The 2024 Chevy Silverado Is Already Getting a Better Transmission
We admire the Chevrolet Silverado’s work ethic. It doesn’t have to wait for a mid-cycle refresh or a new generation to keep on improving. Each year provides delightful surprises like a revamped interior or more engine power. Spoiler alert, the 2024 Chevy Silverado 1500 is getting a new transmission.
What transmission is in the 2024 Chevy Silverado 1500?
Reportedly, one 2024 Chevy Silverado 1500 is getting the second-generation Hydra-Matic 8L80 eight-speed automatic transmission. It will be paired with the 2.7-liter inline-four L3B gasoline engine, but that’s only one of the four options available.
The Hydra-Matic 8L80 is proving to be successful in the 2023 Chevy Colorado. General Motors is using the eight-speed unit instead of the 10-speed transmission because the L3B engine provides tons of torque, making the two extra gears unnecessary.
GM Authority shared that the gear ratios are a good match for the performance of the LB3. It cranks out 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque.
The new transmission was recently tested in February. It mostly provides smooth shifts and functions as expected. However, it still surged while accelerating and was a little laggy at higher speeds.
Hopefully, these kinks will be solved before the 2024 Silverado 1500 drops because it doesn’t need another transmission problem to deal with.
Does the Silverado 1500 have transmission problems?
Transmission problems still haunt the Chevy Silverado 1500. The previous eight-speed automatic transmission used from 2019-2023 Silverado models has been causing headaches for years.
It has led to multiple lawsuits across the country. For example, a lawsuit with class-action status represents 36 plaintiffs across 26 states.
Alleged, drivers of the Chevy Silverado and other General Motors vehicles report transmission hesitation, loud knocks, shuddering, shaking, vibrating the cabin, loud clunks, and hard shifts while changing gears.
Chevrolet released over 60 different technical service bulletins to try and correct the issue. The lawsuit claims that Chevrolet didn’t do enough to correct and continued to sell vehicles while being aware of the issues.
There was a 2018 recall related to sudden downshifts. Also, in 2021, technicians began updating the transmission software and replacing the control module, but complaints continued to grow.
Is the new Silverado transmission better?
The new 2024 Chevy Silverado transmission might be better. The transmission speed is expected to be 5% more efficient and has smaller steps between gears. It’s lighter and has features to reduce friction.
But the lawsuit claims that this transmission is unfixable. The 2023 Colorado and Canyon are just now hitting the streets, but critics report that the throttle is a little laggy and can be slow to respond.
Larger gear ratios can put more strain on the clutch and torque converter to provide a smooth performance. So, the smaller steps between gears should be helpful.
The new transmission needs to be put to the test. The 2024 Silverado is slated to enter production by July 17 and should reach dealerships by the fall.
We will have to wait a few months to see if the updated transmission makes a difference. It sounds like the transmission problems are still creating chaos, so stay tuned for the latest updates.
