MajorCommonTransmission

GWM Cannon: Automatic transmission hesitation, low-speed surging and delayed upshifts

Automatic transmission hesitation, low-speed surging and delayed upshifts is a common transmission fault on the GWM Cannon on the 2020 onward cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $200 to $6,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 8 documented faults on the GWM Cannon.

Vehicle: GWM Cannon
Years: 2020 onward
Fuel: diesel
Gearbox: auto
System: Transmission

This page covers the GWM Cannon as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All GWM Cannon faults8 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph for this fault yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of something else.

What goes wrong

Owners and long-term testers report the Cannon's automatic (ZF 8-speed in early cars, GWM's in-house 9-speed from the 2024+ update) hesitating, surging awkwardly at low speed in first gear, holding gears too long and occasionally refusing to upshift. CarsGuide has fielded owner complaints of 2023 Cannons not changing up, and press long-termers note low-speed surging and gear confusion persists in the 9-speed. Many cases are resolved with a TCU software reflash, but persistent slipping or harsh engagement points to a hardware problem that is expensive to fix given GWM's parts pipeline in NZ.

What you would notice

Surging or shunting at crawling speeds
Delayed engagement from Park/Reverse
Holding gears at light throttle / refusing to upshift
Jerky low-speed gear changes
Transmission warning light

How to check it

Where to look. Transmission, under centre of vehicle

Test drive from cold: creep in stop-start traffic and feel for surging in first gear, then accelerate gently and check it upshifts cleanly through all gears.
Do a three-point turn to test Reverse-to-Drive engagement delay.
Ask for evidence of any transmission software updates done under warranty.

What it costs to put right

$200 to $6,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Have any transmission software updates or warranty repairs been done?”
“Does it ever surge or hesitate at low speed?”
“Is the balance of the 7-year warranty transferable and intact (full GWM service history)?”

Now check the GWM Cannon you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

CarsGuide Q&A: 'Transmission in my 2023 Great Wall Cannon ute is not changing up'
CarExpert 2025/2026 GWM Cannon reviews (9-speed holding gears, low-speed surging)
Chasing Cars GWM Ute Cannon-X and Cannon Ultra long-term reviews

GWM Cannon buyer questions

Is automatic transmission hesitation, low-speed surging and delayed upshifts serious on a GWM Cannon?

We rate it major and common on the GWM Cannon. Owners and long-term testers report the Cannon's automatic (ZF 8-speed in early cars, GWM's in-house 9-speed from the 2024+ update) hesitating, surging awkwardly at low speed in first gear, holding gears too long and occasionally refusing to upshift. CarsGuide has fielded owner complaints of 2023 Cannons not changing up, and press long-termers note low-speed surging and gear confusion persists in the 9-speed. Many cases are resolved with a TCU software reflash, but persistent slipping or harsh engagement points to a hardware problem that is expensive to fix given GWM's parts pipeline in NZ.

How much does it cost to fix on a GWM Cannon?

$200 to $6,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which GWM Cannon years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2020 onward GWM Cannon. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Test drive from cold: creep in stop-start traffic and feel for surging in first gear, then accelerate gently and check it upshifts cleanly through all gears. Do a three-point turn to test Reverse-to-Drive engagement delay. Ask for evidence of any transmission software updates done under warranty. Look here: Transmission, under centre of vehicle