There seems to be a link between the Chevy Silverado 1500 and transmission problems. This is made even more concerning because Consumer Reports gave the 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 the lowest possible predicted reliability rating out of every pickup truck. Let’s look at the Chevy transmission problems that are becoming a recurring pain for Silverado drivers.

Does the Chevy Silverado 1500 have transmission problems? 

If you look at the data provided by Consumer Reports, you’ll see that the 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 full-size pickup truck only has a score of one out of five in terms of predicted reliability. This score is based on survey data that Consumer Reports collects from thousands of drivers. 

How is this data used? Silverado owners reported potential problem areas and how satisfied they are with their truck. Then the ratings are compiled based on 17 potential trouble areas and a 100 point scale to provide fair scores. One of the most significant trouble areas includes major and minor Chevy transmission issues for the 2014 to 2019 model years of the Silverado 1500. 

2017 Silverado transmission problems 

The 2017 Chevy Silverado 1500 has 90 transmission problems reported on Car Complaints. The most common issues with the transmission were surges and jerking.

One driver didn’t notice any issues until a few weeks after buying their Silverado. When the transmission surges presented themselves, the driver went to a dealership and was told that the truck needed to learn their driving habits. They said to bring it back if the problem still occurred in a few weeks to fix the torque converter. The driver did as instructed but was then told that the automatic 4WD caused the issue, and switching it to 2WD should fix the problem. 

Another driver had their transmission replaced when their truck only had about 66,000 miles on it. The replacement wasn’t covered under warranty and cost about $3,000. They were frustrated because their transmission didn’t last longer than two years and four months. 

Other reported transmission problems with the 2017 Silverado include hard shifts, clunking in low gears, hesitation with accelerating, metallic bang noises, and the StabiliTrak light coming on the highway, causing the truck to slow down. 

Transmission problems with the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado

If you skip ahead to the 2019 Chevy Silverado 1500, you will find 17 transmission problems in five categories, according to Car Complaints. This is an improvement from 90 reported issues with the 2017 Silverado model. However, more 2019 Silverado transmission problems may get reported as the trucks pass the 100,000-mile mark. 

The most common transmission issue includes slamming into gear. One driver noticed that their Silverado 1500 slammed into first and second gear after a slight pause that allowed the engine to rev. Another driver noticed that their truck slammed from reverse into drive. Others noted that the truck would surge forward upon lightly accelerating and that grinding noises were present. 

Meanwhile, if you go back and look at previous Silverado models on Car Complaints, there are even more reports of transmission problems. Two prominent examples are the 2017 Silverado with 90 transmission problems reported and the 2014 Silverado with 28 transmission problems reported.

According to GM Authority, General Motors began using a new type of Mobile 1 automatic transmission fluid to correct shifting problems in 2019. Also, a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) was released that addresses torque converter clutch (TCC) shudder conditions for the 8-speed GM transmission. So, a fluid flush or replacing the TCC could be the answer for Silverado 1500 truck drivers who still have transmission problems. However, it’s currently unclear if 2020, 2021, and 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 models have the same problems as the previous years.