Driving down the road aprox 45- 50 MPH transmission kicked into neutral causing vehicle to slow down suddenly ,almost got rear ended due to sudden slow down . No where to pull over , after letting off the gas kicked into gear and got it home. *tr
2014 GMC Sierra powertrain problems
moderate 65 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
65
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
2crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 65 powertrain complaints filed for the 2014 GMC Sierra, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 65 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report widespread transmission failures across 2014 GMC Sierra powertrains, beginning as early as 20,000 miles and persisting into six figures. The transmission either shudders violently and loses power while driving, jerks hard and won't shift smoothly, or shifts erratically—sometimes hunting between gears at highway speed. Some owners report transmission slipping out of gear entirely, especially when slowing down or coasting. Multiple owners describe burnt transmission fluid, metal chips in the pan on teardown, and torque converter noise or failure. Hard shifts and clunking sounds during acceleration and deceleration are common complaints.
Separately, owners report engine hesitation and stalling on acceleration, with some believing this is intentional Active Fuel Management programming. Loss of power between 30–45 mph during acceleration, rough idle, and engine revving to redline with no corresponding speed gain appear multiple times. Several owners mention sudden loss of acceleration on the highway, forcing them to shift into Neutral and back to Drive to restore power.
Additional drivetrain complaints include 4WD actuator failure causing the system to engage involuntarily, steering wheel stiffness at highway speeds, and rear vibration lasting over 45,000 miles that dealers cannot diagnose. Brake issues appear alongside powertrain failures—brake pedal hardness, inability to stop smoothly, and brakes fighting engine power. A few owners report vehicle roll-away while parked in Drive or Park, and transmission-related events where the vehicle lost power or stalled without warning lights. Dealers frequently cannot replicate failures during diagnostic visits.
Same GMC Sierra powertrain reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission Shudder, Loss of Power, and Violent Jerking
Transmission shudders violently or jerks hard during acceleration, deceleration, and highway driving. Vehicle loses motive power, sometimes forcing owner to shift to Neutral and back to Drive to restore power. Multiple owners report burnt transmission fluid, metal debris in the pan, and transmission rebuilds required.
When: As early as 20,000 miles; commonly 70,000–150,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: violent shuddering at highway speeds (65–75 mph); hard jerking on acceleration; loss of motive power mid-drive; grinding sounds from transmission; transmission slipping out of gear; burnt transmission smell or fluid; metal chips found during transmission teardown
Codes mentioned: 6L80 transmission fault codes, torque converter codes
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission rebuild or replacement; owners report $3,200–$3,900+ for rebuilds. One owner replaced transmission twice—second failure occurred at 40,000 miles after first rebuild. GM declined warranty assistance on repeat failures.
Transmission Erratic Shifting and Clunking
Transmission hunts between gears, clunks during shifts, and makes abnormal sounds. Hard or rough shifts occur during acceleration and deceleration. Owners report the transmission cannot decide what gear to be in, especially on highway at steady speed.
When: 25,000 miles and beyond; ongoing complaint over 45,000+ miles of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: erratic shifting and hunting between gears; clunking sounds during shifting; hard shifts that feel abrupt; transmission slams in and out of gear 2–3 times in seconds at steady highway speed; shifting issues worse after using 4WD
Codes mentioned: transmission control module codes
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer computer reprogramming attempted; owners report no lasting fix. One owner noted mpg decline from 20 to 14–15 mpg correlated with shift quality degradation.
Transmission Locks Up and Shifts to Neutral Unexpectedly
Transmission inadvertently shifts to Neutral while driving, causing immediate loss of power and vehicle deceleration. Occurs at speeds 30–65 mph, often multiple times. No warning lights precede the failure.
When: 50,000–112,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: transmission shifts to Neutral unexpectedly; complete power loss; vehicle slows suddenly; no warning lights illuminated; failure occurs intermittently at 30–65 mph
Codes mentioned: transmission mode codes
Repairs/costs cited: Owner must manually shift back to Drive to restore power. Multiple owners report being nearly rear-ended due to sudden slowdown. Dealers unable to replicate in most cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 14V374000 (Powertrain) referenced by one owner; manufacturer notified in some cases but no repairs completed.
Engine Hesitation, Stalling, and Power Loss on Acceleration
Engine hesitates when accelerating, sometimes stalls completely. Loss of power between 30–45 mph during acceleration in traffic. Owner reports GM documents this as intentional Active Fuel Management feature; dealer confirms it is normal operating condition.
When: Intermittently from 23,000 miles onward
Symptoms owners cite: engine hesitation on acceleration; vehicle stalls without warning; loss of power at 30–45 mph when accelerating; engine struggles to shift down for passing maneuver; rpm limiter shuts down power when rpm exceeds 6000
Codes mentioned: Active Fuel Management control codes (GM Document ID referenced by owner)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer states hesitation is normal; owner characterizes it as a safety hazard in traffic situations. One owner in a modified commercial RMT package truck reports loss of power mid-pass on two-lane highway with oncoming traffic.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM states hesitation is normal operating condition per Active Fuel Management system design. No repairs offered.
Brake Pedal Hardness and Loss of Brake Effectiveness
Brake pedal becomes stiff or hard to press, reducing braking effectiveness. Engine fights the brakes at low speeds, preventing proper stopping. In one case, vehicle accelerated despite full brake application, forcing owner to shift into Neutral.
When: Intermittently; one report at 105,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: brake pedal becomes stiff or hard; requires excessive force to brake; engine fights brake application at low speed; vehicle unable to stop smoothly or at all; engine rpm revs to 2500 when shifted to Neutral during braking
Repairs/costs cited: One owner shifted to Neutral to allow brakes to function. Another reported brake pedal locked up at under 15 mph, nearly causing a collision.
4WD Actuator Failure and Involuntary Engagement
4WD actuator fails, causing 'SERVICE 4WD' warning light to appear at startup. System tries to engage 4-Low automatically, causing truck to nearly stop when turning slowly. Owner states actuator should be covered under manufacturer warranty but was not.
When: Mileage unspecified; escalating over days
Symptoms owners cite: 'SERVICE 4WD' warning light appears repeatedly; 4WD tries to engage automatically; truck nearly stops when turning at low speed; loss of truck usability for work
Repairs/costs cited: Owner paid $438 for actuator part plus multiple shop hours at independent transmission shop due to dealership delay. Total cost unspecified. No recall identified by owner.
Rear Vibration, Shudder, and Wobble
Rear vibration or shudder occurs at speeds 40–80 mph. Vibration persists over 45,000+ miles of ownership despite repeated dealer service. Tire balancing and alignment performed multiple times without resolution. Dealer blames tires but has not identified root cause.
When: Ongoing complaint spanning 45,000+ miles; one report at 105,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: vibration and shudder at 40–80 mph; wobble at highway speeds; vibration affects other vehicle components; persists despite tire road-force balancing 14+ times
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnostics inconclusive; multiple visits (14+) for same complaint. Tire replacement and alignment performed without resolving issue.
Vehicle Rolling Away While Parked
Vehicle rolls away while parked in Park or even Drive, despite brake pedal being depressed or parking brake engaged. Occurs on inclines and flat surfaces. Multiple owners report this hazard.
When: As early as 3,000 miles; one report at 70,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: vehicle rolls away while in Park; vehicle rolls away while fully parked and unoccupied; rolls backward when foot removed from brake on incline; brake pedal does not hold vehicle on slope
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle rolled into tree on boat ramp; one nearly rolled into lake. Dealers unable to replicate failures.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in one case; complaint filed (8-4691104286). No repairs completed.
Pressure Control Solenoid Failure
Oil pressure control valve solenoid fails, typically discovered after an oil change. Solenoid connection found disconnected at manufacture, indicating assembly defect. Transmission lines also leaking at same time.
When: Discovery after oil change; one report at mileage unspecified
Symptoms owners cite: check engine light illuminated after oil change; oil pressure control solenoid circuit open; solenoid connection disconnected (not properly assembled); transmission lines leaking
Codes mentioned: DTC TCPO6 DA (oil pressure control solenoid)
Repairs/costs cited: Technician removed oil pan and found solenoid improperly connected. Transmission lines also required repair. One owner's improper repair at independent shop resulted in transmission destruction.
Hard Front Strut and Abnormal Suspension Noise
Vehicle shakes forcefully when approaching stops. Abnormal sound comes from front driver's side wheel axle at low speeds. Strut replacement required but abnormal sound persists. Gearbox also diagnosed as needing replacement.
When: 87,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: forceful shaking when approaching stops; abnormal sound from front driver's side wheel axle at low speeds; sound persists after strut replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Front driver's side strut replaced. Gearbox diagnosed as needing replacement but not repaired. Tires replaced and alignment performed without resolving sound.
Torque Converter Failure
Torque converter fails, causing transmission shudder. Owners report this is a common GMC defect identified during diagnostics. Torque converter replacement required as part of transmission repair.
When: 70,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: transmission shudders; torque converter noise or failure; rough transmission operation
Codes mentioned: torque converter fault codes
Repairs/costs cited: Repair estimate $3,200 for torque converter replacement as part of transmission rebuild.
Loss of Acceleration and Power Between 30–45 mph
Vehicle loses ability to accelerate smoothly in the 30–45 mph range, often during traffic situations requiring passing. RPM limiter engages, cutting power. Dealer attributes this to Active Fuel Management system and states it is normal.
When: Intermittently; one report at 23,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: loss of acceleration at 30–45 mph; clunking during shifting in this range; rpm limiter cuts power when rpm exceeds 6000; loss of power mid-pass on two-lane highway
Codes mentioned: Active Fuel Management codes
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer states behavior is normal; no repairs attempted. One commercially-modified truck (RMT package) reports happening with all similar dealer-tested vehicles.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer confirms this is normal Active Fuel Management feature per GM programming.
Synthesized from 65 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The engine light stayed on after the truck had an oil change at the dealershiptechnician checked and found oil pressure control valve solenoid circuit open technician scan for codes and dc tcpo6 da is snap technician performed system test and measure the resistant of the oil pressure controls solenoid at x15 for the solenoid and the internal harness read open technician removed the oil pan and…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2014 GMC Sierra?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2014 GMC Sierra?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 65 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 36 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 25,000 and 107,000 miles, with the median around 70,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 25,000; a quarter make it past 107,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/GMC/Sierra.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.