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All cars · GMC Sierra · Transmission

GMC Sierra transmission problems by year.

Worst years for transmission complaints per car sold: 2017 (123 complaints), 2018 (114 complaints), 2019 (100 complaints). Fewest since 2010: 2010, 2025, 2013.

GMC Sierra
Photo shows a 2019 GMC Sierra. Kevauto, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Transmission complaints owners filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) for each model year, per 100,000 cars sold. A complaint counts when it's filed under the transmission, or under the power train and the owner describes the transmission (shifting, slipping, gears, CVT). It's an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and older years have had longer to collect complaints.

20002613.8 per 100K sold2001167.6 per 100K sold20022813.9 per 100K sold20033316.8 per 100K sold20042813.1 per 100K sold2005229.6 per 100K sold20062612.3 per 100K sold2007115.3 per 100K sold200853 per 100K sold200976.3 per 100K sold201043.1 per 100K sold20112315.4 per 100K sold2012106.4 per 100K sold2013116 per 100K sold20145425.5 per 100K sold20157633.9 per 100K sold20168237 per 100K sold201712356.4 per 100K sold201811451.9 per 100K sold201910043 per 100K sold20209035.6 per 100K sold202110241 per 100K sold20228434.8 per 100K sold20239632.5 per 100K sold20247824.2 per 100K sold2025185.2 per 100K sold

What owners describe

Hard or jerky shifting22%
Shudder15%
Lost power while driving11%
Delay or hesitation8%
Stuck in gear or limp mode8%
Slipping8%

Share of this model's transmission complaints that mention each symptom. One complaint can mention several.

Transmission and power train recalls

  • 2022 2024

    The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.

  • 2022 2026

    The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock up.

  • 2020 2020

    One of the driveshaft joints may not have been properly welded, causing the driveshaft to separate while the vehicle is moving.

  • 2014 2014

    The subject vehicles may have a transmission oil cooler line that is not securely seated in the fitting.

  • 2014 2014

    In the affected vehicles, an electrical signal short may cause the transfer case to shift to neutral without the driver's input.

Recall repairs are free at any dealer. Check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

In owners' words

The transmission needed to be replaced car would not go in reverse or foreward at all . It only has 120,000 miles on it .

2017 GMC Sierra owner · NHTSA complaint

Shifting 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 1st is very hard and jolting. It hesitates and doesn't go immediately which could cause an accident.

2017 GMC Sierra owner · NHTSA complaint

Quick answers

Which GMC Sierra years have transmission problems?

By transmission complaints filed with NHTSA per car sold, the worst GMC Sierra years are 2017, 2018, 2019.

What are common GMC Sierra transmission problems?

Owners most often describe hard or jerky shifting, shudder, lost power while driving.

Which GMC Sierra years have the fewest transmission complaints?

Since 2010, the GMC Sierra years with the fewest transmission complaints per car sold are 2010, 2025, 2013.

See every problem, not just the transmission: GMC Sierra reliability by year. How we count

Updated

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