2020 5.3 V8, 8 speed. Will the transmission actually last?

[Jmoss17]

Hello all,

 

I have a 2020 Silverado RST 5.3 8 speed. I have read all about the problems with harsh shifting, clunking, etc.. 

 

I have experienced some of the issues myself and feel like I am hypersensitive with paying attention to gear changes while i drive. The hesitation/harsh shifts sometimes happen, the clunk sometimes happens. Not everyday, but often enough for me to notice.

 

My question:

 

Will this thing actually last or is it going to cause me a headache down the line? I’m not super savvy with transmissions, so this is why I ask. I want a solid, reliable truck that’s going to last me a long time with no issues. Will this thing last? Or should i dish this thing off and consider a different truck. Any answers will be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks!

[bjr2020 6.2]

I had a 8 speed in my 2015 6.2 and once the fluid issue was sorted out tranny was fine hptuners helped too. But from I’ve heard talking to guys in my area who run camaros hard with the 8 speeds they say there a pretty bulletproof tranny. I’m sure more ppl will respond also.

[AJMBLAZER]

Mine works fine after the flush and reflash. 
 

Remember some of the clunks and jerks are from GM finally realizing these 350+ horsepower engines need beefy transmissions. These things are big with big moving parts. 

[JimCost2014]

16 hours ago, Jmoss17 said:

Hello all,

 

I have a 2020 Silverado RST 5.3 8 speed. I have read all about the problems with harsh shifting, clunking, etc.. 

 

I have experienced some of the issues myself and feel like I am hypersensitive with paying attention to gear changes while i drive. The hesitation/harsh shifts sometimes happen, the clunk sometimes happens. Not everyday, but often enough for me to notice.

 

My question:

 

Will this thing actually last or is it going to cause me a headache down the line? I’m not super savvy with transmissions, so this is why I ask. I want a solid, reliable truck that’s going to last me a long time with no issues. Will this thing last? Or should i dish this thing off and consider a different truck. Any answers will be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks!

Welcome to the site.

 

Just out of curiosity, not trying to be mean/start a fight, why did you buy a truck that you have so many fears with?

[LtDan2025]

I am no mechanic and do not know a lot about transmissions but I will tell you that I had the 8 speed transmission in my 2018 Silverado and had no issues what so ever. I had put 85,000 miles on it before I traded it in (the only reason for the trade in was the super high trade in value, and I found an AT4 with the 6.2 V8). Every now and then I had a hard shift but it was rare.  I honestly believe if you take care of these trucks they will last darn near forever. 

[Adamace1]

I have had a few sloppy shifts, and every week or so I would have a day of hard downshift into 1st. It has got better with time. Now it rarely downshift hard. Got 17,000. I don't see hardly any people needing trans work on the newer trucks. You will see a few people on here with problems but you got to thinks there's millions of the new trucks on the road.

[Gangly]

I have a 2020 5.3 w/ 8-speed transmission and have had ZERO issues with it.  GM allegedly got the fluid type issues figured out and started utilizing the updated transmission fluid type in late 2019 so most of the issues that owners have had were resolved with the 2020 models.

[newdude]

They last a LOT longer than the 6L80 is right now...

[Jmoss17]

Hey there, absolutely no offense taken!

 

I got in a surprise wreck last September which totaled my vehicle and put me in the market for a new one. For work purposes, I needed a replacement vehicle as soon as possible. The first dealership I went to was a GM dealer. Pulled the trigger on a silverado in more of a rushed fashion as the dealer was able to negotiate a price I wanted. I didn’t really put in the research that I would have liked to before getting the vehicle. Overall, I still love this vehicle and want to hang onto it. After experiencing some odd shifting, I researched a little more and found out a lot of people have these problems.

 

My first vehicle ever was a 2002 silverado. I sold it a while back and have wanted another one ever since. These forums are tweaking me out a little bit to be honest and I am hopeful that this truck will be badass and serve me for many years! It is reassuring to see people aren’t having problems for the most part! 

[Jmoss17]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Being new to the site, I am having issues figuring out how to reply to every single thread. That said, I appreciate everyone’s insight! 

 

Like I said, this issue doesn’t happen everyday, but certainly enough for me to notice. Hoping it resolves itself over time like some of you have mentioned!

 

 

[It's Tim]

On 8/8/2021 at 3:08 AM, Jmoss17 said:

I want a solid, reliable truck that’s going to last me a long time with no issues.

That boat sailed about 30 years ago. If you can get 5 years out of a late model vehicle with out taking a serious beating you've beaten the odds.

[KARNUT]

Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Some GMs there just in my experience. All 5-20 years of trouble free miles. If I was buying new today. Toyota-Lexus, Hyundai-Kia, VW, Acura, if they got rid of the road noise Honda. Heavy duty Ford Diesel GM gas. 

[dgstarr63]

GM did not solve all of the 8L90 issues with the new fluid. My 2021 Silverado 5.3 with 8 speed has harsh downshifts into 1st gear at stop lights. I have left it at the dealer for the 3rd time to try to resolve this. We will see if they can do anything to cure it this time.

[Amcguy1970]

2 hours ago, It's Tim said:

That boat sailed about 30 years ago. If you can get 5 years out of a late model vehicle with out taking a serious beating you've beaten the odds.

 

Huh? What is a serious issue? A failed sensor? A frozen touch screen? A memory seat recall not working? Vehicles these days that statement is quite the opposite. You would be hard pressed to have a reliable high mileage vehicle 30+ years ago that you would trust and easily last hundreds of thousands of miles without plenty of TLC. Lets put it this way, I would take a 5 year old 100k truck from today and drive it around the country, I would be more leery of taking a 100k mile 1985 truck around the country. If something were to happen it would be easier to fix the older one but the chances are higher the new one would be trouble free. They may have been simpler but no way more reliable than todays vehicles. Now the meat and potatoes of vehicles are much more stout and better lasting than yesteryears they do have a ton more sensors and technologies that can fail and cause an inconvenience but it is very rare to see a major mechanical failure today outside of the roque manufacturing defects or supplier issue (not to say it doesn't happen but it is rare). It is much easier to keep an older vehicle running with it being simpler and if you are mechanically skilled to work on those failures but again, more reliable that is a hard no. 

 

OP, to answer your question, YES. What you read on forums is a very small percentage of people and it is more geared towards complainers, that transmission should give you a long time of trouble free running. 

 

Tyler

[AJMBLAZER]

It took me a while to figure out this forum is more "new owners" than "enthusiasts".

 

This is my first new vehicle and the forums I read a lot prior to this dealt with older vehicles or offroading.  More people willing to deal with rattles, clanks, noises, and dents and other "imperfect" things since they are either older vehicles or these issues are par for the course.