2019 GMC Sierra 1500 · symptom sheet

Transmission jerks, lurches or bangs into gear

32owner reports
30,000median miles
0involved a crash

Newest report Aug 20, 2026 · checked Sep 19, 2026

32 of the 63 reports of transmission shudder on the 2019 Sierra 1500 describe jerking or hard shifts.

Part of Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard (63 reports)

Tick what matches of 32 reports

bangs or clunks into gear

jerks or lurches when shifting

it happens from a stop

a dealer did a software update

it nearly caused an accident

fluid was changed or flushed

What got replaced

Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.

Recalls and investigations

One recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2019 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

20V-650Oct 22, 2020

Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 and 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 trucks. One of the driveshaft joints may not have been properly welded, causing the driveshaft to separate while the vehicle is moving.

Risk and remedy

Risk: If the driveshaft separates, there may be a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N202314870.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 5,255 and 70,000 miles, from the 19 reports that gave a mileage.

319

620

521

522

223

124

725

326

What owners wrote

“Transmission keeps skipping missing gears and hard shifting, as well as jolting forward. When attempting to switch lanes vehicle transmission skips. When being placed from Park to drive or any other gear vehicle transmission hard shifts. Vehicle radio and screen shut off intermittently every 30 to 45 minutes. Vehicle screen goes blank and black and resets itself after 30 to 45 minutes.”
Filed Apr 11, 2025

“Transmission hesitates. Transmission jerks when shifting. Possible torque conversion issues. Mileage is 35,623.”
Filed Mar 30, 2025

“The transmission causes the vehicle to shudder, lurch from a stop, at times it won't move forward (from a stoplight etc), it won't reverse other times. When driving down a freeway, the transmission allows the engine RPM to surge wildly as if I had put it in neutral and pressed the accelerator. This started at 85k miles approximately. It's into 90k now. The transmission had to be replaced at a cost of $6000”
Filed Jul 18, 2023 · 85,000 miles

“Transmission is slipping into neutral from a slow start and re-engaging with a hard bang to the point it feels like Iâve been rear ended from a vehicle behind me. Itâs done it twice in two weeks and it seems to happen when Iâm leaving from a stop or slowing down and then come back into the accelerator.”
Filed May 15, 2023

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.