2017 GMC Sierra 1500 · symptom sheet
Transmission jerks, lurches or bangs into gear
- 33owner reports
- 53,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jan 25, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
33 of the 61 reports of transmission shudder on the 2017 Sierra 1500 describe jerking or hard shifts.
Part of Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard (61 reports)
Tick what matches of 33 reports
Jerking or hard shifts on other Sierra 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: 2014, 2015, 2020, 2021, 2022, 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) and the transmission (5 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2017 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 12,000 and 67,000 miles, from the 19 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 service bulletins or notices for the 2017 GMC Sierra 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 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.
This informational bulletin provides information on Driveline Clunk Noise and what is acceptable and what is considered normal operations.
This informational bulletin provides information on Some vehicles 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.
What owners wrote
“Shifting 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 1st is very hard and jolting. It hesitates and doesn't go immediately which could cause an accident.”
Filed Dec 28, 2024
“Truck would slip out of gear while in DRIVE in very dangerous situations. Tuck would suddenly jerk forward when in Drive and Stopped at a Stop Sign or light. No warning light or codes. Transmission Specialist evaluated and determined that Transmission was about to have a critical failure. The 6L80 transmission was replaced with 109,933 original miles on it.”
Filed Nov 16, 2024
“8L90 transmission shudders and jolts forward at low speeds. Delayed acceleration when accelerating from a stop.”
Filed Sep 23, 2024
“When I'm coming to a stop and the vehicle starts downshifting, the last shift feels like the tranny is going to fall out. Forceful jerk and clunking noise. It's sporadic. One week it's almost every day, one week it seems fine. The dealership said they have heard this a lot and laughed when they told me the manufacturer has told them it's normal. It's definitely not normal.”
Filed Mar 26, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 33 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 Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 107 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 36 reports