Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Transmission Problems by Year

By CarWhere Research · Updated

Yes, in certain years. 2,153 of the 10,925 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009–2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (19.7%) name the transmission, 1.6× the median share across the 139 models we track. Across the 2015–2022 cohorts with published sales, the Chevrolet Silverado (all variants) rate is 0.42 per 1,000 sold, close to the 0.28 median. The worst years are 2019, 2017 and 2021.

Transmission complaints

2,153

Filed with NHTSA, 2009–2025 models

Per 1,000 sold

0.42

2015–2022 cohorts, Chevrolet Silverado

Share of all complaints

19.7%

of 10,925 complaints for this model

Transmission recalls

3

NHTSA campaigns, all years

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 transmission complaints by model year

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline), and per 1,000 vehicles sold where a published U.S. sales figure exists. Worst years are highlighted.

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year
Model yearTransmission complaintsPer 1,000 soldShare of all complaintsCrash / fire / injuryTransmission recallsTransmission TSBs*
200915—2.9%0—119
201031—7.3%1—150
201122—3.4%1—165
201221—7.4%4—122
201324—6.6%0—128
2014191—12.3%10—249
20151430.3212.2%4—172
20161910.3724.1%1—151
2017WORST2200.5126.5%4—160
20181660.332.8%2—160
2019WORST3090.5629.9%720V650000240
20202110.4230.8%226V08300024V79700020V650000192
2021WORST2200.4829.1%526V08300024V797000188
20221930.4129.1%026V08300024V797000170
202397—28.2%0—138
202482—29.7%1—77
202517—21.3%0—24
  • Per 1,000 sold = complaints ÷ published U.S. calendar-year sales × 1,000. Calendar-year sales stand in for the model-year cohort. A dash means no published figure or fewer than 5,000 sold, too small to divide by.
  • Sales for the Chevrolet Silverado cover every variant, so the per-1,000 column counts complaints for all of those variants, not just the Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The complaint column is the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 alone.
  • Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
  • Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
  • *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the transmission.

Common Chevrolet Silverado 1500 transmission problems owners describe

We searched the narratives of all 2,153 transmission complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.

Jerking, lurching or harsh shifts542 · 25.2%
Shudder or vibration361 · 16.8%
Transmission repaired or replaced286 · 13.3%
Loss of power or limp mode198 · 9.2%
Slipping or revving without accelerating182 · 8.5%
Hesitation or delayed engagement182 · 8.5%
Will not shift, stuck in gear or no reverse109 · 5.1%
Whining, grinding or humming noise64 · 3%
Transmission overheating29 · 1.3%

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 years to avoid for the transmission

2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

309 transmission complaints (29.9% of the year's 1,033), 0.56 per 1,000 sold. Most often described: jerking, lurching or harsh shifts. Covered by transmission recall 20V650000.

2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

220 transmission complaints (26.5% of the year's 831), 0.51 per 1,000 sold. Most often described: jerking, lurching or harsh shifts.

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

220 transmission complaints (29.1% of the year's 757), 0.48 per 1,000 sold. Most often described: jerking, lurching or harsh shifts. Covered by transmission recalls 26V083000, 24V797000.

Worst years are those with at least 10 transmission complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 years to avoid.

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 transmission recalls

NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Power Train for any Chevrolet Silverado 1500 model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.

  • 26V083000 · 2026-02-12 · 2020–2022 models

    The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock up.

  • 24V797000 · 2024-10-24 · 2020–2022 models

    The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.

  • 20V650000 · 2020-10-22 · 2019–2020 models

    One of the driveshaft joints may not have been properly welded, causing the driveshaft to separate while the vehicle is moving.

Which transmission does the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 use?

Years are as listed for that transmission's applications. Some apply to certain engines only.

Related research

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have transmission problems?

Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 309 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 29.9% of all 1,033 complaints for that year, or 0.56 per 1,000 sold (Chevrolet Silverado, all variants). The most common description is "jerking, lurching or harsh shifts" (117 complaints). One transmission-related recall covers it: 20V650000. 7 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.

Does the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have transmission problems?

Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 220 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 26.5% of all 831 complaints for that year, or 0.51 per 1,000 sold (Chevrolet Silverado, all variants). The most common description is "jerking, lurching or harsh shifts" (79 complaints). 4 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.

Does the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have transmission problems?

Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 220 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 29.1% of all 757 complaints for that year, or 0.48 per 1,000 sold (Chevrolet Silverado, all variants). The most common description is "jerking, lurching or harsh shifts" (55 complaints). 2 transmission-related recalls cover it: 26V083000, 24V797000. 5 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.

Which Chevrolet Silverado 1500 years have the most transmission complaints?

2019 (309), 2017 (220) and 2021 (220), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the transmission. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so compare the per-1,000-sold column too.

What are the most common Chevrolet Silverado 1500 transmission problems?

In the 2,153 transmission complaints, owners most often describe jerking, lurching or harsh shifts (25.2%), shudder or vibration (16.8%) and transmission repaired or replaced (13.3%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.

Is this a transmission failure rate?

No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Dividing by sales shows how often owners complain relative to how many were sold, which makes models of different sizes comparable.

How we count

Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Chevrolet Silverado 1500 model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a transmission complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline).

Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 transmission complaints that clears those floors.

These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

Sources

  1. NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  2. NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  3. Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration