2016 GMC Sierra 1500: harsh or hard shifting

Filed May 12, 2025 · Transmission · IA

Truck has 8L90 transmission, has recently started shuddering at speeds from 65-75 and higher, I am experiencing issues with occasional hard shifts from 1st to 2nd gear, and 2 days ago experienced a very hard shift around 30-40mph when it slammed it made the tires chirp. 85k miles.

Filed Sep 7, 2023 · Transmission · IA

The transmission overheated due to a poorly manufactured torque converter which caused my truck to come to a sudden stop on the interstate nearly being struck by several semi tractor trailers leaving my family and I in a dangerous situation. Upon research the torque converter and the thermal bypass valve fail causing the transmission to overheat with no warning whatsoever. It massively blew smoke out of the tailpipe blocking all lanes of traffic, completely unable to see that I'm broke down and nearly caused several accidents. Police was not notified since no accident occurred. The transmission preformed as its supposed to. No hard shifts or slipping between gears. This needs to be addressed by the federal safety agency and GM as it's a huge safety issue. With no warning light indicating the transmission is reaching critical heat levels and shutting down poses a risk in the event you're towing a trailer/camper (As I was). Or even worse happening to those who live where they drive up and down steep mountain grades.

Filed Jul 11, 2022 · Transmission · NV

Transmission Harsh 1-2 shift. Under light or heavy throttle. While driving the vehicle on first or second shift the vehicle has a delay to engage into shift making it a safety issue under normal conditions. If shift happens under rain will activate traction control almost making you lose control. Due to transmission not engaging correctly or delayed. Upon slowing down the transmission down gear feels as if someone hit my truck from behind. Feels like whiplash from initial engagement to first and second gear and again whiplash for passengers especially kids in car seats when slowing down. # 16-NA-361 information on Transmission Harsh 1-2 shift. This is the bulletin GMC has put out in response to my hard shift when I took into dealer for repair. It also gives the direction DO NOT Replace any parts for this condition. This issue also began at 40k miles and under warranty Dealer doesn’t want to fix. At 80k miles even no warranty dealer won’t fix due to no check engine light on. How can the dealership state they can’t repair the issue being a safety issue. Or give another options to help fix the issue. Other than just buy a new car and hope it doesn’t have the same issues

Filed Jun 16, 2022 · Transmission · CO

While putting truck into gear the transmission will not engage and will rev up and then take off or when coming to a stop the adaptive shift clunks very hard as if someone has hit you from behind. It will then surge forward without any warning. I have had it in to the dealer several times and they tell me it a know issue but they wont do anything about it.

Filed Oct 28, 2021 · Engine, Transmission · NE

When placing the truck in Drive, there is a very hard 'clunk' between first and second gear. Additionally, when driving, the truck shakes/shudders, mostly on the highway, but sometimes in town when driving between 25 and 70 m.p.h. The first instance was in March, 2019 whereby the dealer indicated this was normal operation for this transmission. As it seemed to get worse, I took it back and was told the transmission fluid was the wrong type and I had to pay to get it evacuated and changed out, even though this was an error on GMs part.

Filed Oct 27, 2021 · Engine, Transmission · MI

I purchased the 2016 GMC Sierra new. From the very start I felt there were issues with the transmission. I took the truck in for the shaking, vibrations and clunking in the trans with 5058 miles. Over the next 36 months I had the truck in 7 times and 3 different dealerships to get the trans fixed. Only once did they really do anything where they changed the fluid. I lived with the issues after the warranty expired as GM would not do anything to fix it. Now at 66,000 miles the vibrations have gotten so severe I am afraid to drive the truck. At no point has the truck not had vibrations, only they have increased. And now I have had 2 check engine warnings both dealing with the trans.

Filed Aug 25, 2021 · Transmission · AL

This complaint follows the same pattern for thousands of vehicles manufactured by General Motors. The specific component is the 8L90 (RPO-5MU) 8-speed transmission. The vehicle has experienced torque converter shudder since the purchase date of 06/28/2016. Numerous "attempts" via TSBs and cover-ups by General Motors has failed to alleviate the common shifting, shuddering, rough shifting, LURCHING out of control along with appurtenant damage to adjacent components and structures within the vehicle itself. The vehicle manufacturer has attempted to forestall remedy at the expense of consumers. It has knowingly violated specific requirements for merchantability of said vehicle. IF SUCH KNOWLEDGE had been in my possession prior to purchase, I would NEVER have purchased the subject vehicle. Damage to torque converter components via polluted fluid and destructive particles caused by torque converter malfunction are situated throughout the entire structure of the named Transmission itself. Valve bodies. Gears. Filters, Fluids and tolerances have all been affected by the KNOWN DEFICIENCY by the stated manufacturer: General Motors Corporation. General Motors has shown neither the desire; nor will, to effect a meaningful and reliable solution to this problem.

Filed Jul 2, 2021 · Transmission · TX

Sudden jerking while traveling at low speeds. This jerking / shuttering happens while traveling forward, reverse, and coming to a stop. Hard shifting while driving. I've never owned a 4x4 before and thought this was normal when I purchased the vehicle. After reading about this it seems like a known problem for Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac. Link below for exact issues going on with my truck. https://gmauthority.com/blog/2019/08/tsb-seems-to-fix-8-speed-automatic-gm-transmission-problems/

Filed Mar 11, 2021 · Seats, Transmission · 9,000 miles · IL

I've had movement in my drivers seat since the day I've owner the truck. Gmc put in a shim kit to address the problem but it's still acting up. They refuse to replace or repair any further. Also my transmission has a horrible shifting problem. When it's cold out or after the first time shifting into gear after sitting a long time, the truck lags to shift into gear then all of a sudden lunges forward or backwards depending on which gear I'm in. I've almost ran through my garage door and side fence and had to slam on the brakes. Gmc has looked into the issues but won't resolve them. The last 'repair' made was to change out the transmission fluid. That had helped with the hard shifting while driving but the truck still lunges forward or backwards and lags shifting into gear. I've had to learn to deal with it but anyone else who would drive my truck could seriously hurt themselves or someone else

Filed May 12, 2020 · Transmission · AL

Problems with transmission jerking,hard shifting,jumping, only have 60,000 miles on it. Took it back to dealer 3 times and they told me each time it was normal. Told them I have been driving 40 years and that was not normal. They never done anything. Now I am having more problems with it, getting worse. Now I find out there is a lot of people with same problems. Gmc knows something is wrong and should take care of it.

Filed Jul 7, 2019 · Transmission · 85,400 miles · NC

I have had issues with my gmc sierra since it was new. It has jerked and clunked when I start to go and then left off the gas. There has also been a hesitation when stepping on the guess. I have taken it to the dealer several times and was told things such as: "I just needed to get use to the 8 speed transmission"," the hesitation is when the truck switches from v4 to v8". And "there is nothing wrong". Now the warranty has expired and it is getting worse. It now feels like "running over a rumble strip" or like it is "missing" and "hesitating". All of these things occur when the vehicle is in motion.

Filed Jul 2, 2019 · Transmission · 29,000 miles · CA

My 8 speed transmission seem to wait too long to up shift. Will down shift at odd times. When is stop and go traffic around 5-15 MPH the truck will lurch forward when coasting or coming to a stop. When truing on the truck and going from park to reverse there will be a loud "clunk" that can also be felt causing the truck to rock.