[Strommen95]

I purchased my 2022 GMC Canyon in July of this year. It's my first GMC product. My first two new vehicles were a 2014 and then 2019 Jeep Wrangler. The 2019 had the ZF 8 speed transmission, which was great. Between the GMC 8 speed issues and reports I've seen of clunky shifting or gear hunting, I will readily admit that the transmission made for my biggest hesitation buying one of the twins.

On cold days, my 8 speed needs to be warmed up and I thankfully wasn't an owner in 2017-2019 with the fluid issues. I know, it's not perfect. I'm not saying it's perfect or a 10 out of 10. I have been pleasantly surprised by how smooth this transmission is though. Any hesitation or lack of confidence I had in it beforehand is completely gone. I like it better than the 10 speed in my work F150, which constantly has a rough first shift even warmed up.

How do you feel about this transmission, for better or worse?

 

[Hunter62]

I like mine, From when I start it in the morning, I roll along and slowly speed up and after it gets to about 15mph, it is smooth the rest of the time.
my wife can make is slam between first and second, but I can't, she crazy women

 

[SouthernTrucker]

I have also been impressed with the transmission. It finds the right gear better than most cars I’ve been in.

 

[Opusnbill7]

Having owned a 2017 and a 2021, I'll say it's a totally different transmission with the right fluid in it from the start. My 2017 had the flush and it never still was "quite right" (but that was before they started recommending replacing the clutch packs also afaik). I've had no complaints about the 2021 whatsoever. If they refined it even more in the 2023's, I think it'll be fine.

 

[Abe17ZR2]

No issues in my 2017, at all. From short trips in snow and ice to 17 hr trip stopping only for gas, ice never had to worry about my truck failing me.

 

[madcratebuilder]

My 17 clunked a few times the first 2-300 miles. Felt a light shudder 2 times about 2 years ago. Had the flush done and nothing since.

 

[Tom S.]

My truck predates yours as it is an early 2018. When I first experienced the shudder, the dealership didn't screw around and replaced the torque convertor. Remember this was before the new trans fluid fix was proposed. Later, when the shudder returned, they did the flush and it has been trouble free ever since. Having been raised in the era of 2 speed, 3 speed and 4 speed transmissions, I question the need for 8 or 10 speed units. While it keeps the engine in the most economical range, it just adds more complexity to my way of thinking and more complexity often means more things to go wrong.

 

[leaky]

My truck predates yours as it is an early 2018. When I first experienced the shudder, the dealership didn't screw around and replaced the torque convertor. Remember this was before the new trans fluid fix was proposed. Later, when the shudder returned, they did the flush and it has been trouble free ever since. Having been raised in the era of 2 speed, 3 speed and 4 speed transmissions, I question the need for 8 or 10 speed units. While it keeps the engine in the most economical range, it just adds more complexity to my way of thinking and more complexity often means more things to go wrong.

I would say it keeps the engine in the desired range better, for economy or performance. With these sorts of transmissions, when you hold it to the floor, they can basically hold the RPM in a narrow zone where the engine produces max output. And that's while also starting you off with a really low ratio and having a really high ratio available for the highway cruise.

My old Canyon with the I5, granted it was minus 80+ HP, although a smaller truck too, was a total dog between shifts comparatively. With only 4 gears, upon a shift, it started bogged down before you made it into the powerband again. Though it wasn't much different on fuel in actual real world use.

With a high RPM engine that produces good power down low (high torque) you may not quite need all the gears I'd think, or they would be mostly for economy, but that's not the V6 and I think it benefits from the 8 speed a lot.

 

[bondo dust]

Yeh been thru 2 spd, 3spd and the 4 spd autos my 8spd shifts to much for my liking but the power in the gear is good. I have the hard 1-2-1 shift in the morning, cold 40 deg. but that goes away quickly as it warms up. I agree to much technology, hate to think of the cost of a rebuild but than again I have never had to get an auto trans rebuilt in 50 years of driving. I tend to keep rig 10 to 15 years, 100k plus miles.
Luck

 

[buckshot85]

‘22 3.6, Z71
Mine slips or stalls from 3-4.
Usually, the first up shift. Occasionally the second. Then all good.

 

[Mad German]

2021 ZR2 here. I have zero issues with my transmission. I let it fully warm up before driving, especially in the ultra cold weather. I do drive rather conservatively and my transmission shifts just fine.

 

[PDLandis]

My 2019 Z71 3.6 8sp likes a warmup, especially in colder weather (live in PA). If I start out cold, first couple of shifts feel a little clunky. After that, it’s fine.

I got the fluid change early on. Bought new in 11/2018.

 

[TunaFresh]

I purchased my 2022 GMC Canyon in July of this year. It's my first GMC product. My first two new vehicles were a 2014 and then 2019 Jeep Wrangler. The 2019 had the ZF 8 speed transmission, which was great. Between the GMC 8 speed issues and reports I've seen of clunky shifting or gear hunting, I will readily admit that the transmission made for my biggest hesitation buying one of the twins.

On cold days, my 8 speed needs to be warmed up and I thankfully wasn't an owner in 2017-2019 with the fluid issues. I know, it's not perfect. I'm not saying it's perfect or a 10 out of 10. I have been pleasantly surprised by how smooth this transmission is though. Any hesitation or lack of confidence I had in it beforehand is completely gone. I like it better than the 10 speed in my work F150, which constantly has a rough first shift even warmed up.

How do you feel about this transmission, for better or worse?

Completely agree. I find it to be very smooth. I like it better than the Tacoma and Ranger transmissions. The Fronter has a nice 9 speed now.

 

[Duken4evr]

The ZF 8 speed might be the best automatic transmission ever made, so that is a really tough standard to compare to. Rented a RAM FS truck with the 5.7 with the ZF trans and loved it. Of course I drove it like a rental (who can resist romping on a rented V8?) and also cruised in it, that ZF trans was flawless. I covet a good 8 speed for my diesel, as it has lots of torque but a very narrow optimum RPM range, ideally between 1,700 and 2,000 for most driving - the 8 speed's extra gears would be nice.

A buddy has a '19 ZR2 with the 3.6, his 8 speed has given him no issues. Have ridden in my buddy's ZR2 and also rented an Acadia which has the 3.6 also, both had very good 8 speeds in them. Like everything GM, it seems rather luck of the draw. Most are probably good, but some bad ones are definitely out there. Hopefully by now on the later model trucks GM has the 8 speed issues all sorted out, it does sound like it.

 

[jhs914]

My 2017 had the shudder fixed with the updated ATF. The transmission is not perfect however. Most of the times it shifts perfectly but sometimes for no known reason it will flare between shifts or have a hard clunky shift. I suspect it is a software issue but I have no idea why it does it sporadically.

 

[TunaFresh]

The only issue in my 22 is the first 1-2 shift in the morning after truck has sat all night. I just go really slow now and once it's in 2nd gear I'm good to go.

 

[PWinMD]

The only issue in my 22 is the first 1-2 shift in the morning after truck has sat all night. I just go really slow now and once it's in 2nd gear I'm good to go.

Same on my 2021 v6, I let her warm up for about 30 sec-1 min. There is a pause for the first shift then nothing else. Thought I read in the owners manual this was normal.

 

[leaky]

Mine the magic number is 80 degrees F, which is a little less than 5 miles in the low 30's.

Basically, although the serious clunkiness goes away after a few shifts, all warmup quirks are gone at 80 F.

 

[Frosty19]

It can be a little clunky in specific situations but seems to work well efficiency wise and don't hear of many full failures. The fluid thing is odd but I, as many other, have had mine flushed and fixed the shudder.
My biggest issue is it takes forever to warm up when its cold out (-30 to -40 isnt uncommon for the winter mornings). The zr2 has no grill shutters and there doesn't seem to be a trans cooler bypass... 68F trans temp all day today on the highway and it wasn't even cold (-15*C)

 

[rfross]

I had a '17 that developed the shudder. The under-warranty trans fluid flush and fill worked for a bit but it came back. The second flush and fill did the trick, though.

I now have a '19 that has a trouble-free transmission. I coast down coming up to red lights and stop signs and I like that as I'm slowing I can hear and feel the transmission gently downshifting to be in the right gear for a given speed. It seems that it will downshift all the way to second gear before coming to a stop. I live where it's pretty flat so I don't get any gear hunting.

As much as I like the eight-speed auto in my Colly, I liked the ten-speed auto in a '18 Mustang GT I had owned even more! Now that was a killer automatic.