2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 · symptom sheet
Transmission jerks, lurches or bangs into gear
- 32owner reports
- 78,442median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 25, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
32 of the 85 reports of transmission shudder on the 2020 Silverado 1500 describe jerking or hard shifts.
Part of Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard (85 reports)
Tick what matches of 32 reports
Jerking or hard shifts on other Silverado 1500 years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2015, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This is the narrower sheet inside transmission shudder for shifts that jerk, lurch or bang. Where the wider sheet also takes in slipping and vibration, these reports are about a shift that arrives too hard: the car lunges forward, or a clunk comes through the floor as it drops into gear.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the torque converter (6 reports).
Recalls and investigations
3 recalls on the transmission and drivetrain cover the 2020 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock up.
The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.
One of the driveshaft joints may not have been properly welded, causing the driveshaft to separate while the vehicle is moving.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 32,000 and 105,000 miles, from the 11 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 5 service bulletins or notices for the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This service bulletin provides repair information to correct customer concerns of Wheel Lock Up, ABS Event, Loud Bang and a Flashing “D” on Driver Information Center (DIC) when Lightly or Moderately Accelerating Forcing an 8-7 or 8-6 Downshift.
This service bulletin provides repair information to correct customer concerns of Rear Wheel Lock Up, ABS Event, Loud Bang and a Flashing “D” on Driver Information Center (DIC) when Lightly or Moderately Accelerating Forcing an 8-7 or 8-6 Downshift.
This service bulletin provides information on some vehicles that may rock or move slightly forward or rearward while in Park at start up after cold soak. This condition may be accompanied by a clunk noise.
This service bulletin provides information on Driveline Clunk Noise and what is acceptable and what is considered normal operation.
1 more on the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 page.
What owners wrote
“I have notice that the car jerks hard from time to time and when try to accelerate the car does a quick/short stop then accelerates hards very jerky.”
Filed Sep 16, 2026
“The transmission skips and has trouble finding gears. This causes the truck to vibrate, be slow to accelerate, or lurch occasionally. The decrease in vehicle responsiveness and unpredictable behavior make the vehicle drivable, but less safe.”
Filed Aug 30, 2025
“Transmission is sputtering when trying to shift. Mostly at low speeds it's extremely jerky like it doesn't want to go. Had Transmission fluid and filter changed, but it did not help.”
Filed Jul 7, 2025
“I had the same transmission torque converter failure shuddering jerking as the class action lawsuit as the 2015-2019 8spd that are covered but 2020 is not..it is a known issue. I had a transmission repair shop replace torque converter and service transmission to repair transmission issue. I did not have any warning or check engine light”
Filed Jun 7, 2025
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 32 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 113 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 107 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 92 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 80 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 52 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 39 reports