My Chevy Silverado 1500 Blew Through Three Transmissions in 100,000 Miles, and Now I’m Questioning the Brand I’ve Trusted for Decades

This Silverado owner thought he was buying a trouble-free truck, until it went through three transmissions and two torque converters in just 100,000 miles. Now, after decades of loyalty, he’s questioning everything he believed about Chevy.

Posted: May 6, 2025 - 7:41PM
Author: Aram Krajekian

In the world of truck ownership, some stories stick with you. They don’t come from glossy brochures or marketing videos, but from real people who’ve lived through unexpected breakdowns, costly repairs, and brand-shaking disappointments. I found one of those experiences tonight while I was responding to comments on another article I recently wrote titled “My 2024 Silverado 2500 HD Went In for a Transmission Fix But I Believe the Dealer Botched the Repair, Now a Part of Me Thinks I Should’ve Gone With a Ford F-250 Instead”

This comment was shared by a reader named Scott Vinz, who recounted an ownership experience that not only echoed the issues I wrote about in my other article but also took them to a level I honestly didn’t think was possible. Scott’s tale of his Chevy is a reminder that even light use can’t always shield you from major mechanical failure, especially when it comes to transmission issues that some Silverado owners know all too well. Here's Scott's story:

“I have been hearing about the 8 and 10 speed transmission troubles but wait till you hear my story. I bought a brand new Chevy Silverado 1500 in January of 2017 and like everyone else was very proud of my new truck. Well, just 3,500 miles in and never having pulled anything with it at that point, my transmission went out. I left it in front of the service door on a Sunday and on Monday they confirmed the transmission was bad with valve body issues so they put a new transmission in. Got it back and the truck ran trouble free until I hit 35,000 miles. The transmission was acting up again and shifting jerky so I took it back. They said they could not see what’s wrong with it, so I had to take them for a drive with a tech with his laptop hooked up. When I slowed down and turned a corner it would jerk, and he said, ‘Oh, that's your transmission.’ I said, ‘Are you kidding me?’ He said, ‘Nope.’ So they put the second transmission in. They went to test drive it, and before they got out of the shop door, it made a big bang and they said the torque converter went out. So they put a new one in.”

“Mind you now, this is the second transmission and torque converter 35,000 miles in. So I got it back, then at 65,000 miles the starter went out. Then at 70,000 miles the A/C quit working. And at 98,000 miles the second torque converter and third transmission went out. Once again, this truck has done very little pulling. Only my two four wheelers a couple times a year. So they put the third transmission in and second torque converter in at 98,000, and then I got it back and 2,000 miles later it was leaking transmission fluid. So back it went again, and they fixed that and called me and said the radiator was leaking. So $750 dollars later I got a new radiator.

So yes, it has been a real roller coaster with my 2017 Chevy Silverado. All this 100,000 miles in. I also have been a Chevy owner my whole life. My dad had Chevys too. I'm 60 now and have owned a lot of trucks. My last one I sold before buying this one I also bought new at the same dealership. Sold that with 336,000 miles on it and I put one used transmission in it at 200,000 miles, and that truck did a lot of pulling. I also own a 2007 that is my work truck and I have 234,000 miles on it right now and have not touched the transmission. One would think that GM would wise up and go back to the old way, because you know what? It worked. I'm thinking about a new and bigger truck to pull a fifth wheel, but with everything I hear about the 2500, I'm leaning towards a Ford also. Very sad for GM that they can't fix these issues.”

2017 Chevy Silverado Front

A Pattern That’s Hard to Ignore

Scott’s experience might sound extreme, but stories like his are becoming more common among certain Silverado models and transmission pairings. Whether it’s the 8-speed or 10-speed units, complaints often revolve around harsh shifting, early failure, or mysterious behavior that’s difficult for dealerships to replicate until it fails entirely. We saw something similar in this 2024 Chevy 2500 HD story where the owner returned the truck after just one week due to unresolved problems.

It raises a pressing question: are these just isolated incidents, or is there a deeper issue rooted in GM’s transmission design, software calibration, or serviceability protocols?

One of the most striking parts of Scott’s story isn’t just the mechanical failure, but the emotional toll too. Scott's a lifelong Chevy owner, someone who proudly points to decades of reliability, now standing on the edge of brand disillusionment. His previous Silverado hit 336,000 miles and needed just one used transmission. But his 2017? It’s on its third, plus two torque converters and still leaking by 100,000 miles.

That kind of dramatic shift in ownership experience naturally sows doubt. It mirrors the sentiment in this powerful reflection on a former Chevy owner who now swears by the Toyota Tundra after making the switch.

When the New Feels Worse Than the Old

There’s an irony here that shouldn’t be overlooked: Scott’s 2007 has 234,000 miles on the original transmission while his brand-new 2017 needed its first replacement before the 4,000-mile mark. That contrast speaks volumes about how durability and dependability can sometimes regress instead of progress, particularly when new tech or cost-saving components are introduced without fully vetting long-term consequences.

Many Silverado owners who’ve reported repeat transmission failures echo this feeling. And for some, it’s not just about reliability as it’s about losing trust in a company they once believed had their back. Just look at this Silverado owner’s story, whose truck was flawless until a subwoofer install led to a chain reaction of failures.

Transmission Troubles That Just Won’t Quit

Let’s break this down: in just under 100,000 miles, Scott’s 2017 Silverado 1500 went through three transmissions, two torque converters, a failed A/C system, a bad starter, and a leaking radiator. That’s not just a list of repairs at this point, it’s a blueprint for how a new truck becomes a case study in mechanical disappointment.

Yet he wasn’t even using the truck for heavy towing or hauling but for occasional ATV transport. That makes it harder to justify the wear and tear from a mechanical standpoint. Similar red flags are raised in cases like this Silverado that came back from a simple transmission service with a mysterious burning smell.

Stories like Scott’s make me think about the disconnect between engineering and real-world ownership. On paper, today’s trucks should be more advanced, more capable, and more durable than ever. But in practice, we’re seeing more and more owners dealing with complex failures earlier in the lifespan of their vehicles. That disconnect is alarming and not just from a reliability standpoint but from a loyalty one as well.

Truck buyers are some of the most brand-loyal customers in the industry. But when people like Scott, who trusted Chevy their entire life, are now being pushed toward Ford after decades of satisfaction, that should raise concern at GM. It’s not about isolated defects anymore.

Key Takeaways

Legacy loyalty is fragile: Even lifelong fans like Scott can be swayed when modern trucks fail to live up to their predecessors.
Light use doesn’t mean light wear: Even with minimal towing, major drivetrain failures can occur and repeat.
The past tells a different story: Older Chevy trucks often went hundreds of thousands of miles without major issues, raising questions about current design priorities.
Failures are often compounded: Transmission issues rarely come alone as they tend to bring other repairs with them.
Buyers are watching: Every story like Scott’s chips away at the trust buyers place in long-standing brands like GM.

Now We Want to Hear from You

Have you had a similar experience with transmission issues in a Silverado or another GM vehicle?

And if you switched brands, what finally made you consider switching? Or are you still holding out hope GM will get it right?

Your thoughts go a long way as your stories might end up on our page, so don't hesitate to share your experiences in the comments below!

Aram Krajekian is a young automotive journalist bringing a fresh perspective to his coverage of the evolving automotive landscape. Follow Aram on X and LinkedIn for daily news coverage about cars.

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