2024 GMC Sierra powertrain problems
moderate 58 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Owners have filed 58 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.
Powertrain accounts for 19% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 10 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2024 GMC Sierra powertrain has a serious reliability pattern. The most severe is engine seizure: engines quit suddenly at highway speed (60–70 mph) with little to no warning, often accompanied by knocking sounds or RPM spikes locked at 3000. Complete engine replacement is the only fix, but replacement engines are backordered for weeks to months. One owner's replacement engine failed again at 25,278 miles; another owner bought a new Sierra and experienced the same engine failure.
Transmission valve body faults are equally troubling. The 10-speed transmission loses drive or reverse gear without warning, leaving the truck immobilized. Dealers have confirmed the faulty valve body part is on national backorder with no ETA—vehicles sit in service departments for 2+ months waiting. Some owners report recurrent failures even after repairs.
Other transmission issues include shuddering, hard shifts, limp mode activation, and poor acceleration response. Unintended acceleration at low speeds, transmission shifts into reverse without driver input, and brake lockup during downshift have also occurred.
Engine oil degrades prematurely and burns excessively. One owner's engine failed 500 miles after GM's authorized oil thickness change to 0W-40. Metal fragments in engine oil and excessive knocking have been reported. Parking brake and transmission park engagement failures allow vehicles to roll backward despite both systems engaged. Loss of engine power while towing, inability to shift out of park after shutdown, and start-button malfunctions add to the risk profile.
Same GMC Sierra powertrain reports on nearby years: 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2025
Failure modes owners describe
Parking brake / transmission park engagement failure
Vehicle rolls backward despite transmission in park and parking brake engaged. Occurs after software update. No warning lights; automatic engagement of parking/hill-brake beeps normally.
When: After software upgrade approximately 2.5 weeks prior to incident
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls backward on incline despite park engagement; Parking brake/hill-brake engaged but vehicle still rolls; No warning lights or backup camera activation
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No TSB or recall mentioned; owner suspects park sensor failure or software issue
Engine seizure/failure at highway speed
Engine seizes or shuts down suddenly while driving, often at highway speeds (60-70 mph), with little to no warning. Requires complete engine replacement. Multiple complaints indicate this is a known issue with 6.2L V8. One owner had engine replaced and failure recurred at 25,278 miles.
When: Variable; 17,553 miles, 52,680 miles, highway driving conditions; one owner experienced second failure after replacement at ~25,278 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of engine power at highway speed; Engine seizes, knocking noise, loud rattling; No warning lights or minimal warning (check engine light may appear after loss of power); RPM locked at 3000 or revving uncontrollably before shutdown; Vehicle coasts to stop; will not restart; Cannot shift into neutral after shutdown
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required; engines back-ordered for weeks to months. One owner waited 9 days for diagnosis, faced 140-mile tow when closer dealer would not be covered. Multiple owners report 3+ weeks in shop waiting for replacement engine.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Engine replacement under warranty (in some cases). Recall NHTSA 25V274 / N252494000 issued for 6.2L engine. One dealer refused to service recall stating 'GM told us not to service this recall because there isn't yet a remedy.' Owners report GM required 'two to three major failures' before considering repurchase. One owner had engine replaced and it failed again; purchased new truck with same powertrain and experienced same issue again.
Transmission loss of drive/reverse (valve body fault)
Transmission loses forward drive and/or reverse gear suddenly, often without warning. Dealers diagnose faulty transmission valve body. Part is on national back-order with no available ETA, leaving vehicles unrepaired for weeks to months. Multiple owners confirm this is a known issue with 10-speed transmission in 2024 Sierra.
When: Various mileages: 3,000, 4,785, 5,196, 6,400, 7,500, 9,000, 10,000+ miles; some early in vehicle life
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of forward drive or reverse gear without warning; Vehicle fails to accelerate; reduced acceleration message displays; Transmission slipping, shuddering, hard shifts; Limp mode activation; No reverse capability; vehicle cannot back up; May lose both drive and reverse simultaneously
Codes mentioned: P2818 (Pressure Control Solenoid H stuck, Transmission Control Module valve body fault)
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission valve body replacement required. Valve body is on national back-order; dealers have reported '2-3 months' wait times or longer. One owner's vehicle was in dealer for nearly 2 months (since 11/12/24) with no ETA. Another dealer confirmed part is on 'do not sell list.' Some dealers attempted transmission fluid flush/refill with no lasting resolution. At least one transmission replacement attempted but 10-speed transmissions also unavailable for swap.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One dealer was instructed by manufacturer to repair current transmission rather than replace. TSB 25-NA-014 referenced (transmission control valve rebuild). GM warranty covers repair but parts unavailability prevents completion.
Transmission shifting/acceleration issues and limp mode
Transmission hesitates, shudders, slips, or fails to accelerate properly. Vehicle may enter limp mode with reduced acceleration. Issues recur after repairs. Often accompanied by hard or jerky shifts. Affects low-speed and highway driving.
When: Various mileages from 4,000 miles onward; some recurring after repair
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission shudder, hesitation, slipping; Poor acceleration response despite depressing pedal; Hard or slamming gear shifts; Limp mode activation with 'Reduced Acceleration Drive with Care' message; RPM fluctuation or stays at 2+ rpm for extended periods; Jerking motion during acceleration; Service transmission warning message
Codes mentioned: P2818, Shift solenoid valve fault, Serial data gateway module fault
Repairs/costs cited: Repairs attempted include: pressure control solenoid replacement, transmission fluid flush/refill, torque converter replacement, transmission control module reprogramming. Failures recur in some cases; one owner experienced re-failure 3 weeks after repair, then again 3 months later.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific manufacturer response noted; some vehicles remain unrepaired at dealership pending diagnosis or parts availability.
Unintended acceleration at low speed
Vehicle accelerates abruptly without driver input, typically at low speeds (pulling away from stop, in garage, parking lot). Hard brake application required to stop. May occur shortly after cold start.
When: Low-speed driving situations; at least one occurrence in morning after vehicle startup
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden rapid acceleration without depressing accelerator; Acceleration while entering garage; Acceleration while exiting parking spot; Requires hard brake pedal application to stop
Transmission shifting into reverse without input
Vehicle in neutral on alignment rack, unoccupied and idling, shifted into reverse on its own and backed off the rack. Caused $7,000 damage.
When: While vehicle was idle in neutral, unoccupied
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shifts into reverse without driver input; No warning messages; Vehicle rolls backward unintentionally
Repairs/costs cited: Damage estimate $7,000 to vehicle; no inspection yet
Engine oil degradation and consumption
Oil breaks down prematurely, becomes burnt, viscosity degrades. Low oil warning light appears before scheduled service interval. Excessive oil consumption for low-mileage engine. Issue persists after multiple oil changes.
When: Low-mileage operation; multiple recurrences after oil changes
Symptoms owners cite: Burnt engine oil smell and condition; Breakdown of oil viscosity; Low oil warning light before scheduled change; Excessive oil consumption; Problem recurs with same results after multiple changes
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple oil changes attempted without resolving underlying condition
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: For 6.2L engine recall, GM authorized oil change from 0W-20 to 0W-40 thickness. One owner complied and engine failed within 500 miles after oil change.
Engine knocking/rattling noise
Engine makes loud knocking, rattling, or metal-on-metal noise intermittently. Noise may occur during acceleration or surging.
When: After recall service in some cases; intermittent occurrence
Symptoms owners cite: Loud knocking noise from engine; Rattling noise intermittently; Engine surge alongside noise; Noise appears unrelated to acceleration input
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement ordered in at least one case after knocking developed
DEF tank heater failure (diesel exhaust fluid)
DEF heater fails, forcing vehicle into reduced power mode until repaired. Multiple trucks affected awaiting same part with no availability.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle enters reduced speed/power mode; Vehicle operates with restricted acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Requires DEF tank heater replacement; part unavailable at dealer. Multiple trucks (3-4) waiting for same part with unknown ETA.
Metal fragments in engine oil
Engine oil contains visible metal fragments at low mileage (9,500 miles). Indicates internal engine damage.
When: 9,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Metal fragments visible in engine oil
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer advised owner to 'keep driving until it fails,' per owner report
Excessive vibration during gear changes
Vehicle vibrates excessively while driving, particularly during gear changes. Vibration occurs across different speeds and multiple gear changes.
Symptoms owners cite: Excessive vibration during gear changes; Vibration across different speeds; Vibration during multiple gear-change events
Rear brake lockup during downshift
When accelerating on highway and vehicle downshifts, rear brakes lock up.
When: During highway acceleration and downshift
Symptoms owners cite: Rear brakes lock during downshift
10-speed transmission electrical/control issues
Transmission control module signal loss, whining noise, improper gear selection in lower gears. Loss of signal to transmission control module reported; some repairs do not hold.
When: Various mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of signal to transmission control module; Whining noise from transmission; Improper shifting in lower gears; Intermittent failures that cannot be replicated by dealer
Codes mentioned: Loss of signal to transmission control module
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer scanned vehicle and found code for loss of signal; reportedly fixed itself and no further action taken
Engine stall during Blue Cruise (autonomous driving mode)
Engine quits without warning while vehicle operating under Blue Cruise. No warning lights. Vehicle coasts to stop.
When: While on highway under Blue Cruise control
Symptoms owners cite: Engine quits without warning; Cruise control lights remain active; No other warning lights illuminated; Vehicle coasts to stop; Vehicle cannot easily be placed in neutral for towing after shutdown
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed approximately 50 miles to dealership; sits unrepaired
Start button malfunction and forced shutdown
While driving, instruction appears on information center to push start button at highway speed. Start button unresponsive until pressed multiple times. Engine seizure occurs immediately after.
When: While driving at highway speed with cruise control engaged
Symptoms owners cite: Instruction appears on dash to push start button while driving; Violent downshifts (multiple times, up to 6000 rpm); Start button requires multiple presses to shut engine down; Vehicle will not restart; Engine seizes during towing to dealership
Repairs/costs cited: Engine seizure during towing to dealer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall instructions received for 6.2L engine; dealer confirmed vehicle was within spec per recall test. Advised use of thicker oil (0W-40) going forward; failure still occurred.
Synthesized from 58 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2024 GMC Sierra?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 58 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?
Based on the 58 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 19,016 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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.