When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Good Morning,
I need to know if there is a bulletin or Document ID from GM for a transmission shudder.... I have a Colorado and the transmission shudders when going at 45 mph... Dealer already performed a new fluid transmission fluid exchange, it minimized the issues but after a couple of months the shuttering came back again... what will be the next step. I have only 8000 miles and is a 2016 Colorado. I have 6 speed.
8,000 miles and an issue with shuddering that is partially temporarily resolved by changing new fluid to newer fluid strikes me as something really defective in this transmission.
Keep taking it back.
For extra irony: check out the advertisement in the sidebar as I type this:
At least they didn't say "HARDCORE TRANSMISSION", right?
I'd be scared that Lubegard would fix his 8,000-mile transmission just long enough to get out of warranty and then go out. It shouldn't be doing this so young.
I’ve been researching this subject for the past week as I want to purchase a new Canyon. There are several TSB'* from GMC, the most common is: 18-NA-177. It deals In Changing the trans fluid because the possibility of moisture in trans. I believe they upgrade the fluid to a more durable one. There also is a software update.
What typically happens is that the customer gets the truck back and it runs fine, not because of the fix necessarily but because the flush of the fluid has washed away small metal shavings caused by the Torque Converter vibrating and causing the shavings. These are what makes the transmission shutter and shift hard.
This fix usually lasts 1000-5000 miles, then the shavings accumulate again and the whole process repeats. They flush the fluid again, and it fixes it again temporarily. This is GM'* way of buying time until the warranty expires. The story goes that GM was rushing this transmission to production with an 8 speed because its competitors already had a 8 speed and the fight for best gas mileage was on. This transmission was not tested for longevity and had thinner parts to save weight.
There are class action lawsuits to buy the truck back, and several forums of people following GM'* instructions, only to have the truck continue its shuddering. GM has given up and finally states that the truck is operating normally. They claim that this is characteristic of the truck. From what I understand the torque converters have even been changed but it has not cured the situation.
Go to YouTube and type in 'Chevrolet or GMC transmission shuddering' and you’ll find dozens of videos. Also do a Google search. Channel 9 news also has been following it with on air reports. It reminds me of how Ford is ignoring the recent Focus transmission troubles.
It’* a shame because this is such a nice truck, but to have GM sweep this under the rug is egregious.
The 8L45 is a "lightened" 8L90 . They both seem to have this problem on some units.
This is why I recommend the OP take it back for warranty repair every time it happens so they can take advantage of lemon laws once they've crossed the threshold of repair visits for the same issue. I just hope they have a warranty long enough to return a 2016 vehicle enough times to go lemon on them.
TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS
