Diagsheet

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 · symptom sheet

Transmission jerks, lurches or bangs into gear

  • 40owner reports
  • 55,000median miles
  • 0involved a crash

Newest report Aug 4, 2026 · checked Sep 19, 2026

40 of the 92 reports of transmission shudder on the 2021 Silverado 1500 describe jerking or hard shifts.

Part of Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard (92 reports)

Tick what matches of 40 reports

12
30
1
7

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (5 reports) and the valve body (5 reports).

Recalls and investigations

2 recalls on the transmission and drivetrain cover the 2021 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

26V-083Feb 12, 2026
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module:Software

General Motors, LLC is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, 3500, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles that may have been repaired incorrectly under recall 24V797. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock up.

Risk and remedy
Risk: Rear wheel lock up increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles and update the transmission control software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 6, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252516560. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 12, 2026.
24V-797Oct 24, 2024
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module:Software

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with diesel engines. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.

Risk and remedy
Risk: Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install new transmission control module software, free of charge. GM will provide a special coverage program to cover the repair of transmissions that are identified by the remedy software as containing a defective control valve. Owner notification letters were mailed December 12, 2024. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, GMC customer service at GMC 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N242454440.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 20,000 and 67,000 miles, from the 14 reports that gave a mileage.

421
223
924
2125
426

What owners wrote

“While driving about 75 miles an hour, when the gear was shifting back-and-forth between about seven and eight, there was a loud bang. It happened again with a bang that was not as loud. Something with the transmission. Only have 36k miles on it.”

Filed May 2, 2025 · 36,000 miles

“The automatic transmission appears to be going out. Hard shifting occurs when speeding up or slowing down along with loud thuds and jerks. No warning lamps have come on, I will be taking it to a shop to have the transmission fixed.”

Filed Mar 16, 2025

“My 2021 Chevy jerks and jumps into gear when putting it into drive from park. This has resulted in the truck jetting off uncontrollably. This has happend several times going back to 2021 but Chevy will not do anything about it.”

Filed Feb 12, 2025

“MY Windshield wipers stop working on low and high and from time to time my vehicle will not go in reverse. when it does finally go in reverse it's a very hard jerk, also when I'm driving it gets a drag an acts like it wants to stop going. It happens frequently and it has been going on for months.”

Filed Dec 3, 2024

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 40 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.

Other problems on this car