Have had this into the dealer at the first oil change and complained about transmission shifting issues and it being unsafe to drive. Complaints are: hard shift, it clunks both upshifting and downshifting. Going around corners from a stop the truck will either fall on its face or jerks you violently forward. In stop or go traffic it is unsafe and happens very frequently- it randomly accelerates (jumps) quickly on its own with slight pedal pressure to the point where you constantly have to be aware and have your foot near the brake or you cause an accident by rear ending the car in front, its as if the transmission electronics get confused on how to act. Feel shuddering from truck's motor where column shift lever would shudder violently where I was afraid it would vibrate out of position. Rough idle is inconsistent at lower speed where you see tach going up and down. Starting cold you give it an easy pedal to move and wouldn't go. Trans doesn't kick in until you press harder and sometimes will lunge. Have taken into the various dealers 5-6 times, valve body change, engine motor mounts change and dealers can find no fix. Gm powertrain was even involved with no help. Complained to the gmc hotline and they said need 12,000 miles on truck before the truck knows how to drive because of the 'smart' transmission where it learns you're driving habits. Complained there are 2 of us that drive it how can it learn each individuals driving when it doesn't really know who is driving. They finally said there is nothing that can be done for it, that is the way it is. This all happens sporadically in both city low speed driving and highway driving, turning, backing up or going forward from parking. Because of these issues, didn't really drive the truck much because of the problems.
GMC Sierra harsh shifting problems
46 of the 3,904 owner complaints about the GMC Sierra describe harsh or hard shifting, most of them for the 2003 model year.
- owner complaints
- 46
- worst model year
- 2003
- typical mileage
- 18,460
By model year
Often reported together
Steering noise 5Jerking 4Knocking 3Slipping 2Hesitation 2Door locks 2ABS 2
What owners say
Extremely hard shifts up-and-down in the 1st 2 gears followed by hesitation after stopping and starting
Hard shifting between gears and coming to a stop
Multiple intermediate steering shaft failures over the years with loud clunking noises heard. This truck is lightly used and now has only 24,000 miles on it but it has just had the fourth shaft installed by the dealer?!?!
Driving at approximately 42 MPH the vehicles warnings lights came on informing me that the stabilitrac needed service, traction control was no longer working and the engine was operating at a loss of power. The engine started shaking and the differential started to clunk as if it were going in and out of engagement. An immediate power loss, I was unable to keep up with traffic and was in becoming a hazard to other motorists. The engine started to ping and felt as if it were firing on 2 or 3 cylinders. I pulled over into the breakdown lane and shut the truck off. Several minutes later I started the truck and it ran normal, however approximately 2 miles down the road it did the exact same thing. I managed to take the "back roads" home without endangering anyone. The next morning it started and ran normal. Yesterday it happened again only this time I was at a major intersection and almost caused a collision because I was unable to get through the intersection before the light changed. I made it through and called to have the truck towed to the dealership. Very dangerous situation.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 gmc sierra 1500. The contact was driving 30 MPH when a clunking noise emitted from the steering column. The vehicle was taken to the dealer twice and the dealer confirmed on both occasions that the failure was caused by the design of the vehicle. The manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired and the VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 85,000 and the current mileage was 94,000.
Returned to dealer 4 times for: brakes going out (4 new sets installed) abnormal wear on tires (f) valves chattering at 10-65 MPH returned to dealer 3 times for: steering sector knocking front axle making warping noise transmission clunking when shifting up or down returned to dealer 2 times for: various electrical/light problems smoking in passing gear or hard take off all of the above problems are still on-going and have not been repaired.
The transmission clunks when shifting from 2nd - 3 rd and at times the engine will rev and finally it will take off, this has caused an issue when going through an intersection. The dealership attempted four repairs and it is not fixed. The issue started when the vehicle had 6k miles on it and it is getting worse. The speedometer is sporadic in that it will show speed reduction/increase in segments - as if it were sticking. The erroneous speed indication causes an issue when going too slow or too fast in traffic.
On 08/10/04 rattle or clunk can be felt in steering. Gmc service department verified concern and lubed the steering shaft. On 09/09/04 clunk in steering column came back. Gmc service department replace intermediate steering shaft, reference to bulletin 00-02-35-003f. This is a safety concern when so many vehicles are involved.
I purchased my vehicle used. The used car lot said all the clunking in the rear and vibration in the front was due to an aluminum drive shaft. I have been to numerous new auto dealers and no one can find the source. I have phoned gm and they say it is the first time they ever heard of clunking noise from the rear. Yet this problem is posted all over the internet. It may not cause a crash but it sure is irritating to hear over every little bump in the road.
Related recalls
Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles manufactured November 24, 2014, to November 25, 2014. Due to an improper heat-treatment, the rear axle shaft may fracture while the vehicle is being driven.
- Risk
- If the rear axle shaft fractures, the rear wheel may separate from the axle shaft, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear axles, and replace any that were improperly heat-treated, free of charge. The recall began on December 17,2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020 (Chevrolet) or 1‑800‑462‑8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14892.
Recall number 14V819000 · Recall details
Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles, and model year 2015 GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. In the affected vehicles, an electrical signal short may cause the transfer case to shift to neutral without the driver's input.
- Risk
- If the transfer case switches to neutral while the vehicle is parked and the parking brake is not in use, the vehicle may roll away increasing the risk of injury to bystanders. If the transfer case switches to neutral while the vehicle is being driven, the vehicle would lose drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will re-program the software in the transfer case control module, free of charge. The recall began in early August 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020 (Chevrolet), or 1‑800‑462‑8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14192.
Recall number 14V374000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM ) is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Silverado Light Duty Regular Cab, Double Cab, and Crew Cab 1500 series and model year 2015 Suburban and Tahoe; GMC model year 2014 Sierra Regular Cab, Double Cab, and Crew Cab 1500 Series and model year 2015 Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6-Speed Automatic Transmission (feature code MYC). The subject vehicles may have a transmission oil cooler line that is not securely seated in the fitting.
- Risk
- If the line is not securely seated and transmission oil leaks from the fitting, the oil could contact a hot surface and cause a vehicle fire.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission oil cooler line connection and repair the vehicles, as needed, free of charge. The recall began on May 19, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1‑866‑694‑6546 or GMC owners may contact GMC at 1‑866‑996‑9463. GM's number for this recall is 14121.
Recall number 14V152000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Express, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, and Tahoe; and GMC Savana, Sierra HD, Sierra LD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles, manufactured between November 7, 2012, through December 18, 2012, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect", and FMVSS No. 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention." The vehicles may have been built with a fractured park lock cable or a malformed steering column lock actuator gear in the lock module assembly.
- Risk
- As a result, the vehicle may shift from Park with the ignition key removed or the ignition key in the OFF position. The vehicle may also shift out of Park without application of the brake pedal while the key is off. Either of these scenarios may cause the vehicle to roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible vehicle crash and/or injury.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the affected vehicles and replace the steering column as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 21, 2013. Chevrolet owners may call 1‑800‑630‑2438. Cadillac owners may call 1‑866‑982‑2339. GMC owners may call 1‑866‑996‑9463.
Recall number 13V001000 · Recall details
Power train: manual transmission: shift pattern indicator
- What is wrong
- Certain sport utility vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 102, "transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock and transmission braking effect." under certain vehicle starting conditions, the shift lever position indicator located in the instrument panel cluster may not illuminate. If the shift lever position indicator does not illuminate, the driver may not know which gear the vehicle is in.
- Risk
- The vehicle may move in an unintended direction resulting in possible injury to others outside of the vehicle.
- Remedy
- Dealers will reprogram the instrument panel cluster free of charge. The recall began on february 14, 2005. Owners may contact cadillac at 1‑866‑982‑2339, chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, and gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9463.
Recall number 05V055000 · Recall details
Power train: driveline: driveshaft
- What is wrong
- Some pickup trucks, vans, and sport utility vehicles equipped with a hydraulic pump driveshaft that can fracture, resulting in immediate loss of hydraulic power steering assist. On certain vehicles equipped with hydro-boost power brakes, the same condition can result in loss of power assist for braking after the reserve pressure is depleted.
- Risk
- An inoperative pump can cause increased steering effort, and in hydro-boost equipped vehicles also increased braking effort, but does not completely eliminate the ability to steer or slow the vehicle.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the hydraulic pump. The campaign began on february 14, 2005. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438 or gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9463.
Recall number 05V005000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- The transmission shift-cable lock clip can back out of its installed position resulting in a loss of cable adjustment. When the shift lever is placed in the "park" position, the "park" indicator light may not illuminate.
- Risk
- The vehicle can move unintentionally if the driver does not notice that the indicator light is not on and does not apply the parking brake.
- Remedy
- Dealers will adjust the shift cable and install a lock clip.
Recall number 95V139000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines
- What is wrong
- Due to a thin case casting, an external transmission leak can occur.
- Risk
- This condition can cause transmission oil to sprayonto the exhaust system and result in a possible vehicle fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the transmission case assembly for the involved case casting. If the assembly is involved, the transmission will be replaced.
Recall number 95V026000 · Recall details
Questions about the GMC Sierra harsh shifting
Which GMC Sierra years have harsh or hard shifting problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2003 (13 complaints), 1999 (6 complaints) and 2000 (5 complaints).
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