2016 GMC Sierra 1500: shudder or vibration when accelerating

Filed Nov 1, 2026 · Transmission · NH

Loss of power, shuddering, hesitation upon attempt to accelerate. 8-speed automatic transmission failure, known to GMC at the time of purchase (2017). GM Service Bulletin 39370 dated April 2016.

Filed Jul 14, 2025 · Transmission · 66,456 miles · AR

The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated while responding, shuddered, and made an abnormal sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with torque converter clutch shudder and failure. The dealer determined that the torque converter clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered to partially cover the cost of the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 66,456.

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 Nov 17, 2024 · Body, Electrical · FL

Paint bubbling on roof. When turning on key, the radio makes a loud buzzing sound. On 11/16/2024, when leaving a traffic light, the truck began surging and shuddering. Tachometer was revving up and down like the transmission was slipping with loss of power while trying to take off and accelerate. While attempting to return home, loud booming noise was coming in from under floorboard. I was unsure if I would make it home before the transmission totally failed. People were passing around me because I was unable to acceleration fast enough because of the shuddering and loss of power. No previous signs of any powertrain issues or failures before. It happened for the 1st time today, and my truck is no longer safe to drive. GM has known about this transmission issue for years on several different models and has failed to broadly rectify the mechanical problem on all affected vehicles. Instead, GM has allowed the vehicle owners to continue to drive a vehicle with a known problem while it waited for a failure. This put me and my family at risk because I am driving around in a vehicle with a known transmission problem not knowing when it would fail or where I could be located when it failed. GM needs to pay for all repairs on all vehicles with this transmission failure because GM has known about this problem for years before someone gets hurt or killed. GM knew about the shuddering problem from the beginning, and they fixed the problem by tuning the transmission which then caused the total transmission failures over time which vehicles owners are not dealing with. Metal shavings are being located in the pan when inspected. GM should be held responsible for the cost of these transmission repairs. I would have never purchased the GMC Sierra 1500 if I have known GM was installing defective transmissions in new vehicles. That is shady, reckless, and unsafe. GM, pay to fix these problems.

Filed Oct 23, 2024 · Fuel system · TN

i began getting a service engine light that went on and off a few times randomly. the vehicle would not switch down to 4cylinder as designed. there was an odd shudder as the vehicle slowed at 10mph increments which would randomly happen or not happen dependent upon the moment. i was outside of warranty so i went to a shop which has been very good in the past as opposed to risking dealership costs on top of the fact the dealership had no availability for quite some time. ultimately, i ended up replacing all fuel injectors and related equipment at my own expense. just happened to be online looking around after the announcement of gm reimbursing for similar issues on larger sierra engine and ran across a bulletin that only went to certain states in order to replace these injectors as they failed or reimburse for costs up to 10 years or 150000 miles from the time they were put into service. just curious as to why this happened in some states and not others when there was obviously and issue. i know this is probably not the forum, but a complaint is a complaint.

Filed Aug 29, 2023 · Electrical, Steering · SC

The electrical system keeps throwing a code for short to ground as well as low voltage codes. The voltage gauge on the dash shows either over charging or under charging. The in dash radio and screen shut off and turns back on by itself while driving down the road. Occasionally while backing up or pulling forward the truck completely stalls. The transmission was subject to the shudder issue, we took it to King Cadillac in Lake City, SC for the transmission flush. After the flush we have not felt the shudder, but instead Occasionally when pulling off from a dead stop, or while crossing the very busy highway my house is on the truck looses momentum almost as if the transmission is failing to engage at all, and all of the sudden about 15 seconds later it engages and accelerates at a rapid rate. The steering is extremely loose in the tires, however the steering wheel engages after about 3/4 of an inch. I have taken it to said King Cadillac multiple times and they maintain that the steering is 100%. Although I can not let go of the steering wheel and continue straight for any length of time. I am constantly having to adjust the steering to match the pull of the vehicle to avoid changing lanes or running of the road. After 60mph the tire shake is horrible, after 70mph it is hard to keep the truck in its lane.

Filed Jul 15, 2022 · Transmission · CT

Vehicle shakes and shudders. Transmission required to be replaced at 70,710 miles. Dealership said the torque converter and transmission failure is a common event in these vehicles and wasn't covered under warranty

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 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 Mar 23, 2020 · Transmission · 47,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 gmc sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving about 70 MPH, the vehicle shuddered without warning. The vehicle was taken to the penske buick, gmc of south bay located at 18600 hawthorne blvd, torrance, ca 90504, (310) 853-5860, where the vehicle was diagnosed and technician changed the transmission fluid however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was referred back to the dealer. The approximate failure mileage was 47,000. The VIN was invalid.

Filed Jan 13, 2020 · Transmission · 33,000 miles · TX

8 speed transmission shudder and jerk. Have taken it to the dealership several times regarding this issue, nothing has completely fix the issue.

Filed Sep 11, 2019 · Transmission · 1,000 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 gmc sierra 1500. While driving low speeds, the vehicle shifted up and down very abruptly and shuddered uncontrollably. The failure occurred when accelerating or decelerating without warning. The vehicle was serviced three times at cavender buick gmc north (17811 san pedro ave, san antonio, tx 78232, 210‑807‑6392) where the transmission software was re-coded and a special transmission fluid was applied to the vehicle. The failure persisted each time after it was serviced by the dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000.