The contact owns a 2025 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH with the cruise control activated, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle decelerated to 10 MPH. In addition, the vehicle came to an abrupt stop independently. The contact’s upper body almost struck the front windshield. There was no warning light…
2025 GMC Sierra powertrain problems
severe 18 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 18 powertrain complaints filed for the 2025 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
Powertrain accounts for 21% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 5 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners are reporting engine crankshaft and thrust bearing failures occurring as early as 9,300 miles on brand-new 2025 Sierra 1500 trucks. Two owners describe sudden engine seizure with no warning lights beforehand—the engine just stalls while driving and won't restart. One owner was stranded on a 2-lane road during winter after the dealer confirmed the bearing failure was a known issue covered by a TSB they never mentioned during an earlier service visit. The other heard progressive engine knocking, received a "reduced acceleration drive with care" warning, and had the engine replaced under warranty.
Transmission problems cluster around harsh shifts followed by sudden power loss and limp-mode activation at both low speeds (35 MPH in parking maneuvers) and highway speeds (70-75 MPH). Multiple owners report all dashboard warning lights illuminating, stiff steering, and transmission fault messages. One truck independently shifted from Park to Reverse while idling, causing it to back into another vehicle. A persistent vibration and shuddering at 60-75 MPH cruise speeds—present since 1,000 miles—has stumped two dealerships despite wheel balancing; dealers dismissed it despite admitting multiple TSBs exist for torque converter issues matching the symptoms. Owners also report intermittent unintended acceleration at low speeds and erratic acceleration response at highway speeds that dealers cannot reproduce or diagnose.
Same GMC Sierra powertrain reports on nearby years: 2022 · 2023 · 2024
Failure modes owners describe
Crankshaft/thrust bearing failure
Engine crankshaft and thrust bearing premature failure causing sudden loss of power, engine stalling, and no-start conditions. Owners report catastrophic seizure with no prior warning lights or noises in most cases. Dealers confirmed bearing failures and crankshaft issues requiring full engine replacement.
When: Under 9,300 miles on multiple vehicles; one owner reported 20% fuel economy drop one month prior
Symptoms owners cite: Abrupt engine stall while driving; Engine will not crank after stalling; Knocking sound from engine (progressively louder); Reduced acceleration drive with care warning; Severe power loss; No warning lamps before failure in most cases
Codes mentioned: Reduced acceleration drive with care warning
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replaced entire engine; thrust bearing/crankshaft replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB issued for bearing issue regarding crankshaft endplay checking; owners report dealers were unaware of or did not proactively address TSB
Transmission loss of neutral and shift control failure
Transmission unable to shift into Neutral when commanded, trapping vehicle in gear after engine failure. One owner also reports transmission independently shifting from Park to Reverse while vehicle was stationary and idling.
When: Concurrent with engine failure; one reverse engagement occurred after 20 minutes of idling in Park
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission will not shift into Neutral when commanded; Transmission independently shifts from Park to Reverse; Harsh transmission shifts at low speeds; Shuddering at low speeds; Loss of acceleration after transmission shift
Codes mentioned: Transmission fault warning message, Transmission issue message on driver display
Repairs/costs cited: No repair records available; dealers unable to diagnose in some cases due to non-duplication
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Multiple TSBs exist for torque converter and transmission issues; dealers report inability to confirm applicability without diagnostic code trigger
Harsh transmission shifts with power loss and limp mode activation
Transmission shifts roughly or harshly at low and highway speeds, followed by sudden loss of acceleration and engine shutdown mode to protect powertrain. Steering becomes stiff, all warning lights illuminate, RPMs surge.
When: Low speeds (35 MPH, under 5 MPH turning) and highway speeds (70-75 MPH); occurred twice in 2 days for one owner
Symptoms owners cite: Harsh transmission shift; Sudden loss of acceleration; Engine shutdown/limp mode activation; Stiff steering; All dashboard warning lights illuminated; High RPMs while struggling to maintain speed; Transmission continues to shift abnormally after restart; Shuddering at low speeds
Codes mentioned: Transmission issue warning, Check Engine Light, Traction Control Fault message, Acceleration is Limited message
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles pulled to shoulder; Check Engine Light persisted after restart; no specific repairs documented
Vibration and shuddering at cruise speeds (60-75 MPH)
Persistent vibration and shuddering felt throughout vehicle at highway cruise speeds, described as washing machine drum imbalance. Issue present since around 1,000 miles and has not been resolved despite wheel balancing and dealer visits. Dealers attribute to wheel balance only and refuse to test at highway speeds.
When: Since approximately 1,000 miles; occurs between 60-75 MPH during cruise
Symptoms owners cite: Vibration in seat, steering wheel, and center console; Stuttering feel during highway driving; Humming sensation resembling out-of-balance washing machine drum; More pronounced between 60-65 MPH
Repairs/costs cited: Wheel balancing at Costco and multiple dealerships did not resolve issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Multiple TSBs exist related to torque converter issues; dealers claim vehicle not impacted by current TSBs despite matching symptoms
Unintended acceleration at low speeds
Vehicle independently accelerates while operator has foot on brake pedal, occurring during slow-speed maneuvers. Failure is intermittent and has not been reproduced by dealers.
When: Intermittent; occurred while turning left at approximately 4 MPH and while slowing down under 5 MPH, around 17,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Independent acceleration while brake pedal depressed; Occurs during slow-speed turning maneuvers
Repairs/costs cited: Failure not duplicated by dealer; no repair performed
Intermittent shuddering under light throttle (25-55 MPH)
Intermittent shuddering at moderate speeds under light throttle, described as rumble-strip feel. Dealer attempts to diagnose have failed due to non-duplication; GMC corporate refused escalation. Known issue with TSB 22-NA-182.
When: Intermittent; occurs at 25-55 MPH
Symptoms owners cite: Intermittent shuddering; Rumble-strip feel under light throttle
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers report inability to repair without duplication
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 22-NA-182 is a known issue; GMC corporate (case #82769068) refused escalation
Delayed or erratic acceleration response
Vehicle fails to accelerate as intended when accelerator pedal is depressed at highway speeds. Vehicle decelerates abruptly to 10 MPH or comes to complete stop independently, then resumes normal operation. Failure is intermittent and recurs.
When: At 7,800 miles; occurred twice in short sequence at 75 MPH with cruise control engaged
Symptoms owners cite: Failure to accelerate despite depressing pedal; Abrupt deceleration to 10 MPH; Abrupt independent stop; Intermittent recurrence after resuming normal operation
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to dealer awaiting diagnostic test
Dual gear engagement during acceleration and deceleration
Transmission engages two gears simultaneously during acceleration and deceleration, creating a chattering or jerking sensation. Dealer unable to find problem despite multiple visits.
When: Persistent; occurred multiple times requiring two dealer visits
Symptoms owners cite: Engagement of two gears simultaneously; Occurs during acceleration and deceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to diagnose or repair; issue recurs after returning from shop
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Intermittent shudder at 25-55 mph under light throttle (rumble-strip feel); 5-6 dealer attempts failed due to non-duplication; GMC corporate (case # 82769068] refused escalation. Safety risk: Distracts from road, potential loss of control.TSB 22-NA-182 is a known issue and dealer says they can’t repair without duplication.
Transmission module went out at 20,989 miles.
The vehicle has a vibration and stuttering feel during highway driving. Cruise between 70-75 has off and on again vibration is seat, steering wheel, and center console. The issue feels more pronounced between 60-65 and exhibits more of a hum, much like a washing machine drum that is out of balance. I have had the truck at 2 different dealerships and they have insisted it was a whee balance issue.…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2025 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 2025 GMC Sierra?
It's a meaningful issue. 18 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?
Based on the 18 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 12,400 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.
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/2025/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.