Transmission Holding Lower Gear After Moderate to Hard Acceleration

Hi all, started noticing my Yukon XL w/ the 6.2L "holding" on to a lower gear after downshifting during a moderate to hard acceleration.
I am not sure if I just noticed this and it has always been doing it, or if it is a new phenomenon.

It still shifts smoothly in normal driving, but if I give it a litte gas (like to pass a vehicle on a 2 lane highway) that causes a downshift of a few gears...when I immediately let off the accelerator, it seems to hold the lower gear, and begin to slow down.
If I don't let all the way off the accelerator, it will happily upshift to one of its higher gears and get the RPM's back to ~1200 range.

Steps to make it happen.
1) Be driving along at 35 MPH or more.
2) Mash the gas half way or more, vehicle downshifts and gets going (with a smile and a fun growl), get it up to 55-60 MPH.
3) Release the accelerator
4) Transmission seems to stay in the lower gear, and if no more accelerator applied, will stay in this lower gear, and slow due to engine, not shift to a higher gear and coast.

Applying even a slight press of the accelerator after #4 above and it will upshift to a higher gear.

It feels to me like this is a new thing, I don't recall this in the first 28,000 or so, but in the last 1200 miles I have noticed it. Perhaps it was always this way, and I noticed it and became sensitive.

Anyone else experience this? Is it normal? I am about due for an oil change, and will ask the dealer about it when I go in, but thought I would poll the group to see your experience.

I've noticed this in my 2008 and 2017 from time to time. I don't know what causes it, other than maybe a torque management strategy in the ECM that thinks you are all of a sudden in fast and furious mode? It's either a safe guard feature, or a confused ECM not knowing what it's supposed to do next with its life after being startled from it's slumber at 35 mph.

It does learn and adapt to your driving style, maybe that's why.

Probably torque management kicking in to protect the transmission. When it holds the gear does it require a stab of the throttle to let go? If you just coast does it upshift on its own?

iamlegion said:

Probably torque management kicking in to protect the transmission. When it holds the gear does it require a stab of the throttle to let go? If you just coast does it upshift on its own?

Click to expand...

No. Just coasting holds the lower gear. Need to lightly apply throttle to affect an upshift.

iamlegion said:

Probably torque management kicking in to protect the transmission.
When it holds the gear does it require a stab of the throttle to let go?
If you just coast does it upshift on its own?

Click to expand...

WalleyeMikeIII said:

No. Just coasting holds the lower gear. Need to lightly apply throttle to affect an upshift.

Click to expand...

Actually, it's very nice of the geartrain to wait for your input.
What they used to do was assume you wanted the highest (laziest / least enthusiastic) gear possible.

I have noticed this a couple times lately in my '23 Denali (w/just under 9K on it). I think I've noticed it on some occasions around 25-40 mph. It's definitely not an "all the time" thing, but I'm betting it's the same thing you're experiencing. Can't say exactly what brings it on, so I'll be following this thread.

Update: had the Yukon at the dealer for this, Master Tech drove it w/ diags system connected. No issues noted, said this is how it is designed...holds low gear, does not upshift without any throttle input. Perhaps indeed it has been this way from the beginning and I just didn't notice it. I am ok w/ this type of operation, now that I know how it works...leaves the power in my foot if i want it again.

@NickTransmissions thoughts?

89Suburban said:

@NickTransmissions thoughts?

Click to expand...

I have nothing to add to post 8, sounds normal to me but I'm not familiar w/these newer 10-speed units.

Here are the symptoms people want to watch out for and take action if observed:

1. Shuddering at any speed/gear/range position
2. Slipping
3. Delayed Engagements
4. Wrong gear starts
5. Missing gears, skipping gears
6. Flare Shifting
7. Tie ups and/or binds
8. Grinding noises coming from the transmission
9. Transmission overheating
10. Transmission inexplicably expelling fluid from the vent tube or leaking
11. No forward and/or reverse movement
12. Limp mode (only certain gears available)
13. No upshift from first gear
14. Clunky, jerky, bumpy, harsh or overly soft shifts
15. Any variation or similar symptom to any of the above