My Dealership Can Neither Fix My 2019 Silverado's Transmission In a Timely Manner Nor Let Me Take It Back, Leaving Me Stuck Battling GM's Warranty Backlogs

This morning, while browsing the 2019-2025 Chevy Silverado & GMC Sierra Owners group on Facebook, I came across a post by Kam Greene that caught my attention. Kam’s story is one of frustration and helplessness—a scenario that some Silverado owners might relate to. His experience sheds light on the challenges of dealing with warranty repairs, backordered parts, and dealerships that seem more focused on process than solutions. Let’s dive into Kam’s situation. Now Silverado owners have long appreciated the truck's blend of capability and reliability, which is why the upcoming 2025 Chevrolet Silverado has been designed to build on that legacy with a sharp focus on capability and affordability. You can explore what’s new in the 2025 model here while comparing it to your current Silverado experience.

Here’s Kam’s post in full:

"I have a 2019 Chevy Silverado, which I just bought used in May 2024 with 80,000 miles on it. My transmission has now gone bad (currently at 97k miles) and it's been nearly 4 months since I got approved at the dealership (A) to get transmission parts from GM and now 10 days from Christmas I'm still waiting. I’ve even gone to another shop I found out about a month ago that works on transmissions while still waiting with Dealership (A). The owner of the shop is like a 1st responder transmission mechanic so he can get parts quicker. Thus, after I got with him beginning of November, it took 3 weeks and my transmission parts were in at his shop right before Thanksgiving. However, he could not get the job done with my WARRANTY because Dealership (A) has the authorization of my truck waiting for GM parts. So I called Dealership (A) to ask them about canceling authorization to release my truck, and they said they will NOT release it after what they went through for me to get approved.

Is this even fair? I understand GM is on backorder, but a dealership stopping you from going somewhere else makes it worse. I mean it's my truck. Why keep somebody from going somewhere else for transmission parts? Dealership (A) told me I could call GM to check. Then GM told me to call and check with Dealership (A). I'm really upset right now. I don't know what to do."

It’s a frustrating tale, and it gets worse when you hear the details. When asked in the Facebook group if the dealership had offered him a loaner or any kind of support while he waited, Kam explained:

"I didn't buy the truck from that dealership (A). I got my truck from further away, but the Dealership (A) would give me a rental if I break down or get called to bring the truck in. But the rental is only 5 days, and they can't do anything to speed up the process. We are both waiting on GM to send parts. I could have gone to the other shop when he got my parts in quicker, but that mission was not accomplished due to Dealership (A) not releasing authorization on my truck... so I'm stuck and screwed."

Kam’s post resonated with many group members who’ve faced similar struggles. Michael Secinore, another member of the group, shared his own experience: “I feel you. My 21 Toyota Highlander is down, and been down since November waiting on a transmission. Second one in 4,000 miles as the replacement was defective.” This shows that the issue of delayed parts and inadequate support isn’t unique to Chevrolet—it’s an industry-wide challenge that’s leaving many drivers without their vehicles for months.

Kam’s situation is particularly infuriating because it highlights a key question: should a dealership have the right to hold your truck hostage while waiting for parts? On one hand, Dealership (A) argues that they went through a lot of effort to get Kam’s warranty claim approved. But on the other hand, Kam found another shop that could source the necessary parts in just three weeks. Why shouldn’t he be allowed to pursue faster repairs elsewhere, especially when the dealership can’t deliver?

This kind of dealership standoff isn’t new to Silverado owners—just ask George from Owings, who shared his own frustrating experience driving a brand-new 2024 Silverado 594 miles back to the dealership due to issues he could no longer ignore.

This case also underscores the broader issue of GM’s supply chain delays. As Kam pointed out, both he and the dealership are waiting on GM to send the parts. But the lack of accountability and communication between GM and dealerships only worsens the problem for customers. When Kam called GM to escalate the matter, he was told to contact the dealership. Meanwhile, the dealership directed him back to GM—a classic example of buck-passing that leaves the customer stuck in limbo.

What makes this even more painful for Kam is that he purchased his truck just seven months ago. A transmission failure at 97,000 miles is already a tough pill to swallow, but waiting nearly four months for parts without a clear resolution adds insult to injury. Kam’s story is a cautionary tale for anyone buying a used truck: warranties and dealership processes can sometimes feel like anything but a safety net.

Sadly, Kam’s ordeal isn’t the only story of Silverado owners running into roadblocks with dealerships. One Silverado buyer faced an even more shocking situation when a GMC dealer failed to pay off their trade-in, leaving them stuck with a $35,000 bill.

So, what can other Silverado owners learn from Kam’s ordeal? First, it’s worth asking detailed questions about warranty repair processes before committing to a dealership for major work. Second, it’s crucial to document everything and escalate issues quickly if progress stalls. Kam’s experience also raises an important question: should automakers like GM allow dealerships to lock customers into repairs when parts are delayed? Would it make more sense to let customers seek alternative solutions while retaining warranty coverage?

While stories like Kam’s can feel disheartening, not every Silverado transmission issue ends in frustration. One Silverado owner shared how he helped his son resolve transmission troubles with a permanent fix that’s still holding strong.

Have you had a similar experience with your Chevy Silverado or another vehicle? How did you handle it, and what advice would you give to other drivers in Kam’s position? Share your story in the comments below. Let’s keep this conversation going and help each other navigate these challenges.

Armen Hareyan is the founder and the Editor in Chief of Torque News. He founded TorqueNews.com in 2010, which since then has been publishing expert news and analysis about the automotive industry. He can be reached at Torque News Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. He has more than a decade of expertise in the automotive industry with a special interest in Tesla and electric vehicles.