Chevy Shake Problem: Lemon Law Claims and Legal Options
If your Cadillac, Chevrolet or GMC shakes violently while driving, General Motors may have sold you a defective vehicle.
Owners of 2020 and newer Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Colorado trucks still report the “Chevy Shake” to federal safety regulators.
The Chevy Shake is owners’ name for a shake or shudder that GM’s service bulletin places at about 25 to 50 miles per hour under steady or light throttle. The bulletin also covers a shudder when some trucks coast down to about 15 miles per hour. GM says the cause may be any of several transmission and engine concerns.
Plagued By Chevy Shake
Several drivers uploaded footage of their steering wheels shaking violently, hoping to get some answers.
Since then, Silverado and Sierra owners have kept filing shake complaints with federal regulators. GM has sent its dealers service bulletins on the shudder in newer Silverado, Sierra, Tahoe and Suburban models.
Has your Cadillac, Chevrolet or GMC vehicle shaken or shuddered while driving? Tempted to nickname your Silverado the “Shake-arado?” If so, the California Lemon Law may require GM to replace it or buy it back when the dealer still can’t fix a shudder covered by GM’s warranty after a reasonable number of tries.
The Chevy Shake FAQ
Owners who feel the shake tend to ask the same few questions. The answers below start with which trucks and SUVs have it.
1. What Vehicles Have the Chevy Shake?
GM’s service bulletin on shake and shudder covers certain versions of these models, starting with the 2020 trucks and the 2021 SUVs, through the 2024 model year:
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500
- GMC Sierra 1500
- Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban
- GMC Yukon and Yukon XL
- Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV
A separate GM document covers a surge or shudder at highway speed in 2023 to 2026 Silverado, Sierra, Colorado and Canyon trucks with the 2.7L turbo engine. If you drive one of these vehicles and the dealer can’t stop the shaking, call us today at 833-208-8181 to talk about a California lemon law claim.
2. What Causes the Chevy Shake?
GM’s bulletin for its newer full-size trucks and SUVs says the shudder may come from various transmission and engine concerns. The same bulletin warns that in most cases the torque converter is not the cause.
GM has also recalled drivetrain parts on some of these models, though not for the shudder itself. Certain 2020 Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 trucks were recalled because a driveshaft joint may not have been properly welded. Certain 2021 Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon and Escalade SUVs were recalled because their rear driveshafts may fail and cause a sudden loss of drive power.
On diesel models, GM recalled certain 2020 to 2022 Silverado and Sierra trucks because a transmission control valve may fail and lock the rear wheels. In 2026 it recalled some of those trucks again because the first repair may have been done incorrectly.
3. Is the Chevy Shake Dangerous?
This widespread defect can cause serious safety issues in GM vehicles. In some cases, owners of affected GM models can incur serious financial costs or end up in an accident due to loss of vehicle control.
Owner complaints and GM’s bulletin describe these common signs of the so-called Chevy Shake:
- Harsh shifting, jerking, lurching or hesitation
- Vibration in the steering wheel, seat or floorboard
- Shaking or shudder between about 25 and 50 mph
- Worsening shaking or vibration at highway speeds
One 2020 Colorado owner who reported the shake to federal regulators said they are worried about “premature transmission failure.”
4. Has General Motors Fixed the Chevy Shake?
No. As of October 2026, General Motors has issued service bulletins on the shudder but no recall for it.
For its newer full-size trucks and SUVs, GM tells dealers to road-test the vehicle and check for engine and transmission trouble codes before they replace parts. For firm shifts, slips or flares in low-mileage Silverado, Sierra, Colorado and Canyon trucks with 8-speed transmissions, a separate bulletin calls for these steps:
- Check and update the engine and transmission software
- Relearn the transmission clutches
- Run adaptive learning for specific clutches
- Reset the clutch learning after a valve body, clutch or transmission repair
On the recalled 2020 and 2021 trucks and SUVs, GM dealers replace the faulty driveshafts free of charge. Some 2020 Silverado and Sierra owners told federal regulators they had the torque converter or the whole transmission replaced, one of them out of pocket.
GM has recalled some of its trucks and SUVs for driveshaft and transmission faults, while it handles the shudder itself through bulletins to its dealers.
5. How Do I Know if My Cadillac, Chevy or GMC Vehicle Is a Lemon?
Your Cadillac, Chevrolet or GMC may have the Chevy Shake defect if the dealership can’t seem to fix any of these issues in your vehicle:
- Shaking and shuddering
- Vehicle jerking
- Vehicle hesitation
- Harsh or delayed shifting
- Harsh engagement
- Clunks while shifting
- Transmission slipping
- Difficulty stopping
Many drivers have reported that these defects ultimately led to transmission failure or the vehicle becoming undriveable. Vehicles with the Chevy Shake defect can also have other problems that won’t go away and make the vehicles unsafe to drive.
Chevy and GMC “Chevy Shake” Complaints
Silverado and Sierra owners keep sending complaints about the shake and shudder to federal regulators. Read some of the complaints submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
GMC Sierra Hunts for the Right Gear
“Transmission has a shudder when accelerating and after shifting through all gears (8speed) during cruise mode when going on an incline as in overpass it starts to shudder and seems like it is trying to find the right gear to go into.”
– 2021 GMC Sierra 1500
Chevy Torque Converter Shudder
“Transmission/ torque converter. Truck feels like you are riding over rumble strips and shaking steering wheel. Confirmed by dealer.”
– 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Chevy Silverado Shifts Erratically
“Transmission doesn’t seem to shift right sometimes. Lurches forward, rpm’s go high and seems like it slams back into gear.”
– 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
GMC Sierra Slips and Slams Into Gear
“My 2023 GMC Sierra has 60,571 miles for a while now while driving the transmission slips and slams into gears.”
– 2023 GMC Sierra 1500
Chevy Shake Lawsuit or Lemon Law Claim?
A federal appeals court has set aside class status in the best-known Chevy Shake class action lawsuit, which covers older models, not 2020 and newer ones.
If the dealer has tried a reasonable number of times and still can’t fix a shake that GM’s warranty covers, California law says the manufacturer must replace the vehicle or refund what you paid. You can choose the refund over a replacement. The refund can be reduced for the miles you drove before your first repair visit for the shake, and for some items such as negative equity from a trade-in.
If you go forward with a claim, our attorneys represent you at no cost to you while seeking cash compensation, a replacement or a buyback. Contact a California lemon law attorney about your shaking vehicle.
Lemon Law Help works only in California. We help California residents who bought or leased a defective model year 2020 or newer vehicle from a licensed California dealer. We cannot help people outside California, unless they are active-duty military.