2019 GMC Sierra transmission and drivetrain problems
140 of the 673 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2019 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: 315 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall. 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 database0 of the 140 reports a crash · 1 a fire · 1 injury. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2018: 1 · 2019: 8 · 2020: 12 · 2021: 9 · 2022: 13 · 2023: 8 · 2024: 12 · 2025: 45 · 2026: 32
Half of the 42 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 5,000 and 57,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
673 complaints in all about the 2019 GMC Sierra, 32 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 2019 GMC Sierra Denali. The contact stated while parking the vehicle, the vehicle inadvertently stalled without warning. The contact attempted several times to restart the vehicle however, the vehicle would not restart. The contact attempted to jump start the vehicle and the failed to start.
Transmission shifting rough transmission shifting delay dealer company says transmission needs an update but they don't have the program
First feeling was, I was driving in a parking lot going maybe 5 miles an hour and I felt a vibration in the brake pedal. Pulled onto the main road and approached a stop light when the truck stopped a little hard as I was depressing the brake pedal.
The transmissions will shudder and delay shifting gears. I have pulled into a parking lot and put it in park, then I realize i'm a foot back I put it back in drive, the car doesn't do anything for a second then it lurches forward in an unsafe / uncontrolled manner.
2019 Gmc Sierra shifts extremely hard when shifting from 1st to 2nd gear when accelerating after sitting idle for a long period of time. I took the vehicle to romain Gmc in evansville, in and they stated that GM says this is how the transmission normally operates.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 20V650000 HighOct 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.
315 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 2019 GMC Sierra names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2019 GMC Sierra
Source: the same files- engine problems 337 complaints
- brake problems 123 complaints
- electrical problems 100 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2019 GMC Sierra?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 140 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (21% of everything owners filed about it), and 315 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall 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 2019 GMC Sierra?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 20V650000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2019 GMC Sierra?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 20,000 miles; half of them between 5,000 and 57,000. 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.