RoadVitals

2017 GMC Sierra Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
22
Latest Feb 26, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
36%
of 61 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2017 GMC Sierra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming powertrain

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 26, 2020

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.

NHTSA ID
11311579
Incident
Sep 3, 2018
Mileage
3,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 4, 2020

VEHICLE SHIFTS VERY HARD IN AND OUT OF 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. WHEN STARTING TO GO AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE ALMOST STOPS WHEN SHIFTING AND THEN JERKS WHEN IT SHIFTS. SAME OCCURS WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE POWER TRAIN WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE ISSUE WAS A LITTLE BETTER FOR A WHILE. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE SAME ISSUE APPEARED AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER IN JANUARY 2020 AND THERE IS NOW A CHECK ENGINE CODE. DEALER PLANS TO CHANGE 2 HARNESSES AND CHANGE THE FLUID. UNFORTUNATELY THE PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER WHICH KIND OF TELLS A STORY.

NHTSA ID
11307097
Incident
Aug 1, 2019
Mileage
55,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 30, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH THEIR WAS SUDDEN LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER AND THE GEARS DISENGAGED. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT DISAPPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO (DUBLIN CHEVROLET GMC BUICK, 2042 VETERANS BLVD, DUBLIN, GA 31021 (478-246-4916) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOWED EVIDENCE OF LARGE AMOUNTS OF METAL SHAVINGS FROM THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE OIL PAN ALSO SHOWED EVIDENCE BURNT METAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS OPENED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,719.

NHTSA ID
11306166
Incident
Dec 28, 2019
Mileage
61,719 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 30, 2019

WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY, I EXPERIENCE A SHAKE/SHUDDER WHEN AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH AND HIGHER. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER STATED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER DID SHUDDER. DEALER CHANGED TRANSMISSION FLUID AND I WAS ADVISED TO DRIVE FOR 200 MILES TO SEE IF PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. SHUDDER STILL REMAINS AND NOW THE VIBRATION IS CONSTANT AT 70 MPH. I CALLED DEALER AGAIN WHO SAID THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A TIRE BALANCE ISSUE. I ARGUED WITH THEM AND STATED I HAD NO SUCH ISSUE BEFORE FIRST BRINGING VEHICLE IN. DEALER IS SETTING UP APPOINTMENT FOR ME TO TAKE IN AGAIN. VIBRATIONS HAVE LITERALLY CAUSED MY 6 YR OLD DAUGHTER TO VOMIT ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHEN IN THE VEHICLE. SHE HAS ONLY BEEN IN VEHICLE 5 OR 6 TIMES. VEHICLE FEELS UNSAFE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE READ MANY FORUMS ONLINE STATING THIS ISSUE IS ON MANY VEHICLES GM HAS MADE. I AM CURIOUS AS TO WHEN GM WILL BE MANDATED TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION OR BUY THE VEHICLES BACK FROM THE OWNERS.

NHTSA ID
11291983
Incident
Dec 17, 2019
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 30, 2019

THERE IS A SHUTTERING IN THE TRANSMISSION AS THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTS TO CLIMB SLIGHT/STEEP GRADES AT SLOW TO MEDIUM SPEEDS. AROUND 1500 RPM THE VIBRATION IS SENT THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE VEHICLE. HAVING TO INCREASE ACCELERATION TO ALLOW THE TRUCK TO SHIFT PROPERLY TO OVERCOME THE LACK OF POWER HAS CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHILE NAVIGATING UP SNOWY/ICE HILLS. THE VEHICLE ALSO PERFORMS A LURCHING OR SUDDEN SPEEDING UP WHEN DOWNSHIFTING WHEN SLOWING TO COME TO A STOP. DEPENDING ON ROAD CONDITIONS THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN APPROACHING ICY/SLIPPERY INTERSECTIONS.

NHTSA ID
11291966
Incident
Dec 28, 2019
Mileage
45,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 4, 2019

VEHICLE IS SHUDDERING AND SHACKING AT SPEEDS ANY WHERE FROM 35 TO 55 MPH. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT'S A KNOWN TORQUE CONVERTER ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11287017
Incident
Jan 22, 2019
Mileage
2 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 28, 2019

MY 2017 GMC SIERRA SHUTTERS AND JERKS WHEN GOING INTO AND OUT OF 1ST GEAR AND GOING AROUND CORNERS WHEN IT CHANGES GEARS. ESPECIALLY WHEN COLD. DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. AT TIMES IT HAS JERKED INTO AN INTERSECTIONAND WAS SCRY. MY WIFE WILL NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY HAVE CHANGED THE FLUID. THEY TELL ME I HAVE A QUIRKY TRANS OR IT IS INHERENT TO THIS TRANSMISSION. IT IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING AND SCARY AT TIMES. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO TO GET GM TO FIX IT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK ON 10/31/2017.

NHTSA ID
11271464
Incident
Oct 31, 2017
Mileage
100 mi
Powertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Oct 5, 2019

THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS VIBRATIONS THAT CAN BE RATHER EXTREME AT TIMES. IT SEEMS TO BE MOST NOTICEABLE IN THE 70-75 MPH RANGE BUT CAN SOMETIMES BE FELT AT OTHER SPEEDS. IT FEELS LIKE THE VIBRATION ORIGINATES FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. TWO DEALERSHIPS HAVE REPLACED MULTIPLE PARTS AND HAVE PERFORMED NUMEROUS ALIGNMENTS AND ROAD FORCE BALANCES BUT CAN NOT IDENTIFY/REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON MULTIPLE ONLINE FORUMS OF THIS SAME ISSUE FOR 2014-2015 GM 1500 SERIES PICKUP TRUCK. SO FAR THERE HAS BEEN NO FIX FOR THEM EITHER. GM TREATS IT AS AN ANNOYANCE IN THE COMFORT OF THE RIDE, HOWEVER IF THEY CAN NOT IDENTIFY THE ISSUE HOW DO THEY KNOW IT IS NOT A SAFETY RISK.

NHTSA ID
11266458
Incident
Oct 15, 2018
Mileage
5,200 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 4, 2019

WE WERE DRIVING UP A SLIGHT INCLINE IN A PARKING GARAGE WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED SPUTTERING AND SHUT OFF. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS IT STARTED AND WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO A PARKING SPACE WITH THE ENGINE STILL SPUTTERING. I RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FROM THE TRUCK, DECREASED ENGINE POWER. THE NEXT DAY I BROUGHT IT TO BE CHECKED BY THE LOCAL GMC DEALER. THEIR DIAGNOSIS IS VAPOR LOCK WHEN THE FUEL PUMP GETS NEAR OR OVER 100 DEGREE. ITS MY OPINION THAT GMC PLACED A FAULTY PART WHEN MANUFACTURING THE VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR RECALL.

NHTSA ID
11266097
Incident
Oct 3, 2019
Mileage
89,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Visibility
Filed Oct 3, 2019

MY WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID ONLY SPRAYS OUT 30% OF THE TIME. USUALLY IN THE MORNING THEN ANY OTHER TIME OF THE DAY IT WILL NOT SPRAY OUT. THEY REPLACED THE PUMP AND THAT DID NOT FIX IT AND THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING ELSE AND NOW IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. WHEN RUNNING LOWER RPMS DRIVING THE TRUCK IT BEGINS TO FEEL LIKE ITS SHAKING FORWARD AND BACKWARDS, LIKE A SHUDDERING FEELING. I HAVE READ ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND IT DESCRIBES MINE PERFECTLY. I HAVE THE 8SPEED

NHTSA ID
11265931
Incident
Feb 1, 2018
Mileage
7,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 25, 2019

EXTREMELY HARD SHIFTS UP-AND-DOWN IN THE 1ST 2 GEARS FOLLOWED BY HESITATION AFTER STOPPING AND STARTING

NHTSA ID
11258157
Incident
Mar 6, 2018
Mileage
4,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 23, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, IT BEGAN TO RATTLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FRESNO BUICK GMC (LOCATED AT 5515 N BLACKSTONE AVE, FRESNO, CA 93710, (559) 742-4113) WHERE AN UNKNOWN DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR WERE PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

NHTSA ID
11257530
Incident
Aug 13, 2018
Mileage
24,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 11, 2019

SINCE DECEMBER OF 2017 THE TRANSMISSION, WHEN COLD, AT APPROX. 25 MPH AND AT 40-44 MPH WHEN NEUTRAL THROTTLE IS APPLIED, BANGS BETWEEN GEARS FORCING THE OPERATOR TO EITHER ACCELERATE OR DECELERATE SO THE CONDITION WILL CEASE. IF THERE IS NO CHANGE BY THE OPERATOR, IT FEELS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WILL BREAK THE U-JOINTS IN THE DRIVELINE OR BLOWOUT THE REAR-END GEARS. I HAVE MADE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS WITH GMC TO REMEDY THE ISSUE TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP IN EXCESS OF 40 DAYS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH NO RESOLUTION

NHTSA ID
11254751
Incident
Sep 5, 2019
Mileage
2,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 17, 2019

HARD SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS AND COMING TO A STOP

NHTSA ID
11220783
Incident
Jun 17, 2019
Mileage
37,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 10, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 GMC SIERRA. WHILE REVERSING, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND SURGED FORWARD. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SILVER STAR BUICK GMC (3601 AUTO MALL DR, THOUSAND OAKS, CA 91362, (805) 222-4789) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER ,THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 415.

NHTSA ID
11219070
Incident
Oct 4, 2017
Mileage
415 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 4, 2019

TRUCK LAGS POWER WHEN PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AT TIMES AFTER PUTTING TRANSMISSION INTO DRIVE FROM REVERSE. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD INTO AND OUT OF FIRST GEAR AND AT TIMES FEELS LIKE IT IS SKIPPING 2ND GEAR DURING A DOWNSHIFT.

NHTSA ID
11174364
Incident
Feb 1, 2019
Mileage
9,800 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 10, 2019

TRANSMISSION HAS SURGING AND HESITATION. DEALER CANNOT FIX.

NHTSA ID
11166335
Incident
Oct 22, 2017
Mileage
20,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 28, 2018

THE "CHEVY SAKE". AT SPEEDS OVER 70MPH EXCESSIVE VIBRATION INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON-LINE, PARTICULARLY VARIOUS GM FORUMS AND YOU TUBE VIDEOS. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT GM DENIES IT IS A PROBLEM, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING SOME BUY BACKS AND IF YOU READ SOME OF THE DEALER BLOGS IT IS EVIDENT THAT GM KNOWS IT IS A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
11122903
Incident
Aug 19, 2018
Mileage
29,500 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 2, 2018

THIS TRUCK IS A 3500 HD. I WAS PULLING A CAMPER ON A 1100 MILE TRIP. WITH 50 MILES LEFT I NOTICED THAT THE TRUCK WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID FROM UNDER THE TRANSMISSION COOLER. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT THE RETURN HOSE FROM THE TRANS COOLER WAS POSITIONED SO THE IT RUBBED ON A FRAME COMPONENT WHICH CAUSED A HOLE TO RUB IN THE ALUMINUM TRANS COOLANT RETURN LINE. I NOTICED THIS WHEN THE TRUCK WAS PARKED RUNNING AT A REST AREA FOR AN HOUR BUT IT WAS OBVIOUSLY AN ONGOING ISSUE. HAD I NOT NOTICED IT WHEN I DID THIS CONDITION COULD HAVE CAUSED CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL AND IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW AND A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO MY DELIVERY STOP AND GET THE LINE PATCHED. IT IS AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS RIGHT NOW.

NHTSA ID
11105117
Incident
Jun 21, 2018
Mileage
51,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 23, 2018

TRANSMISSION HARSH 1-2 SHIFT WHEN IT IS UNDER LIGHT THROTTLE AND SOMETIME DOES NOT SHIFT OR MAKE NOSE. GMC DEALER ARE AWARE ABOUT THIS ISSUES ON ALL GM TRUCK MODEL OF 2015 TO 2017 WITH 8SPED TRANSMISSION SINCE APRIL 2017. I HAVE ATTACHED DOCUMENTS GIVEN BY DEALER.

NHTSA ID
11074484
Incident
Jan 11, 2018
Mileage
10,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedPowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Oct 25, 2017

VIBRATION 65+ MPH, FELT IN STEERING WHEEL AND SEAT. STEERING WHEELS QUIVERS AT 65+ MPH. TRUCK FEELS VERY UNSTABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALER STATES IT'S NORMAL.

NHTSA ID
11039665
Incident
Sep 26, 2017
Mileage
6,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 27, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 GMC SIERRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF GEAR AND THERE WAS A DELAY OF THREE TO FOUR SECONDS BEFORE SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR. THE FAILURE RECURRED EVERY MORNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (JIM CAUSLEY, LOCATED AT 38111 GRATIOT AVE, CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI 48036) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT GM WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON HIS VIN. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,500. UPDATED 11/13/17 *BF *TR

NHTSA ID
11011130
Incident
Jan 17, 2017
Mileage
4,500 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .