24 Sierra display not showing gear indicator PRNDL

[Matthew Keller]

Hey everyone, new Sierra owner here, just picked up a few days ago with 9k miles on it. One thing I noticed right away was that I was missing where the gear indicator is on the display (not the number/speed, but the actual PRNDL). I figured that it was buried somewhere in the settings, so I have not worried too much about it. I took a few minutes yesterday to dive into the display options and found nothing relating to gear. My understanding is that the letter should be displayed below the truck image on the right side of the cluster, but mine is completely blank. I also tried the factory display reset button in the display menu with no luck.

 

I have searched around a little bit, and as far as I can tell this seems to be a new issue? The only things I can find related to this are looking to display the gear speed throughout shifts. Has anyone heard of this issue, any fixes I am missing before I bring it to the dealer? Or am I just being dense and completely overlooking a setting? I figure if it was something serious, like the shift sensor on the transmission, I would be running into much more serious issues. It runs, drives, and shift great. No problems that I can tell. It has the LZ0 powertrain if that is important. Thanks!

 

 

[66ss3964spd]

As far as I am aware, the "traditional" PRNDL does not appear on the dash display. But it does, kinda, on the consol shifter. The only thing that appears on the dash is the currently selected range; P, R, N, D, L. As far as I know the dash display also doesn't show which forward gear is engaged at any particular moment.

 

I think I read somewhere there may be an aftermarket device that will display which forward gear is engaged as the transmission shifts through them.

Edited March 27, 2025 by Dan H 2023 HC

[Matthew Keller]

Hey Dan, thanks for the comment. Sorry, maybe I shouldn't have used the word dash. I mean the PRNDL indicator is missing from the gauge cluster above the steering wheel. It looks like it is normally under the truck image. Mine is completely blank in that area.

 

 

[66ss3964spd]

No worries, Matthew, I understood what you meant, but I probably should have also used gauge cluster. While your cluster is ever so slightly different than mine the "gear" selection letter is in the same place. As you've seen the P will change to R, N, D, or L depending on what you do with the shifter. The full string of "PRNDL" doesn't appear at all, ever, as far as I am aware.

 

If you do select L with the shifter a number will appear next to the L, and that number will indicate the highest gear the transmission will shift up to. In other words, with the engine running and truck at a dead stop, if you select L with the consol shifter the letter L will appear on the dash cluster, and the number "1" will appear next to it. If you start driving the trans will stay in 1st gear until you toggle the right side paddle behind the wheel. Toggle the paddle once and it will shift to 2nd gear but not past it. Same for the rest. If you select L while at a stop, then toggle the right paddle until the number next to the L reads, say, "7", and then start driving the trans will start in 1st as normal and automatically shift up to, but not past, 7th. The number next to L never changes from what was selected.

[Matthew Keller]

Dan,

 

Should have clarified, the image I posted was taken off of google. The letter shown, or the PRNDL, is what I would expect to see like in the google image. My truck has nothing shown at all, not the single letter or the series of PRNDL. Its just blank space. I will post a picture in a few minutes.

[66ss3964spd]

Ah, evidently my reading comprehension isn't so hot today. Now I understand whatcha mean.

 

Will be interesting to see what your cluster display looks like.

[Matthew Keller]

Here is a photo of mine. This is what it looks like in every gear, nothing shows during gear selection either.

[newdude]

16 minutes ago, Matthew Keller said:

Here is a photo of mine. This is what it looks like in every gear, nothing shows during gear selection either.

 

 

Sounds like a possible software programming issue.  I'd take it in and see what they can do as the PRNDL is a requirement for all vehicles built and it has to work.  

 

 

[Silverado4x4]

45 minutes ago, Matthew Keller said:

Here is a photo of mine. This is what it looks like in every gear, nothing shows during gear selection either.

If I were you I would disconnect the battery for about 10 or 15 minutes then reconnect to let the system reboot and see if it comes back, might save you a trip to the dealer if not then a trip to the dealer as newdude said.

[redwngr]

There are 4 'themes' for the display.

On mine, 3 of them display the gear in the location show in the pic 'from google'.

The 4th theme displays the gear in the bottom row, instead of the rhs display. 

 

 

As a diagnostic, check all four themes and see if it shows in any of them. 

 

[mjm-1957]

Bring it back and let them fix it.

[Transient]

I'm with redwngr on this.  Try adjusting your screen options.  The first image you posted from Google shows the truck is in Sport mode and has a different tachometer than what you posted in the 2nd pic, which shows the truck is in Normal mode.  If that doesn't work, try disconnecting the battery for 10-15 minutes.  If the battery truck doesn't work, take it to the dealer. 

[Matthew Keller]

I did briefly run through the theme options, it looks like the “clean” option is supposed to move it down to the bottom section, but no luck. There is just a blank area where it’s supposed to be. Also did the battery disconnect for 30 mins, nothing. I’ll call the dealer tomorrow and keep y’all posted. Thanks for the ideas on this.

[GMCustomerService]

On 3/27/2025 at 8:50 AM, Matthew Keller said:

Hey everyone, new Sierra owner here, just picked up a few days ago with 9k miles on it. One thing I noticed right away was that I was missing where the gear indicator is on the display (not the number/speed, but the actual PRNDL). I figured that it was buried somewhere in the settings, so I have not worried too much about it. I took a few minutes yesterday to dive into the display options and found nothing relating to gear. My understanding is that the letter should be displayed below the truck image on the right side of the cluster, but mine is completely blank. I also tried the factory display reset button in the display menu with no luck.

 

I have searched around a little bit, and as far as I can tell this seems to be a new issue? The only things I can find related to this are looking to display the gear speed throughout shifts. Has anyone heard of this issue, any fixes I am missing before I bring it to the dealer? Or am I just being dense and completely overlooking a setting? I figure if it was something serious, like the shift sensor on the transmission, I would be running into much more serious issues. It runs, drives, and shift great. No problems that I can tell. It has the LZ0 powertrain if that is important. Thanks!

 

 

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