AFTER COLD STARTS WHEN ACCELERATING THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND THROWS YOUR BODY FORWARD. AFTER THAT FIRST GEAR CHANGE IT DOESN'T DO IT AGAIN UNTIL ANOTHER COLD START. AROUND 34000 MILES I AM GETTING A RUMBLING VIBRATION THROUGH THE DASH AND STEERING WHEEL WHEN HOLDING SPEED BETWEEN 35-75 MPH. THE RPM GUAGE WILL JUMP SLIGHTLY AND IT WILL FEEL LIKE GOING OVER RUMBLE STRIPS. ACCELERAT…
2018 GMC Sierra powertrain problems
severe 114 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
114
Recalls
0
Crashes
4
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine temperature rose to 210 degrees and the vehicle started jerking. The contact stated that the failure also occurred while idling for a while, or while stopped at a traffic light while refueling, and before accelerating. The failure occurred once the engine temperature rose to 210 degrees. T…
I OWN A GMC SIERRA WHICH IS 14 MONTHS OLD, PURCHASED IN DUBAI UAE FROM ALGHANDI AUTO. THE LAST SERVICE FOR 40000 KMS WAS DONE ON AUGUST 8TH, 2019 AND NO PROBLEM WAS HIGHLIGHTED EXCEPT THE BATTERY THAT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY CHANGED. ON FRIDAY EARLY MORNING (SEP 27, 2019), WE HAVE ESCAPED A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON SHEIKH ZAYED ROAD ON ACCOUNT OF THE FRONT WHEEL AXLE THAT JUST BROKE/CAME APART WHILE DRIVING, …
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle started shaking and vibrating abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission oil needed to be flushed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 71,000.
I have 125,000 miles on my truck. I was traveling with my grandkids in the back seat. We were going through a four way stop. My truck started tapping like a lifter issue. The next thing I know is the truck engine light started flashing and car started to shake. Then, my truck lost all power and a big cloud of blue smoke came out of the tail pipe. The truck could not be driven any further. The s…
During down shifting in lower gears while reducing speed , transmission makes a loud noise followed by vehicle hard lounging forward . Occurance is intermittent and unpredictable . In city traffic this has potential to cause an accident because vehicle lounges forward when speed is reduced . Vehicle has 18900 miles . Made in 2017 .
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2018 GMC Sierra?
It's a meaningful issue. 114 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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