Chevrolet Silverado transmission and drivetrain problems, 2016–2027

1,820 of the 6,397 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Chevrolet Silverado 2016–2027 name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). The loudest years: 2019 (333), 2021 (239), 2020 (228). Filed under the same heading across these years: 4 recall campaigns. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.

1,820 complaints, 12 model years 28% of everything filed about the Silverado typically at 42k miles

Chevrolet Silverado transmission and drivetrain problems by model year

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

One row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.

Model year	Complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain	Share of the year’s	Typically at	On file under the heading
2027	0	—	—	—	the year →
2026	20	18%	—	1 recall	the year →
2025	22	19%	—	38 TSBs	the year →
2024 in depth	96	28%	11k	120 TSBs	the record →
2023 in depth	106	27%	—	241 TSBs	the record →
2022 in depth	183	29%	59k	247 TSBs · 2 recalls	the record →
2021 in depth	239	29%	64k	310 TSBs · 2 recalls	the record →
2020 in depth	228	31%	60k	297 TSBs · 3 recalls	the record →
2019 in depth	333	31%	14k	427 TSBs · 1 recall	the record →
2018 in depth	173	33%	31k	177 TSBs	the record →
2017 in depth	226	27%	47k	241 TSBs	the record →
2016 in depth	194	24%	62k	167 TSBs	the record →

Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the transmission and drivetrain. Nothing here is a rate.

When the transmission and drivetrain complaints were filed, and at what mileage

Source: NHTSA complaint database

1,820complaints name the transmission and drivetrain, all years

Filed per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 5 · 2017: 17 · 2018: 37 · 2019: 79 · 2020: 102 · 2021: 98 · 2022: 124 · 2023: 176 · 2024: 217 · 2025: 562 · 2026: 403

42kmiles, typically

Across the model years, half of the 489 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 10,000 and 80,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.

In owners’ own words

Source: NHTSA complaint database

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.

2019 chevy Silverado, 5.3l with 8-speed transmission. Experienced intermittent transmission shudder at 32 - 44 MPH. Vehicle serviced per GM ts bulletin to drain and flush transmission, replace defective fluid with atf mobile 1 synthetic. This was done twice and problem got worse. Now shudders constantly at 32-44 MPH.

Power Train at 5,000 miles Nov 21, 2019 NHTSA owner report

When slowing down, the vehicle has a hard downshift. Usually it would be described as not being smooth. Today, while traveling about 40 MPH with the foot off the accelerator, it downshifted so hard it felt like I was rear ended by another vehicle

Power Train at 4,000 miles Nov 18, 2019 NHTSA owner report

I was not personally at risk during my incident, but I can see how I could have been if my situation was a different. My 2021Chevy truck suddenly lost engine power at a traffic stoplight. It almost stalled coming to a stop. Then when trying to accelerate, it had very low power, and was stumbling.

Power Train Aug 23, 2022 NHTSA owner report

I was on interstate 85 and the whole truck started shaking and check engine light, service ESC light and service parking brake light came on. Thankfully I was near and exit ramp and got off as I had almost no power. I limped my truck back to the dealership where they diagnosed it as lifter failure and replaced both banks of lifters.

Power Train Aug 9, 2022 NHTSA owner report

Whine sound possible torque converter does not go away. Surging or delay in switching into second gear upon first start up and put in drive

Power Train Oct 12, 2021 NHTSA owner report

What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain, across the years

Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

Recall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year

26V289000 Critical do not drive
May 7, 2026 · 66 vehicles
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Tahoe vehicles. A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver.
26V083000 Critical
Feb 12, 2026 · 1,055 vehicles
General Motors, LLC is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, 3500, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles that may have been repaired incorrectly under recall 24V797. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock up.
24V797000 Critical
Oct 24, 2024 · 463,295 vehicles
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with diesel engines. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.
20V650000 High
Oct 22, 2020 · 42 vehicles
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 and 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 trucks. One of the driveshaft joints may not have been properly welded, causing the driveshaft to separate while the vehicle is moving.

Other systems with a record on the Chevrolet Silverado

Source: the same files

Every system, every model year: Chevrolet Silverado problems by year →

From here

Every 2027 model on file, by price Compare two vehicles, trim vs trim See what a VIN was priced at See what owners reported

Common questions

Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communications

Which Chevrolet Silverado years have the most transmission and drivetrain complaints?

2019, 333; 2021, 239; 2020, 228. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2018 (33%).

Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the Chevrolet Silverado?

Yes — 4 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 26V289000 (2026), 26V083000 (2022), 24V797000 (2022), 20V650000 (2020). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the Chevrolet Silverado?

Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 41,500 miles across the model years; half of them between 10,000 and 80,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.

What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?

The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.