2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 · symptom sheet
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard
- 85owner reports
- 68,000median miles
- $6,500median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 26, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
227 of the 732 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 85 of those describe transmission shudder.
Narrower sheets: Transmission jerks, lurches or bangs into gear (32 reports)
Tick what matches of 85 reports
Transmission shudder 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: 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This is the biggest drivetrain group on the site: a transmission that shudders, slips, hesitates or bangs into gear. It's the everyday version of transmission trouble, where the car still drives but doesn't drive right, and it has three narrower sheets of its own for jerking, hesitation and slipping.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the torque converter (15 reports), the transmission (5 reports) and the valve body (3 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.
What owners paid
5 of the 85 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $5,950 to $9,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 12,000 and 87,500 miles, from the 42 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 22 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.
Certain vehicles listed above, may have a condition where the transmission control valve has worn, resulting in a gradual loss of pressure within the valve.
This service bulletin helps diagnose/reduce possible CCND issues on Transfer Cases - Service 4WD on DIC, Intermittent Failures, Noise Concerns, Driveline/Steering Vibration/Shudder, Intermittent DTCs/MIL Illuminated, Engagement/Disengagement/Ratcheting ...
This service bulletin provides information on Transmission Adaptive Functions and Correcting Low Mileage Harsh Shifts, Slips, or Flares.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have a delayed engagement into drive, shudder at a launch, or the transmission is slipping when shifting into 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th gears.
18 more on the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 page.
What owners wrote
“Transmission failed before 100,000 miles. All service was complete throughout the life of the vehicle. Problems shifting to next gear causing pulling or slipping on the vehicle. If not able to accelerate properly could cause a safety concern on the road. Repairs were made costing $9,000.”
Filed Jun 5, 2026 · 100,000 miles
“Purchased a 2020 Silverado 1500, 5.3L 4x4 with 8,000 miles. Now at 66,000 miles the torque converter is bad. Shudders, hard shifting, lunges into gear, wonât go into reverse at times. MULTIPLE complaints with these engines. Thereâs a recall, but it stops at 2019â¦.. WAKE UP GM!! This problem is still ongoing from 2020-2024!!! Needs to be another recall”
Filed Jan 9, 2025 · 8,000 miles
“My truck has 75K miles and the transmission has a shudder and it shifts very hard. I have been told I need a new transmission by an AAMCO shop which will cost just under $7k. This is ridiculous for a 2020 pickup.”
Filed Nov 12, 2024 · 75,000 miles
“the transmission on my truck shudders and shakes very badly, contacted GM ,also the dealer told it would take 3-4 weeks to repair , i am left without away to work.”
Filed Oct 5, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 85 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