Getting any sort of car maintenance done is never fun. Especially anything involving major, such as the transmission. A recent viral post shows what a woman suggests is a peculiar pattern among GMCs.
In a TikTok that’s generated over 313,200 views as of this writing, Ashley Haynes (@ashelleyyy11) claims GMCs and Chevrolets were the only vehicles at the mechanic.
In the TikTok, Haynes says she recently went to the mechanic, and the only vehicles getting serviced were GMCs. Haynes was getting transmission service done on her Chevy.
“All these GMCs are sitting here, and one just pulled in on the tow truck,” Haynes says.
Her video shows multiple GMC vehicles that she says are there to get transmission work.
“Also sitting in one that’s had the transmission replaced. They’re familiar with us here,” Haynes captions the post.
Self-described GMC drivers shared their transmission woes in comments on Haynes’ post.
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Has GMC Had Transmission Issues?
GMC was recently part of a major General Motors recall. In 2024, GM recalled nearly 462,000 SUVs and trucks. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the recall was issued for the transmission control valve failing and leading to the rear wheels to lock-up. Impacted models included 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Yukon XL; 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500; and 2020-2022 GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, and 3500. “Dealers will install new transmission control module software, free of charge. GM will provide a special coverage program to cover the repair of transmissions that are identified by the remedy software as containing a defective control valve,” per NHTSA. To see if your GM vehicle qualifies for a recall, look up the VIN on GM.What Are Signs of a Bad Transmission?
According to Firestone, the following eight signs can indicate that your transmission is going bad:- Gears Won’t Switch: Over time, debris and dirt may end up in the transmission causing contaminated or low transmission fluid. Regularly replacing the fluid can help avoid this gear switching issue.
- Check Engine Light: While this warning sign can indicate a variety of issues, the transmission may be impacted. You should take it in for diagnostics.
- Slippery Gears: If the gears are slippery, timing of shifting will be off which will impact accelerating and shifting down.
- Shaking and Kicking: Any signs of vibrations in shifting with a manual or auto may indicate issues with the transmission. Any type of kicking, shaking, or jolting usually reveals something is wrong.
- Burning Smell: Low or overheated transmission fluid can cause a burning smell. Fresh transmission fluid should smell sweet or tart.
- Noisy in Neutral: Noise should be minimal in neutral and no major ruckus should be stirred up in this gear. Any unusual sounds, such as grinding, may indicate a transmission problem.
- Leaky Fluid: In general, fluid should not be visibly leaking from your car. Transmission fluid is usually red and has a sweet smell. The fluid break can come from a damaged transmission cooler hose, worn gasket or seals, or damaged transmission pan.
- Tricky Transitions: If your car feels like a bungee cord is attached to it when you’re driving, there may be a transmission issue. Jumping, grinding, or slipping when shifting gears during acceleration may be related to the transmission.
