Stuck in Low
General Motors is addressing a transmission issue affecting certain 2025–2026 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain models. According to a Preliminary Information (PI) service bulletin (PIP6100), vehicles equipped with the 8-speed automatic transmission may become stuck in first gear.
Getting stuck in first gear can significantly limit vehicle speed and may result in high engine RPMs and pronounced jerking, since first gear typically delivers the most torque. The report states that the issue may occur when the transmission temperature is below 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) and after shifting from Reverse to Drive. It is reportedly caused by the Selectable One-Way Clutch Housing being interpreted as locked, which prevents the transmission from shifting out of first gear.
GMC
Which Models Are Affected?
The 8-speed automatic (8T45) is used in all-wheel-drive (AWD) versions of the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. Meanwhile, front-wheel-drive (FWD) models are equipped with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which does not use conventional fixed gears. Vehicles fitted with the CVT are not affected by the first-gear lockup issue.
This issue has been communicated to service dealers only and has not been sent to vehicle owners, as would typically occur with a formal recall. GM engineers are reportedly still working to identify a permanent remedy. In the meantime, drivers dealing with the issue are being told to lift off the throttle, which should allow the transmission to shift into second gear automatically.
Trouble in the Data
The 8T45 was introduced with the latest-generation Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain for the 2025 model year. The latest transmission concern comes after Consumer Reports’ 2026 findings ranked the two GM models as the least reliable in the compact crossover segment. The publication cited transmission-related problems, including issues with the transmission control module and severe fluid leaks that, in some cases, required complete transmission removal.
In a recent and separate Preliminary Information Service Bulletin (PIP6101), GM is addressing an engine noise issue affecting the Buick Enclave, as well as the GMC Acadia, Canyon, and Sierra 1500. The condition is described as a “top-end ticking noise” and has been reported in models equipped with GM’s L3B 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder or the LK0 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
Chevrolet
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