10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 3 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 15,280 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
I have taken my truck to temecula valley Buick GMC on 3 separate occasions after noticing my transmission shifts hard. I have experience clunking shifts both in the up shift and down shift, typically at lower speeds. There are times when the transmission shifts gears it propels the vehicle forward in a jerking fashion, very similar to a rear end fender bender. The last time I took my vehicle to the dealership, I was told that the vehicle is shifting at normal specs and if it keeps acting up, to bring it back when it is more consistent. The vehicle's warranty runs out in a few months.
- Fallbrook, CA, USA
After cold starts when accelerating the transmission slips from 1st to 2nd and throws your body forward. After that first gear change it doesn't do it again until another cold start. Around 34000 miles I am getting a rumbling vibration through the dash and steering wheel when holding speed between 35-75 mph. The RPM guage will jump slightly and it will feel like going over rumble strips. Acceleration is very weak at times. Sometimes its ok. There has to be something done with these torque converters and transmissions by GM. Unacceptable for a 40-50K dollar truck!
- Romeoville, IL, USA
Have been to dealer 3 times transmission ruff/slipping on 1-2 shift
- Springfield, MO, USA
Truck shifts hard from 1st to 2nd gear and vice versa. When down shifting from 2nd to 1st it feels as if you get rear ended by another vehicle. It shifts hard when switching between drive and reverse with an audible "clunk" and jerking on the truck.
- Owensboro, KY, USA
Hesitation when engine is cold shifting from reverse to drive. Some shift is so hard that it feels like being hit from behind. Took truck to dealership to correct the problem. They performed the tsb 18-na-355. This did not correct the problem. Dealership advised there was nothing else they could do about this issue.
- Texarkana, AR, USA
The first thing that happened was that all of the electrical systems on my truck went out and my truck would not start. It finally started but it would not move finally it would move but very slowly this happened on 11/20/2019 I have documentation through onstar for this incident. My brakes started slipping on 07/01/2020 and still do not work properly. My transmission has never shifted correctly. When I accelerate or when I slow down there is a shudder and a jerking sound. After sitting for a while when my truck is put in reverse it hesitates and then seems to jump into gear.
- Owens Cross Roads, AL, USA
The transmission failed at 32,000 miles slipped so bad could hardly drive it home on highway I95 jacksonville Florida. Finally got a dealer appointment after over 2 weeks of waiting without the use the vehicle. They replaced the fluid and said it was now good. Still tends to slip I asked why they were not replacing the whole unit said no need as my warranty is almost up?
- Fernandina Beach, FL, USA
Hard shifting that started around 40000 miles and has progressively gotten worse. The same thing happened to my 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and at 90000 miles that vehicle's #3 sensor in the transmission failed. It appears this vehicle is on the same path. The transmissions in these vehicles are trash. It happens in lower gears.
- Tomball, TX, USA
I have been noticing a shudder and hard shifting intermittently when driving about 30-60mph and I took it into the shop they said they can not duplicat the issues so I take it back and it started doing it more. I took the truck back to the shop again and yet again they told me they can not duplicate the issue. No here I am at 17K miles on is still doing it and shiftting hard and now there is a knocking noise. I talked to the dealer ship and they said its under warrany still just drive it tell it get worse.
- Anchorage, AK, USA
While under power and driving, the truck experiences noticeable vibrations that seem to come from the drivetrain.
- Burleson, TX, USA
Purchased vehicle brand new from dealership and from day one, I notice the power train slow to shifting from gear one to two. The vehicle hesitates and sometimes shifts hard only during cold starts. Every time I take it in for my schedule service I report the same issue to my service advisor along with the service manager at the GMC dealership. They say that it is a normal problem and they know about it. The last schedule service I told them about the same problem, this time his service tech test drove vehicle and said torque converter was shuddering causing vibration. The solution he said they changed the transmission fluid. Today I still notice the same issue and will report to the dealership next time I take in for service. I have read this is a common problem from the manufacture since putting in an 8 speed transmission. I feel this is a safety issue and some day I may feel that the transmission may lock up on me and may cause an accident.
- Orange Park, FL, USA
When truck is in motion shifting from reverse to first/second gear it jumps forward into gear. There is a hesitation shifting into gear. It is a very well known problem with the 8 speed transmission. I have been in contact with the dealer but 3 different times. The know the problem as does GMC. They actually can fix the problem. But will not do anything until GMC sends out a technical bulletin. There has been an unbelievable amount of complaints. I understand GMC is hesitant because they may have to replace transmission and or torque converter which would naturally cost a lot of money. But also I understand changing to a different transmission fluid will help. But dealer will not do it. This has been going on since the day I bought it brand new and I only have 5700 miles on it. I have not had accident because of this. But concerns me with the hesitation and jumping in to gear. Also it does not do it every single time. Depends on your take off speed.
- Horseheads, NY, USA
I bought this vehicle new from day one I noticed the truck was jerking between 2nd gear and third. Only when cold I figured it was normal. I have 11,000 miles now and the jerking is worse and does it when I hold a speed between 45mph and 50mph also. When I am coming to a stop it hit hard into 1st gear and when I take off it hits hard into 2nd gear.
- Harbor, OR, USA
A/C stops working 2.) mechanic does vacuum test and replaces refrigerant ($200) freon 3.) A/C is blowing hot air again after 3 days; refrigerant completely gone 4.) mechanic runs dye through lines to find the leak, replaces refrigerant again and states the problem is compressor failure ($200) again 5.) the overall fix would be to replace the compressor ($1,000) but there are no compressors to be found, the part is on national backorder because of the widespread problem." Left side of wheel making aloud noise when backup, it is a know problem with the steering rack tansmission downshift from 30-15 make a push effect and couching noise
- San Francisco, CA, USA
The front end of my truck has an very noticeable intermittent rumble and shake when I'm holding steady around 1200 RPM and 45 mph. My RPM gauge will surge about 50-100 rpms when it rumbles. If I speed up or slow down it goes away. My wheels and tires are balance so that not the issue and my drive is smooth otherwise.
- Houston, TX, USA
I have a 2018 GMC Sierra denali, when the vehicle is cold, usually first thing in the morning, the truck starts out in first gear and then feels like it lacks power or transmission is slipping and then bangs into 2nd gear.the more I drove the truck the worse it got. While driving down the road there is a vibration within the truck. The faster you go the more of a vibration you feel. During the vibration the steering wheel is not shaking and when you let go of the wheel the truck stays straight, so it's not the front end. Took the truck to the dealership where it was purchased, pellegrino GMC, which is a 30 minute drive and they couldn't duplicate the problems. The service advisor was advised prior to my appointment, that the banging into gear only happens when its is cold. He advised me that what I was feeling was a normal shift for my truck. I advised him about the service bulletins and he stated that it didn't pertain to my truck.the mechanic test drove my vehicle for 13 miles and didn't feel the vibration. He checked the engine codes and found none. I have had the truck a little over a year and it has 6000 miles on the odometer.
- Absecon, NJ, USA
Jumps into gear hard from 1st to 2nd gear under 25 mph very dangerous when on icy roads and also down shifting coming down from a hill RPM's stay high even though you aren't going very fast less then 17000 miles on it had it too the dealer nothing they can do just document
- Arcadia, WI, USA
Transmission shifts very hard from first gear to second gear when in motion. It also has a violent shudder when it is trying to select a different gear, most apparent around 35mph. If brake isn't pressed hard enough, shifting out of park could cause vehicle to run into something due to the hard shift when stationary.
- Franklin, TN, USA
I own a GMC Sierra which is 14 months old, purchased in dubai uae from alghandi auto. The last service for 40000 kms was done on August 8th, 2019 and no problem was highlighted except the battery that was subsequently changed. On Friday early morning (Sep 27, 2019), we have escaped a major accident on sheikh zayed road on account of the front wheel axle that just broke/came apart while driving, causing the front right wheel to detach from the vehicle, subsequently skidding to the right causing major damage to the suspension and many other parts in the vehicle. This could have caused even death of my son who was driving the vehicle. I would appreciate an immediate call from your office to resolve this as I am no longer interested in driving this car that can cost me & my family our lives. This needs to be done immediately as I would otherwise be in the process of seeking legal advice against GMC.
- Dubai, 00, USA
- Chicago, IL, USA