2020 GMC Sierra 1500 · symptom sheet
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard
- 25owner reports
- 80,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 28, 2026 · checked Oct 1, 2026
97 of the 468 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 25 of those describe transmission shudder.
Tick what matches of 25 reports
Transmission shudder 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, 2022, 2023, 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 (5 reports) and the transmission (4 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.
All 12 recalls on the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 75,200 and 100,000 miles, from the 12 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 21 service bulletins or notices for the 2020 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.
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.
17 more on the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 page.
What owners wrote
“My truck shudders when driving. It has 78,000 miles on it. It started shuttering around 73,000 miles. I baby my truck and don't do switch backs or hot rod around.”
Filed Aug 3, 2026 · 78,000 miles
“While driving on the interstate at 70 mph, the transmission began to shudder. It continued the duration of the trip of 90 mins. Following day, the transmission is continuing to shudder and is now shifting hard.”
Filed Dec 15, 2025
“I had the rear wheel recall done not long ago and 2 days ago my transmission shuddered.”
Filed Jun 28, 2025
“The transmission is jerking and sometimes it will not shift enough to get out of others ways. Severe slippage in the transmission I have taken the truck to the shop 3 times for the same issue. Now they tell me I need a new transmission.”
Filed Apr 29, 2025
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 25 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
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 103 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 84 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 68 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 53 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 25 reports