Poll: How long has your transmission lasted?

[SnowDrifter]

Just curious. I know they are a weak point on these vehicles.

Please include year, mileage, maintenence schedule, and any mods to the vehicle

 

[PNWMuseumman]

• 2002 Tahoe Z71
• 280,000~ish miles
• Essentially no maintenance done on the transmission. Maybe an occasional fluid change. But none that I am aware of. I've known the car it's whole life as my parents bought it new before giving it to me a few years ago.
• No mods

• Still on original transmission with ZERO issues.

 

[RST Dana]

2007 traded at 160K no issues
2013 traded at 130k with pump and Tordue converter replace at 44k

 

[Erickk120]

2004 z71
lead-footed
180k RIP sun shell
220k+ running fine

 

[ivin74]

165k no issues yet, knock on wood.

 

[Countryboy07]

2005, just shy of 250,000, all OEM. Blackbear tuned, have Vette servo and new fluid to put in, just haven't gotten around to it

 

[adventurenali92]

2006 with a 6.0L and a 4L65E at 115k. Bought it with 74,600 miles. OEM trans died at 86,000. Rebuilt, fluid changed at 1,000 miles after the rebuild, and since been blackbear tuned with a spectre intake and a magnaflow muffler. No trans issues since the rebuild.

 

[ScottyBoy]

I drive my 2001 Suburban like I stole it, pretty much always did ever since I originally bought it back in 2006 with 52k miles on it. I installed a Vette servo and got a Blackbear tune in 2010. The sunshell in my transmission broke apart at 118,000 miles in 2012. When I had it rebuilt, the shop told me that the clutch bands appeared to still have a good bit of life left in them. Nonetheless, I had the the transmission completely rebuilt, not just the broken sunshell replaced. Not a single issue since it's been rebuilt, and I still drive with a really heavy foot. I originally thought that perhaps the tune had something to do with the transmission failing so early. But then again, I now realize that it was a bad combination of the ****** GM sunshell and my lead footed driving style.

 

[DubTahoe21]

2004 Tahoe Z71, 150k, fluid changes only, no issues

2013 Tahoe Z71, 45k and counting

 

[Henry V]

04' Denali 260,000 when tranny failed
Fluid fluid change every 40,000

 

[latvius]

2005 Tahoe 168,000 Flushed fluid at 150K no issues so far

2005 Denali 116,000 Flushed fluid at 100K no issues so far either.

 

[willinnashville]

2005 Yukon Denali with the 6.0 and 4L65E, 165k and no problems so far. I've owned it since 99k. Has had a couple fluid changes.

@Henry V We're gonna need to see more pictures of that truck in your avatar...

 

[Doubeleive]

on my 2000 NBS (Yukon xl 4x4), I broke it at least 5 times over the course of 12 years, not including 2 transfer cases, 3 or 4 rear diffs, never broke the front diff but it did spring a leak so I yanked one out of a escalade and it survived. and 1 engine rebuild, sold it at 320k still in great condition.
that's what happens when you floor it pretty much all the time

 

[89Suburban]

309K original trans, motor, transfer, front diff. Rear axle replaced once with a used one.

 

[Eod1]

I have 148,000 on my 2012 it has always been flushed and replaced. If it turns black don't flush it. If it has always been in the pink. Then get it flushed. I should last a dam long time.

 

[hound_dog]

2007 Tahoe LS 2WD.
At 94k the transmission went out. I think it was 1st/2nd gear but it's been years so I don't recall. Luckily we had the 100k 72mo warranty and it was fixed. We're at 174k now and it's working fine. Had the fluid changed at 150k.

 

[Henry V]

2005 Yukon Denali with the 6.0 and 4L65E, 165k and no problems so far. I've owned it since 99k. Has had a couple fluid changes.

@Henry V We're gonna need to see more pictures of that truck in your avatar...

I'll try... It took me about 30mins to put this one on here... Lol!

 

[JRB_04_LT]

04 Tahoe LT
208,000 miles on the original tranny with no problems.
No known service history, took over the vehicle when I met my wife a few years ago. Tahoe had roughly 189,000 on it and she had no service records.
I literally asked a reputable local shop this morning what their opinion was about doing a full service with fluid and filter and the guy said at this point , he wouldn't bother because I'm already on borrowed time. I honestly don't know if the fluid in this tranny has ever been changed. I pulled the dipstick and the fluid still looks slightly pink. At this point, what do you guys recommend I should do? Service it anyway and hope for the best? Any thoughts or opinions are greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[camaroz2887]

When my mother had the 03 suburban the stock trans lasted til 98k I believe. She got it rebuilt at a reputable shop and ended up giving it to my brother. That rebuild lasted til 280k (with a questionable flush schedule) and was still going strong til we swapped it out with a junkyard fresh motor and an almost new trans that came straight from Chevy. Lucky find

 

[SnowDrifter]

04 Tahoe LT
208,000 miles on the original tranny with no problems.
No known service history, took over the vehicle when I met my wife a few years ago. Tahoe had roughly 189,000 on it and she had no service records.
I literally asked a reputable local shop this morning what their opinion was about doing a full service with fluid and filter and the guy said at this point , he wouldn't bother because I'm already on borrowed time. I honestly don't know if the fluid in this tranny has ever been changed. I pulled the dipstick and the fluid still looks slightly pink. At this point, what do you guys recommend I should do? Service it anyway and hope for the best? Any thoughts or opinions are greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

You'll need to do a careful inspection of fluid or send it out for analasys. What happens when you change the fluid on a worn out transmission is it's actually the poor condition of the fluid that still allows the old clutches to grab. Put something with adequate lubricity in there and it begins to slip

Aside from smell, You'll need to check the fluid for metal buildup and/or presence of excess friction material in it. If you see that in the fluid, don't bother changing it. Instead, start shopping cause the clock is ticking. If the fluid checks out OK, then you can safely change it