Chevrolet · GMC · Cadillac
Used 8L90 Transmissions for Sale
Used 8L90 transmissions for the Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra and Cadillac Escalade, matched to your VIN and RPO code. Tell us the year, model, engine and drive, and one independent supplier quotes availability, price and shipping to Texas or anywhere in the lower 48.
- Ships to all 48 contiguous states
- Fitment checked by VIN
- Free to ask
- $2,150used, typical low end
- $4,198remanufactured, from
- 3vehicle lines listed
- 2015earliest model year listed
8L90 Transmission Price: Used vs Remanufactured
- 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500AT, 4x2, 5.3L, 8 Speed, Opt M5U, ID 5U0L$2,150–$3,275median $2,406 · 29 listings
- 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500AT, 4x4, 5.3L, 8 Speed, Opt M5U, ID 5UJL$2,400–$3,978median $2,556 · 97 listings
- 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500AT, 4x4, 5.3L, 8 Speed, Opt M5U, ID 6U3L$3,975–$6,718median $5,490 · 47 listings
- 2018 GMC Sierra 1500(AT), 4x2, 5.3L, 8 Speed, Opt M5U$2,955–$4,735median $3,100 · 13 listings
- 2018 GMC Sierra 1500(AT), 4x4, 5.3L, 8 Speed, Opt M5U$2,896–$4,141median $3,298 · 22 listings
- 2018 GMC Sierra 1500(AT), 4x4, 6.2L, 8 Speed (Opt M5U)$2,339–$3,096median $2,639 · 32 listings
- Remanufactured20 remanufactured units listed by Street Smart Transmission, Powertrain Products$4,198–$4,199median $4,199 · 20 offers
Each used bar runs from the 25th to the 75th percentile of that version's asking prices, so half its listings fall inside it, and the dot marks the median. The supplier quotes your exact part, shipping and warranty.
These are part prices only. For labor and the total bill, see our transmission replacement cost guide.
8L90 at a glance
| Type | GM's first 8-speed automatic, for longitudinal (rear-wheel and four-wheel drive) layouts; die-cast aluminum caseSource: Wikipedia: GM 8L transmission, Wikipedia: specifications |
|---|---|
| RPO code | M5U (8L90). The smaller 8L45 is M5NSource: Wikipedia: 8L 90 M5U, Wikipedia: 8L 45 M5N, Hollander: 2016 Silverado 1500 transmission options (Opt M5U), Hollander: 2018 Sierra 1500 transmission options (Opt M5U) |
| Gear ratios | 4.560 first to 0.652 eighth; reverse 3.818Source: Wikipedia: key data |
| Capacity | Up to 664 lb-ft of input torque and 420 hp; validated to 22,500 lb gross combined weightSource: Wikipedia: specifications |
| Weight and fluid | 218 lb; DEXRON high performance ATFSource: Wikipedia: specifications |
Which 8L90 do you have?
8L90 (M5U), from 2014
The heavy-duty version, in V8 Silverado and Sierra 1500s, Escalades, Yukon Denalis, the C7 Corvette and the Camaro SS. Hollander labels name it directly ('8 Speed, Opt M5U') and split it by drive and by build ID, so the same truck year can have more than one part number.
Source: Wikipedia: 8L 90 M5U, Wikipedia: applications, Hollander: 2016 Silverado 1500 transmission options8L45 (M5N), from 2015
The smaller version, rated for 406 lb-ft and about 33 lb lighter. It went into the Colorado and Canyon, the Camaro LT and Cadillac sedans. It is not a substitute for an 8L90.
Source: Wikipedia: 8L 45 M5N, Wikipedia: specifications8L80 (MFC, N8X), from 2023
An updated version with new RPO codes, first in the 2023 Colorado and Canyon and listed for the Silverado from 2024.
Source: Wikipedia: 8L 80Check before you buy a used 8L90
- Check the RPO code. M5U is the 8L90; M5N is the smaller 8L45. Send the full VIN and the supplier confirms which one your vehicle was built with.
- Match the drive and engine. Hollander gives 2WD and 4WD versions, and some build IDs, different part numbers. Tell the supplier your drive, engine and exact build.
- Ask about the fluid. GM's moisture-resistant fluid from December 2018 largely fixed the shudder problem on earlier units. Ask whether the used unit has been serviced with it.
- Get mileage, testing and warranty in writing. Ask for the donor vehicle's mileage, how the transmission was tested, what is included, the warranty term and the freight cost to your ZIP before you pay.
Known 8L90 wear points
- Wikipedia reports that 8L45 and 8L90 units built from 2015 to 2019 can absorb moisture into the fluid through the vent, making the clutches slip and causing a shudder like driving over rumble strips. Moisture-resistant fluid introduced in December 2018 largely resolved it. (Wikipedia: lawsuits and issues)
- The same units can also shift harshly when trapped air is not purged from the valves. Wikipedia says the redesigned second-generation transmissions fixed this, but that it cannot be repaired on affected units. (Wikipedia: lawsuits and issues)
Vehicles that used the 8L90
- Chevrolet Silverado 15002015–2018
- GMC Sierra 15002015–2018
- Cadillac Escalade2015–2017
See the sourced table (3 rows)
| Vehicle | Model years |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500V8 trucks with the 8-speed; some 5.3 trucks have the 6-speed instead. Wikipedia lists the 8L90 in later Silverados too, alongside other transmissions, so confirm 2019-on trucks by VIN | 2015–2018 |
| GMC Sierra 15008-speed versions only; confirm 2019-on trucks by VIN | 2015–2018 |
| Cadillac Escalade | 2015–2017 |
Each row is backed by Wikipedia's 8L applications list and Hollander yard records. Wikipedia also lists the 8L90 in the 2015–2017 Yukon Denali and Denali XL, the 2015–2019 C7 Corvette, the 2016–2018 Camaro SS, the Express from 2017 and several Cadillac sedans; no second source here covers those, so they are left off the table. On the 2016 Silverado, Hollander also shows the 6-speed (MYC) and an 8-speed coded M5X that no source here identifies, which is why the RPO code matters. Always confirm by VIN.
8L90 questions
How much does a used 8L90 transmission cost?
Used-yard asking prices for an 8L90 typically ran $2,150 to $6,718 on October 22, 2026. That range runs from the lowest version's 25th percentile to the highest version's 75th percentile, across 6 versions (240 priced listings). Remanufactured units were listed from $4,198 to $4,199 (20 offers). Prices vary by version, mileage and shipping, so the supplier quotes your exact part.
What is the difference between the 8L90 and the 8L45?
The 8L90 (RPO M5U) is the heavy-duty version, rated for 664 lb-ft. The 8L45 (RPO M5N) is rated for 406 lb-ft and is about 33 lb lighter, for smaller engines. They are not interchangeable.
Does every 2015–2018 Silverado have an 8L90?
No. Hollander lists 6-speed and 8-speed automatics for the same 2016 Silverado 1500 with a 5.3. Check the RPO code or send the VIN.
What causes 8L90 shudder?
Wikipedia attributes it to moisture absorbed into the transmission fluid, which makes the clutches slip. GM's moisture-resistant fluid from December 2018 largely resolved it.
Related engines and transmissions
Delivering to Texas? See Houston, Dallas, San Antonio or El Paso.