2017 Chevrolet Tahoe: jerking or lurching

Filed Jun 13, 2026 · Transmission · SC

My 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe equipped with a 6L80 transmission began experiencing transmission-related drivability issues at approximately 130,000 miles. The vehicle jerked on takeoff, had delayed/slow shifting, produced a whining noise, and later had intermittent shuddering/surging while driving. During service, metallic debris/shavings were found in the transmission fluid. The transmission ultimately required replacement at my expense. I am aware of GM Technical Service Bulletin 20-NA-142, “Shudder/Surging While Driving,” which includes 2015–2022 Chevrolet Tahoe models equipped with MYC/MYD transmissions and discusses conditions that may be identified as torque converter shudder. My vehicle’s 6L80 transmission corresponds with GM RPO MYC, and the symptoms/repair findings appeared consistent with the bulletin. I am filing this complaint to document the transmission failure and related safety concern, as the jerking, delayed shifting, and shuddering affected normal vehicle operation.

Filed Jun 9, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · IA

The transmission dropped 2 thousand miles over my warranty at 102k miles. I was taking my son to see his surgeon and the car started jerking and making noises in the middle of a busy intersection. We almost got hit several times trying to get it to the side of the road for safety. I had to pay almost $1800 to get it towed home (we were in Peoria about 150 miles from home to see his doctor). There were no indications the transmission was going out and never should have at that mileage. I always do regular maintenance and keep all my receipts. I then paid 6k out of pocket to have it replaced with a better transmission since I learned GM put a bad transmission in the Tahoe I have (I was told I missed the time limit to have it fixed on their dime). Then 6 weeks later a fuel injector and the lifters failed due to the active fuel management. No one was hurt thankfully because I was just leaving home to go to work when I noticed the tapping sound and had my mechanic come look at it. Him and 2 other mechanics confirmed it was the lifters. I had already borrowed money to replace the transmission and can’t afford the $12k quote to fix it. Now it has been sitting in my driveway for almost a year unable to be driven. It is however causing me severe depression. I’m borrowing my son’s car while paying almost $700 monthly on a Tahoe I can’t even drive. I was even more sad when I found out there’s thousands of people with the same issue. GM should be ashamed of themselves!

Filed Apr 30, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · AZ

Purchased 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe on 1/15/2025 with 50,647 miles on it. At exactly the 40 day mark, we noticed a problem when the vehicle began downshifting. When slowing down to stop at a red light, we could feel the transmission begin jerking as it shifted down and the check engine light came on. It has been taken back to the dealership (where we bought it), 5 times as of yesterday and they cannot fix the problem. The engine idles rough, downshifting is extremely hard, check engine comes on and off sporadically. The transmission temperature goes up and the dashboard lighting dims intermittently. This vehicle appeared to be in extremely good physical condition with very few miles, that's why it was purchased.

Filed Nov 2, 2022 · Brakes · 62,000 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated while driving and approaching a stop sign, the vehicle jerked as if the brake pedal was abruptly depressed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic however, no failure was found. The contact stated that the brake assist warning message was displayed. The dealer was contacted and stated that the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NSHTA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 62,000.

Filed Dec 1, 2021 · Transmission · LA

Vehicle was driving fine when parked. 12 hours later, I went to move it from my front driveway to the carport. It started fine and when I put it in drive and pressed the accellerater it wouldn’t move. I pressed it again and the vehicle jerked forward into my lawn causing me to brake hard. I put it in reverse and it backed up fine. Again, I put it in drive but it wouldnt go forward. It acted as if it was in neutral. I turned it off and tried again receiving the same results. Had it towed to dealership. Transmission flush performed but didn’t remedy the problem. Needs a total new transmission at 66,000 miles.

Filed Apr 23, 2021 · Transmission · 90,000 miles · MI

At approximately 90 thousand miles the transmission on my 2017 tahoe premier went out and we had to get a new transmission installed. I was stopped in traffic on the highway and when I went to accelerate the vehicle would not move. I was able to get the tahoe to lurch to the slow lane and off of the road. Tractor trailers were having to switch to the slow lane and back to the fast lane to get around us and back into the proper lane because the highway had the right slow lane shut down. No service lights came on and I did not notice any hard shifting or other transmission issues before this happened. The cost for the transmission and labor was around $4,500.

Filed Jan 21, 2021 · Transmission · 112,000 miles · GA

My 2017 tahoe is jerking, not going into overdrive smoothly, not accelerating easily. I was told that this year model had several vehicles that had to have the transmission replaced. I have owned this vehicle for only 6 months. I called my local dealership to see if there were any recalls and also called gmc but was told by both that there were no recalls for this issue. With the cost of these vehicles there should be no issues on a fairly new model and from the previous comments I have read here gm needs to issue a recall on transmissions before a serious injury occurs.

Filed Dec 31, 2020 · Transmission · 99,700 miles · GA

My 2017 chevrolet tahoe felt very stiff while accelerating and started suddenly jerking and backfiring while in motion as if we were rear-ended. It would feel as if it was stuck or struggling to shift gears and both the transmission and engine lights came on . We took it to the nearest chevrolet dealership thinking it was a minor issue being still fairly new but was told the whole transmission needs to be replaced. There is no way a 3 year old chevrolet tahoe with less than 100k miles that's barely been driven due to covid needs a new transmission. Please investigate this as these mechanical problems could create unsafe conditions for other owners.

Filed Nov 10, 2020 · Engine, Transmission · 67,437 miles · TX

On my way to work on the freeway about 10 miles out I started having transmission problems,it wasn't shifting right and and sometimes it would stay on one gear too long and the RPM would stay at 4500rpm before it shifts and this is while cruising at 65mph. And when I try to accelerate I would hear a humming/whistling sound from within and I couldn't go past 70mph. Then the 'check engine' light came on. When I got to a stop sign after getting off the freeway my tahoe would hesitate when I stepped on the gas. When I got to the parking lot I tried to back-in to parking space and my tahoe would not go on reverse. And when I was leaving the parking lot to take my vehicle to the dealer to get checked out,when I put it on drive nothing happens and after about 10 seconds the vehicle jumped into gear and jerked it forward without stepping on the gas so much so,that the rear tires even screeched a bit! It scared the sh*# out of me. I would really like to know if anybody else had this problem and what was done to rectify it.

Filed Jul 21, 2020 · 25,000 miles · CA

Vehicle will excelerate fast or shift fast and abnormally after stopping. Also downshifts in a jerking motion when coming to a stop. Idles as if vehicle is ruining out of fuel even when containing suffienant fuel levels and may stall.

Filed May 1, 2019 · 11,000 miles · MD

My tahoe is having problems with acceleration. Sometimes the vehicle will idle over the RPM and won't switch gears or speed unless I let go of the gas to bring the RPM down and then accelerate again. There are also times when the car jerks when accelerating and makes a loud noise as if something just popped or broke and sometimes it feels like it's about to stall when accelerating. Car is also vibrating/shaking when at a complete stop. Lastly, heat comes out of the vents of the vehicle even when the system is off. The circulation is always on and the higher the speed (mainly highway) the more the heat comes out.