lease…
I posted a comment about my 2018 Traverse and the failed transmission and it got labeled at “spam”.
I bought a 2018 Traverse new, had emissions problems, TCM problems, Parking brake issues, and they installed a new shifting column.
Now at 79k miles and I have to PAY for a new transmission because I am 19k miles beyond warranty (Raj from Chevrolet Customer Service let me know that firmly). Don’t buy one nor a used one. Watch this transmission and avoid it at all cost.
My 2021 GMC Acadia Torque Convertor failed and ended up damaging the transmission too at 47,000 miles. Now I’ve been waiting 3 weeks already for a replacement transmission from GM. The transmission probably could have been saved if my dealer had replaced the torque convertor 6 months ago when it first acted up instead of simply changing the transmission fluid.
This is all happening to me now, transmission torque converter falling apart, shavings all over transmission they replaced torque converter and all seals got car back now catalytic converter bad! My car is not the same since it’s been a week, car was in shop a month and a half!
This is interesting. I have a 2024 Blazer 2LT with 1650 miles on it. It is at the dealer for a valve body replacement and I was informed the valve body is on national backorder. I am sure it is not the same trans as the one referenced here but concerning that I am having this issue especially on a brand new vehicle.
I have a 2019 Traverse and it had troubles since we bought it. I fought with the dealer (MacMulkin) and GM over an oil consumption issue and now, the torque convertor needs to be replaced. This will be my last GM product. The don’t back their product.
GM authority is now 3 for 3 with helping me identify issues with my 2021 Acadia. 1) This 9 speed transmission issue which lead to replacing torque convertor and flushing out transmission. 2) Howling sound from loose resonator which lead to complete exhaust system replacement. 3) And now creaking sound from front end which is struts becoming misaligned.