2018 GMC Sierra transmission and drivetrain problems
133 of the 321 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 GMC Sierra name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 235 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database4 of the 133 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 4 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2018: 1 · 2019: 20 · 2020: 18 · 2021: 7 · 2022: 11 · 2023: 12 · 2024: 20 · 2025: 31 · 2026: 13
Half of the 59 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 11,000 and 71,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
321 complaints in all about the 2018 GMC Sierra, 13 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: GMC Sierra transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Sierra Denali 1500. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at speeds over 30 MPH, the vehicle started shaking abnormally. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while driving on three separate occasions and stalled twice while slowing down. There was no warning light illuminated.
Truck shift into gear very roughly. Shakes when driving through all speeds. Feels as if something is falling off the truck
After truck has set for a while and start to take off from a stand still and it goes to shift from 1st to 2nd it will hard shift and truck will sometimes lurch forward. When accelerating slowly truck with shutter when shifting gears, almost like it can't decide to shift to the next gear. Once truck is warmed up this no longer happens
Upon starting the engine the vehicle makes a clank sound and either surges forward or backwards slightly. It seems to do it more often on a light incline. Local chevrolet ( GM) dealer has looked over twice, no suggestions made or given to me
Daily the transmission has a hard shift from 1st to 2nd gear. Potentially causing me to loose control of the vehicle. Ive had it in the Gmc shop 3 times and Gmc is unable to fix the problem. After the vehicle sits for periods of 4 hrs or more the problem reoccurs.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications235 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2018 GMC Sierra names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2018 GMC Sierra
Source: the same files- engine problems 78 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2018 GMC Sierra?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 133 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (41% of everything owners filed about it), and 235 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2018 GMC Sierra?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 7 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2018 GMC Sierra?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 30,000 miles; half of them between 11,000 and 71,000. 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.