GMC Envoy Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 186 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the GMC Envoy across 12 model years. The 2002 model year has the most (83). The words owners use most often: “transfer case” (9% of reports).
- 186power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 5mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- $3,200typical repair cost reported by owners
- 32%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Transfer case: mentioned in 17 of 186 complaints (9%)
- Transmission failed: mentioned in 15 of 186 complaints (8%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the GMC Envoy at $3,200, and half of them between $1,500 and $4,350.
Based on 10 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2005–2014), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 133 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 186 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 5 a fire, 5 an injury.
GMC Envoy power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 Envoy | 2 | 12% | 88,000 |
| 2008 Envoy | 5 | 6% | 76,000 |
| 2007 Envoy | 6 | 3% | 77,165 |
| 2006 Envoy | 12 | 3% | 86,000 |
| 2005 Envoy | 18 | 4% | 50,828 |
| 2004 Envoy | 15 | 4% | 53,952 |
| 2003 Envoy | 37 | 9% | 46,000 |
| 2002 Envoy | 83 | 17% | 58,435 |
| 2001 Envoy | 1 | 20% | 50,102 |
| 2000 Envoy | 4 | 18% | 10,234 |
| 1999 Envoy | 2 | 22% | 107,041 |
| 1998 Envoy | 1 | 5% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Power train:automatic transmission
Model years: 2002, 2003
Problem: Certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 114, "theft protection." these vehicles are equipped with a mechanical override that could allow the ignition key to be removed with the shift lever in a position other than park. In addition, these vehicles have an override that can allow the transmission to be shifted out of park with the ignition in the off position.
Risk: These overrides are not permitted unless the vehicle has a locking steering column.
Fix: Dealers will eliminate these conditions by disabling the overrides. Owner notification began on may 29, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, gmc at 1-800-462-8782, oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537, or hummer at 1-866-486-6376.
Power train:transfer case (4-wheel drive)
Model years: 2002
Problem: Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles equipped with 4-wheel drive. The calibration of the transfer case control module could cause insufficient high speed gear engagement.
Risk: If the gear is not engaged, the vehicle can roll when the transmission is in "park" and a crash could result without warning.
Fix: Dealers will update the transfer case control module calibration to increase gear engagement. Owner notification began november 6, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 or gmc at 1-800-462-8782.
Power train:transfer case (4-wheel drive)
Model years: 2002
Problem: Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles (4 wheel-drive). Some of these vehicles were built with a range shift collar in the transmission transfer case that contains cracks.
Risk: This condition could result in a complete fracture of the range shift collar and subsequent loss of vehicle forward and reverse gears, and the inability to maintain "park" position. This increases the risk of a vehicle crash resulting from unintended movement of a parked vehicle.
Fix: Dealers will replace the transfer cases and update the control module calibration. Owner notification began september 6, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 or gmc at 1-800-462-8782.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I purchased a 2007 GMC Envoy from Premier Auto Sales in [XXX] in XXX. I put down $1,250 and I pay $500 a month, $250 bi-weekly. I owe $4767 left on the vehicle in total. A month or two after I bought the vehicle, my car started driving rough and not being able to handle small bumps without rocking…
When starting the vehicle it turns over as if it wasn't going to start then it starts then put it in drive and it revs up without moving seems like its going to to pull out but barely moves while driving down the highway in curves it p pulls tords traffic like real hard my drivers side mirror hit…
All the gages have stopped working correctly. They do not report proper information to driver . The electrical wiring to the rear wiper, license plate lights and rear hatch stopped working. The most dangerous thing is the ABS brake system dash lights and bell comes on every time the car is driven…
The contact owns a 2002 GMC Envoy. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the rear subframe had fractured and detached. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the subframe needed…
Leaking transmission fluid; vehicle stalls while driving; and leaks from inside windows onto electrical power switches and floor boars on both driver''s side and passenger side doors.
Frequently asked questions
Do all GMC Envoys have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 186 owner complaints about power train for the GMC Envoy. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the GMC Envoy power train?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the GMC Envoy?
Owners report a typical cost of $3,200 (half paid between $1,500 and $4,350), from 10 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the GMC Envoy?
The most frequent phrase is “transfer case”, in 17 of 186 complaints, followed by “transmission failed” (15).
Other GMC Envoy problems
See all GMC Envoy problems.