GMC Sierra 3500 Transmission Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Some, but not unusually many. 129 of the 726 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009–2024 GMC Sierra 3500 (17.8%) name the transmission, near the 12.6% median share across the 139 models we track. We have no published sales figures for this model, so there is no per-1,000 rate. The worst years are 2017, 2020 and 2023.
Transmission complaints
129
Filed with NHTSA, 2009–2024 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
17.8%
of 726 complaints for this model
Transmission recalls
2
NHTSA campaigns, all years
GMC Sierra 3500 transmission complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline). Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Transmission complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Transmission recalls | Transmission TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 2 | 4.8% | 0 | — | 51 |
| 2010 | 1 | 2.8% | 0 | — | 63 |
| 2011 | 8 | 12.7% | 0 | — | 85 |
| 2012 | 5 | 13.2% | 0 | — | 86 |
| 2013 | 7 | 13.2% | 0 | — | 95 |
| 2014 | 11 | 10.2% | 0 | — | 93 |
| 2015 | 8 | 9% | 3 | — | 105 |
| 2016 | 2 | 8% | 0 | — | 81 |
| 2017WORST | 26 | 35.1% | 0 | — | 70 |
| 2018 | 1 | 7.1% | 0 | — | 78 |
| 2019 | 1 | 7.7% | 0 | — | 73 |
| 2020WORST | 18 | 40% | 3 | 26V08300024V797000 | 118 |
| 2021 | 7 | 35% | 0 | 24V797000 | 116 |
| 2022 | 6 | 19.4% | 0 | 24V797000 | 107 |
| 2023WORST | 14 | 50% | 3 | — | 84 |
| 2024 | 12 | 25.5% | 0 | — | 65 |
- 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 GMC Sierra 3500 transmission problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 129 transmission complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
GMC Sierra 3500 years to avoid for the transmission
2017 GMC Sierra 3500
26 transmission complaints (35.1% of the year's 74). Most often described: jerking, lurching or harsh shifts.
2020 GMC Sierra 3500
18 transmission complaints (40% of the year's 45). Most often described: jerking, lurching or harsh shifts. Covered by transmission recalls 26V083000, 24V797000.
2023 GMC Sierra 3500
14 transmission complaints (50% of the year's 28). Most often described: loss of power or limp mode.
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 GMC Sierra 3500 years to avoid.
GMC Sierra 3500 transmission recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Power Train for any GMC Sierra 3500 model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2017 GMC Sierra 3500 have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 26 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2017 GMC Sierra 3500, 35.1% of all 74 complaints for that year. The most common description is "jerking, lurching or harsh shifts" (9 complaints).
Does the 2020 GMC Sierra 3500 have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 18 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2020 GMC Sierra 3500, 40% of all 45 complaints for that year. The most common description is "jerking, lurching or harsh shifts" (3 complaints). 2 transmission-related recalls cover it: 26V083000, 24V797000. 3 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2023 GMC Sierra 3500 have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 14 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2023 GMC Sierra 3500, 50% of all 28 complaints for that year. The most common description is "loss of power or limp mode" (6 complaints). 3 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which GMC Sierra 3500 years have the most transmission complaints?
2017 (26), 2020 (18) and 2023 (14), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the transmission. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common GMC Sierra 3500 transmission problems?
In the 129 transmission complaints, owners most often describe jerking, lurching or harsh shifts (20.9%), loss of power or limp mode (17.1%) and shudder or vibration (10.9%). 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. Without sales figures, a high count can simply mean a high-selling model.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each GMC Sierra 3500 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
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration