2018 GMC Sierra 1500 Transmission & Powertrain Problems
NHTSA lists 132 transmission & powertrain complaints for the 2018 GMC Sierra 1500, 41% of all complaints for the year, with a median failure mileage of 30,000 miles. There is no related recall on file for this issue.
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints
- 132
- 41% of 321
- Crashes reported
- 4
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 3
- Median mileage
- 30,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical transmission symptoms owners report
- Owners describe hard, jarring 1-2 shifts, especially after the truck has sat for several hours before the first drive of the day.
- Some report the transmission lunging or jerking forward unexpectedly while shifting, in a few cases causing minor collisions in parking lots or on the road.
- Drivers describe the transmission hunting for gears or slipping around 15-20 mph, especially when accelerating uphill.
- Several report a loud bang or hard jolt felt through the vehicle during shifts, similar to being rear-ended, sometimes at highway speeds.
- Owners note vibration at idle and at highway speeds above 60 mph that dealers were unable to resolve despite multiple tire balances and replacements.
- Some mention repeat dealer visits and repairs, including a torque converter replacement, without the shifting problem being fully fixed.
When 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 transmission complaints were filed
First complaint Nov 6, 2018, latest Sep 17, 2026.
Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2018 GMC Sierra 1500
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Sierra 1500 model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many transmission complaints does the 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 have?
- NHTSA lists 132 transmission & powertrain complaints for the 2018 Sierra 1500, which is 41% of all 321 complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 transmission?
- No. The data shows no related recalls filed for this transmission & powertrain issue on the 2018 Sierra 1500.
- At what mileage do transmission problems usually show up on the 2018 Sierra 1500?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 30,000 miles.
- Did the transmission issue cause any crashes?
- NHTSA data tied to this problem area shows 4 crashes and 3 injuries reported among the 2018 Sierra 1500 complaints, with no fires.
- How does the 2018 Sierra 1500 compare to other model years for this problem?
- The 2018 model year shows the highest share of transmission & powertrain complaints among the years listed, at 41%, compared to 34% in 2017 and 21% in 2019.