issue Transmissions Issues/Problems

drstimpy · December 16, 2015

By flare do you mean false neutral?

Some must watch while others must sleep

andyhaug · December 16, 2015

By flare do you mean false neutral?

Some must watch while others must sleep

Yes. When it shifts it disengages 2nd but forgets to do anything with the throttle body which causes the engine to rev 500 rpm above where it was when it shifted. It does this other times randomly, but the only one I can reproduce is under the conditions I have listed.

andyhaug · December 17, 2015

Discovered something interesting on mine. When I drive around town at 30-35mph sometimes I feel the transmission do something stupid and it seems like I decelerate. Tonight I was experimenting in manual mode. It would seem that normally running at 30-35mph the truck wants to be in 5th. If I get to a slight incline it downshifts to 4th. When it downshifts it does a horrible job of it. Driving around in manual I can go from 5th to 4th and it reproduces what the truck does in Drive exactly. Everytime when I change from M5 to M4 I get a deceleration feel and quite often a clunk. If I continue down and go from M4 to M3 it is perfectly smooth. If I go back up M3 to M4 it shifts fine and M4 to M5 is fine.

Seriously doubt my dealer cares anymore. I get the impression they are tired of me complaining about the poor driving experience with this truck. GM is of no help anymore either.

RhinoGuy · December 17, 2015

I have found that running e85 helps. Try a few tanks if you have a yellow fuel cap.

I know it sounds crazy, but I can tell a significant difference.

andyhaug · December 17, 2015

Can't, mine is not flex fuel.

Newell33 · December 17, 2015

I have found that running e85 helps. Try a few tanks if you have a yellow fuel cap.

I know it sounds crazy, but I can tell a significant difference.

My truck is the opposite. Whenever I run E85, it's significantly worse.

nadrojcote · December 17, 2015

I hate to break it to you all, but changing your gas, getting your transfer case reprogrammed, adjusting your driving habits, driving in M5 or tow mode are all unacceptable solutions to a poor design. If GM would listen to their customers on forums like this instead of just telling everyone to go to the dealership then maybe you will get your transmission fix you're hoping for.

I had a tune and my truck still shifted like shit, so don't buy into people telling you it makes a big difference. It may help a bit, but I think its how the transmission is designed physically. Every single 2014+ GM I've been in starts to shift like junk after about 5000 miles.

My new truck shifts great, can barely feel it. Here's to hoping it stays like that. I'm not brand loyal. I'll buy what ever is the nicest and most reliable.

Dusilligaf · December 19, 2015

I hate to break it to you all, but changing your gas, getting your transfer case reprogrammed, adjusting your driving habits, driving in M5 or tow mode are all unacceptable solutions to a poor design. If GM would listen to their customers on forums like this instead of just telling everyone to go to the dealership then maybe you will get your transmission fix you're hoping for.

I had a tune and my truck still shifted like shit, so don't buy into people telling you it makes a big difference. It may help a bit, but I think its how the transmission is designed physically. Every single 2014+ GM I've been in starts to shift like junk after about 5000 miles.

My new truck shifts great, can barely feel it. Here's to hoping it stays like that. I'm not brand loyal. I'll buy what ever is the nicest and most reliable.

I have to agree...my truck shifts like shit...i've complained to the dealer and got nowhere...i went with the miracle fix that everyone claims to be the best thing to do and got a tune...i'm still disappointed ...even with a custom tune i'm not feeling the night and day difference that everyone talks about.....

pm26 · December 19, 2015

My truck is the opposite. Whenever I run E85, it's significantly worse.

E85 has high octane number, somewhere around 100. However, being less energetic fuel than gasoline, the engine needs to use more of it to produce the same power. I wonder why using E85 would make transmission shift worse. Is it trying to shift into higher gears even quicker than usual?

Newell33 · December 20, 2015

E85 has high octane number, somewhere around 100. However, being less energetic fuel than gasoline, the engine needs to use more of it to produce the same power. I wonder why using E85 would make transmission shift worse. Is it trying to shift into higher gears even quicker than usual?

My truck shifted even worse on E85 than on regular fuel before the transfer case recall was done, which I didn't think was possible. After the transfer case recall, it shifts much better on regular fuel.. When I use E85 it definitely gets worse. It's my understanding that the transmission uses different shift tables on E85. Although it's much better after the recall, it's still nowhere near where it should be as far as driveability is concerned. This is the single most annoying aspect of my truck, and I won't buy another GM product until I know it's absolutely fixed. There are already reports that the 2016 transmissions have some quirks. Sorry, not going to cut it for me. I'll gladly switch brands before being frustrated every time I drive for the next 3-4 years.

pm26 · December 20, 2015

My truck shifted even worse on E85 than on regular fuel before the transfer case recall was done, which I didn't think was possible. After the transfer case recall, it shifts much better on regular fuel.. When I use E85 it definitely gets worse. It's my understanding that the transmission uses different shift tables on E85. Although it's much better after the recall, it's still nowhere near where it should be as far as driveability is concerned. This is the single most annoying aspect of my truck, and I won't buy another GM product until I know it's absolutely fixed. There are already reports that the 2016 transmissions have some quirks. Sorry, not going to cut it for me. I'll gladly switch brands before being frustrated every time I drive for the next 3-4 years.

I hear you, I have been following these forums for a while because I am seriously considering a new truck, but with all the crap I am reading I really do not feel like I should take a gamble and hope that my truck will not have problems. I made that mistake years ago and the vehicle I bought (not a GM product) turned out to be the biggest lemon ever.

If there was only one or two issues that GM knows about and is working to correct, it would be different, but these trucks seem to be plagued with numerous quality control problems and some are quite serious. And erratic and unpredictable transmission shifting can be very dangerous. Let's suppose you are making a left turn on a 6 lane divided road with heavy traffic and no traffic lights at that crossover, and you have only a few seconds to make the turn because traffic in the opposite direction is closing in. You step on the gas and nothing happens for a second or two because the transmission cannot make up its mind what to do? I was almost rear ended in heavy traffic in DC when I tried to pull into another lane and the stupid rental car (Dodge I think) just sat there for a couple of seconds doing nothing before it decided to move. I have never experienced such issues with 4 speed GM transmissions and for that matter with none of the older cars and trucks.

Front Runner · December 20, 2015

I hear you, I have been following these forums for a while because I am seriously considering a new truck, but with all the crap I am reading I really do not feel like I should take a gamble and hope that my truck will not have problems. I made that mistake years ago and the vehicle I bought (not a GM product) turned out to be the biggest lemon ever.

If there was only one or two issues that GM knows about and is working to correct, it would be different, but these trucks seem to be plagued with numerous quality control problems and some are quite serious. And erratic and unpredictable transmission shifting can be very dangerous. Let's suppose you are making a left turn on a 6 lane divided road with heavy traffic and no traffic lights at that crossover, and you have only a few seconds to make the turn because traffic in the opposite direction is closing in. You step on the gas and nothing happens for a second or two because the transmission cannot make up its mind what to do? I was almost rear ended in heavy traffic in DC when I tried to pull into another lane and the stupid rental car (Dodge I think) just sat there for a couple of seconds doing nothing before it decided to move. I have never experienced such issues with 4 speed GM transmissions and for that matter with none of the older cars and trucks.

One thing I've noticed is that many forums don't allow members to post problems or start many threads identifying the same issue like this site does. That could be good or bad. Good for members that want to express themselves and get guidance but bad because it could distort truth about the amount of vehicles having these problems.

When I purchased my 2011 F250 SD back in 2010, I had several trips to the dealer about the 6 speed tranny's shifting. Ultimately, the final flash made the issue better but my hand calculated mpgs were down by 2 mpg permanently. At the time there were other complaints about tranny tuning with that same transmission. I know some had to be replace because of mechanical damage. These things happen.

Ultimately, you have to decide what's best for you. But, I wouldn't let what's posted in these forums make my decision for me. I would keep these issues in the back of my mind but would evaluate each vehicle independently. While there are many posts of this sort, as a whole, they represent a very small fraction of the amount of GM trucks sold. Annually, GM sells hundreds of thousands of trucks and some will be problematic as with any other manufacturer.

This by no means allows GM to not address the issues and fix the problematic vehicles, nor belittle what some owners are experiencing.

pm26 · December 20, 2015

Yes, other makes and models have their share of problems too. I had a chance to get a fantastic deal a few years ago on a new 2012 Ford F250 4X4 diesel crew cab , which was discounted $12k off the sticker and I could have bought it for $ 39k with a great trade in allowance on my GM truck. And the truck was equipped pretty much the way I liked. Not top of the line, but a nicely appointed XLT with all essential options. However, I was really worried about the new Ford diesel engine because they had a long list of problems with the 6.0 engine and went through three different diesel engines in just 6 years or so. It turns out that the latest Ford diesel is a good engine but I decided not take my chance with the first year of production. Now I think I made a mistake. And maybe I should have bought a left over 2012 or 1013 Duramax instead.

Now similarly equipped trucks are at least $10k more, even when heavily discounted, and I no longer trust GM quality.

Badass69 · December 20, 2015

One thing I've noticed is that many forums don't allow members to post problems or start many threads identifying the same issue like this site does. That could be good or bad. Good for members that want to express themselves and get guidance but bad because it could distort truth about the amount of vehicles having these problems.

When I purchased my 2011 F250 SD back in 2010, I had several trips to the dealer about the 6 speed tranny's shifting. Ultimately, the final flash made the issue better but my hand calculated mpgs were down by 2 mpg permanently. At the time there were other complaints about tranny tuning with that same transmission. I know some had to be replace because of mechanical damage. These things happen.

Ultimately, you have to decide what's best for you. But, I wouldn't let what's posted in these forums make my decision for me. I would keep these issues in the back of my mind but would evaluate each vehicle independently. While there are many posts of this sort, as a whole, they represent a very small fraction of the amount of GM trucks sold. Annually, GM sells hundreds of thousands of trucks and some will be problematic as with any other manufacturer.

This by no means allows GM to not address the issues and fix the problematic vehicles, nor belittle what some owners are experiencing.

This. I have been a member on this forum since 2009 and since 2009 only bought my current 2015 Silverado for newer GM trucks. If I listened to all these complaint threads I of course wouldn't own one. Same went with my F150s I have dumped both of now (both 2013s). If I listened to F150forums I would have never bought a Ford. One F150 was a lemon with tranny and battery draw issues.. the other I just lost interest in. My 2015 is a 6.2 8 speed and the trans does the odd weird clunk but beyond that it does nothing funny. It's comfortable... tons of power... quiet and doesn't vibrate either. I am at 7000 miles now and tossed the stock Sra's in the trash at 500 miles and have no issues. The problem trucks are still a very small percentage and that goes for all brands.

But as mentioned some forums don't tolerate the threads so you see little of this... in no way means those trucks are more problem free though.

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nadrojcote · December 20, 2015

I've been happy with my new f150, mind you I've only got 1000kms on it.

If you check out the f150 forums the only common complaints with them have to do with doors misaligned from the factory and loose leather on the seats. I haven't seen a single thread on there yet like the ones on here that go on forever with lots of guys complaining about the same issues.

I really think Ford stepped up their game to try and get their name out of the mud. This is my first ford and if it ends up having issues it will be my last one.