Piston Slap: Seeking a “Professional Grade” GM Transmission

Steve writes:

Is there a cure to the hesitation in first gear that Canyon and Colorado eight-speed transmissions experience? I get a “kick in the pants” during rolling stops for the first few minutes that my 2018 Canyon runs. Then it disappears ’till the next start.

Sajeev answers:

(EDIT: In the comments below, it appears that the first place to look is at the transmission fluid, as its a well known fact that this issue can be addressed with a change to a different fluid. So my revised answer is to visit the dealership or a trusted repair shop and ask for their opinion on your vehicle specifically.)

It’s a good thing Piston Slap is a weekly column, because it takes a lot more time to answer everyone’s questions than it does to read this article. But what really matters to Steve is that a class-action lawsuit about the very issue addressed was recently upheld in federal court while we waited to publish his question.

It’s also nice when an automaker’s marketing tagline (i.e. GMC’s Professional Grade advertising schtick) comes in direct conflict with their level of customer support after the sale. Delicious irony aside, we still don’t have an answer for you, Steve. These legal movements take time, unless GM wants to squash the bad press and settle out of court. Also, that particular lawsuit pertains to vehicles made for the 2019 through ’22 model years. What can you and your 2018 GMC Canyon do in the meantime?

There’s actually another GM eight-speed transmission lawsuit, and it does include your Colorado. I’d reach out to that particular law firm and see if you can be added to the class action. But don’t blindly jump in; ask what you’d get out of your participation. I assume the biggest thing you need is a new transmission that doesn’t annoy the heck out of you, but time is money, and maybe you’ve lost a lot of time dealing with this?

There’s one other place to look for advice, and it’s something I’ve mentioned in the past. But since I wasn’t clear last time, let me do it right this time: Find the local GM dealership with the best reviews online, go to their website, find their staff page, look for a Service Director or Fixed Ops Director, and make a plan to visit the dealership when that person is in the office. Ask them candidly for their advice, and don’t be a Karen (for lack of a better phrase) about it. Honey gets the flies in this case, I assure you.

Dealerships are motivated to help customers in these cases, if they can. Darn near every dealership loves to get money from the faceless manufacturer to make a customer in their building happy. So if GM is putting a plan in place that can help you, this is absolutely in the dealer’s favor, too!

A third option is more personal: If you have a lawyer friend that you trust, ask them for professional advice. I am not a lawyer, but it looks like restitution and resolution could be a light at the end of this particular tunnel. GM could open the floodgates for dealerships to repair/replace gearboxes in the near future, and it’s always good to be on a waiting list for that resolution.

Have a question you’d like answered on Piston Slap? Send your queries to pistonslap@hagerty.com—give us as much detail as possible so we can help! Keep in mind this is a weekly column, so if you need an expedited answer, please tell me in your email.