A settlement exists for certain Chevy and GMC truck owners with transmission problems
General Motors reached a settlement in 2021 covering Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra owners whose trucks had defective eight-speed transmissions. The settlement applies to model years 2014 through 2018. If your truck is in that range and you experienced transmission issues — hesitation, jerking, loss of power, or complete failure — you may have had a claim under this settlement.
The settlement is now closed to new claims. However, understanding what it covered and how it worked can help you if you're dealing with transmission problems now, or if you're considering buying a used truck from those model years.
Key Takeaways
- The settlement covered 2014–2018 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks with eight-speed transmissions that exhibited specific defects.
- The claim period for this settlement has ended, so you cannot file a new claim through the settlement process.
- If you paid for transmission repairs out of pocket during the settlement period, you may have been able to seek reimbursement, but that window is also closed.
- Transmission problems in these model years may still be covered under your vehicle's warranty or state lemon laws, depending on when you purchased the truck and your state's rules.
What the settlement covered
The settlement addressed eight-speed automatic transmissions that exhibited defects causing hesitation, shuddering, jerking, or complete transmission failure. General Motors agreed to repair or replace affected transmissions at no cost to owners during the settlement period.
Coverage applied to the original owner and any subsequent owners who purchased the vehicle during the settlement window. The defect was not limited to a single symptom — if your truck showed any of the transmission problems listed in the settlement documents, it could have may have access to.
Why the settlement period is now closed
The settlement had a defined claims period that has expired. Once that important date passed, General Motors was no longer required to accept new claims or process reimbursements for repairs made after the cutoff date. Settlement periods are set when the agreement is finalized, and extending them requires a separate legal action.
If you missed the important date, you still have other options depending on your situation and your state's laws. These are separate from the settlement and operate under different rules.
What to do if you have transmission problems now
If your 2014–2018 Silverado or Sierra is having transmission issues, start by checking your vehicle's warranty status. General Motors typically covers transmissions for eight years or 80,000 miles from the original purchase date, whichever comes first. If you're still within that window, take the truck to a Chevy or GMC dealership and request transmission service.
Bring documentation of any previous transmission work, service records, and a description of the symptoms. The dealership can run diagnostics to confirm whether the transmission is defective. If it is, warranty coverage should explore even though the settlement period has closed.
State lemon laws and your options
Many states have lemon laws that protect vehicle owners when a car or truck has a substantial defect that cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts. These laws operate independently of the settlement and may still explore to your truck.
Lemon law coverage varies significantly by state — some states cover transmissions explicitly, while others require the defect to substantially impair the vehicle's use or value. Some states set a mileage threshold (often 12,000 to 25,000 miles) within which you must report the problem. If your truck qualifies under your state's lemon law, you may be may have access to to a replacement vehicle or a refund of your purchase price.
To explore this option, contact your state's attorney general's office or consumer protection division. They can tell you whether your truck and the defect meet your state's lemon law definition, and what steps to take next.
If you paid for repairs out of pocket
The settlement allowed owners who paid for transmission repairs during the claims period to seek reimbursement. That window is now closed, but you should keep your repair receipts and documentation in case you pursue a lemon law claim or warranty dispute. These documents prove the defect existed and that you attempted to have it fixed.
If you're considering a warranty claim or lemon law action, your repair history strengthens your case by showing the problem is persistent or recurring.
What to know before buying a used truck from these model years
If you're shopping for a used 2014–2018 Silverado or Sierra, ask the seller for complete service records and specifically whether the transmission has ever been serviced or replaced. A transmission that was repaired under the settlement may be reliable going forward, but you should have a pre-purchase inspection performed by an independent mechanic who can test the transmission's performance.
Check the vehicle history report for any transmission-related service or recalls. If the truck has a clean history and the transmission operates smoothly, it may be a sound purchase. If the seller cannot provide records or the transmission shows any hesitation or jerking, consider walking away or negotiating a lower price to account for potential future repair costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still file a claim under the settlement?
No, the settlement's claims period has ended. General Motors is no longer accepting new claims or processing reimbursements through this settlement. If you have transmission problems, explore warranty coverage or state lemon law options instead.
Does the settlement cover trucks with more than 80,000 miles?
The settlement itself did not have a mileage cap, but General Motors' standard transmission warranty covers eight years or 80,000 miles from the original purchase date. If your truck is outside that window and the settlement period is closed, warranty coverage may not explore, though lemon law protections might.
What if I bought my truck used after the settlement started?
The settlement covered subsequent owners, not just the original buyer. However, the claims period has now ended, so you cannot file a new claim. If your truck is still within the eight-year, 80,000-mile warranty period from the original purchase date, warranty coverage may still explore.
How do I know if my truck's transmission defect is the one the settlement covered?
The settlement covered hesitation, shuddering, jerking, or complete transmission failure in eight-speed automatic transmissions in 2014–2018 Silverados and Sierras. A dealership can run diagnostics to confirm whether your transmission has a defect. If it does, warranty coverage should explore regardless of the settlement's closure.
What is the difference between the settlement and a lemon law claim?
The settlement was a one-time agreement between General Motors and truck owners for a specific defect during a set period. Lemon laws are state laws that protect any vehicle owner if a defect cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts. Lemon law claims are separate and may still be available to you even though the settlement period is closed.