Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 — Known Issues & Recalls
Complaints from Jan 2023 to Dec 2024
The most reported issue is engine problems (112 complaints). 13 complaints involved crashes. 9 involved fires.
Open Safety Recalls (12)
NHTSA Campaign: 21V115000
Component: TIRES
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, XT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, 2018-2021 Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana, 2019-2020 Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, GMC Acadia, Sierra 1500, and certain Continental tires sold to the aftermarket for various model year 2018-2021 vehicles. The affected tires were cured for too long during production.
Risk: Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation which could lead to a tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212329050.
NHTSA Campaign: 19V888000
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks. The battery positive (B+) cable rings may have been manufactured with excessive glue, potentially causing an intermittent electrical connection between the B+ cable and alternator.
Risk: An intermittent electrical connection between the B+ battery cable and the alternator could cause the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash. The intermittent connection could also lead to electrical arcing, which could generate sufficient heat to damage surrounding material, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect for the presence of glue or other contamination at the B+ cable attachment to the alternator and clean the connection and reattach the B+ cable connection, as necessary. If arcing has damaged the cable, nut, or alternator, the dealer will replace the damaged components. All services will be performed free of charge. GM issued owners an interim notification on February 4, 2020. GM issued second notice and the recall began March 9, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N192273510.
NHTSA Campaign: 20V792000
Component: SEAT BELTS
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon XL and 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The seat belt brackets may not be secured to the seat frame in the front-row center seating position.
Risk: If a seat-belt bracket is not secured, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the front-row center seat position, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect left-side and right-side front-row center seat-belt bracket attachments and reassemble it correctly as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202314670.
NHTSA Campaign: 20V684000
Component: TIRES
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT5, GMC Acadia and Chevrolet Traverse vehicles and 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles. The vehicles may have been manufactured with Continental tires that were overcured.
Risk: Overcured tires may experience a carcass break in the sidewall resulting in a sudden air loss or could develop a belt edge separation which could lead to partial or full tread/belt loss. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect vehicles and replace tires that have DOT number and production mold number combinations identified by Continental, free of charge. The recall began December 17, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202319030.
NHTSA Campaign: 20V446000
Component: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR
General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT5 and XT6, Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500 and Traverse and GMC Acadia and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The diffuser component of the Roof-Rail Air Bag (RRAB) inflator may not have been properly crimped to the inflator and could separate from the inflator during air bag deployment.
Risk: If the diffuser separates from the inflator during deployment, RRAB performance may be degraded, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect RRAB modules, free of charge. The recall began September 3, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is N202305380.
NHTSA Campaign: 19V814000
Component: SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, and 2020 Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Sierra 2500, and Sierra 3500 vehicles equipped with carpet floor covering. When the front seat belt pretensioners deploy, hot gas may vent through an opening in the pretensioner bracket, possibly igniting the carpet.
Risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will close off the opening in the pretensioner bracket, free of charge. The recall began December 13, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N192270600.
NHTSA Campaign: 19V837000
Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Camaro, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The fuel pump may be missing a pressure regulator, allowing for over-pressurization of the fuel system.
Risk: Over-pressurization can crack the fuel pump and cause leaks, increasing the risk of a fire in the presence of an ignition source.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2019. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N192283991.
NHTSA Campaign: 21V985000
Component: TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2021 GMC Sierra 1500 and Silverado 1500 vehicles equipped with certain accessory road tires and a 17" spare tire. The 17" spare tire provided with the vehicle is not compatible for use with the accessory wheels, which can cause the anti-lock brake system (ABS) to not function properly under certain conditions.
Risk: An ABS system that does not function properly can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will provide a new 17" spare tire and wheel assembly that is compatible with the accessory wheels, free of charge. Dealers will also apply a new spare tire information label, and provide owners with an owner's manual insert clarifying which spare tire to use with the accessory road tires and with the 17" original tires. Owner notification letters were mailed February 7, 2022. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212346510.
NHTSA Campaign: 20V650000
Component: POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 and 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 trucks. One of the driveshaft joints may not have been properly welded, causing the driveshaft to separate while the vehicle is moving.
Risk: If the driveshaft separates, there may be a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N202314870.
NHTSA Campaign: 20V116000
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles. The bolts used to attach the front and/or rear brake calipers may have not been heat treated and may break under load.
Risk: Broken caliper bolts can reduce brake performance or interfere with wheel rotation and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake caliper bolts, free of charge. The recall began March 23, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-866-522-9559. GM's number for this recall is N202294420.
NHTSA Campaign: 24V797000
Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with diesel engines. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.
Risk: Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install new transmission control module software, free of charge. GM will provide a special coverage program to cover the repair of transmissions that are identified by the remedy software as containing a defective control valve. Owner notification letters were mailed December 12, 2024. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, GMC customer service at GMC 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N242454440.
NHTSA Campaign: 26V083000
Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
General Motors, LLC is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, 3500, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles that may have been repaired incorrectly under recall 24V797. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock up.
Risk: Rear wheel lock up increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the vehicles and update the transmission control software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 6, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252516560. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 12, 2026.
Owner-Reported Issues (20 of 631)
Engine →7 issues
Your engine suddenly shut off while driving at highway speeds with no warning, forcing you to coast across two lanes of traffic to reach the shoulder. The dealership diagnosed this as engine seizure caused by bearing failure due to oil starvation — a documented issue with the 6.2L V8 engine in your model year, though GM has only issued recalls for 2021-2024 models. Repair will likely require a complete engine replacement covered under warranty or GM's goodwill program.
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Your engine suddenly seized and completely stopped working without any warning lights or gauge alerts appearing beforehand. The dealership confirmed that the engine has seized up and will need significant repair or replacement.
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Your engine is making loud knocking sounds and has lost all oil pressure, which indicates severe internal engine damage. A mechanic has determined that the engine will need to be replaced rather than repaired. This typically involves removing the damaged engine and installing a new or rebuilt engine block with all associated components.
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Your engine experienced a major failure when a lifter failed, which caused metal debris to spread throughout the engine. This damage was severe enough to require a complete engine replacement.
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Your 2020 Silverado 1500 lost engine power while driving at about 25 mph, and your check engine light came on. The dealer diagnosed a complete engine failure at approximately 89,000 miles. The repair was not completed due to cost, but the manufacturer has been notified and a case was filed.
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While driving on the interstate in the early morning, your engine suddenly made a loud noise and lost power, preventing you from accelerating normally—creating a dangerous situation with traffic behind you. Your Chevrolet dealer found that an engine lifter had broken and damaged the camshaft, with no warning lights appearing beforehand. The repair will likely involve replacing the broken lifter and inspecting or replacing the damaged camshaft.
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Your 2020 Silverado 1500 with an L87 engine is experiencing power loss and noisy engine sounds at startup, similar to issues covered under recall for 2021 models. The dealer determined the engine needs significant internal repairs including pistons, rings, bearings, gaskets, and seals, but GM has only authorized repair parts rather than full engine replacement because your model year isn't part of the recall. Your truck became unable to start at 68,833 miles and required towing to the dealer. The repair will likely involve disassembling the engine and replacing the internal components identified by the dealer.
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Power Train →2 issues
After replacing the transmission fluid at 142,000 miles, you noticed that when shifting into reverse, all gears became unresponsive and the engine only revved without moving the truck. When you put the transmission in neutral, the vehicle started driving forward on its own as if it were in drive gear. This suggests a serious transmission malfunction that requires professional diagnosis and repair of the transmission's internal components or valve body.
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When you press the accelerator, your truck doesn't speed up as it should and instead shudders and jerks roughly. Multiple mechanics have diagnosed a failed torque converter in the transmission, which needs to be replaced. This happened at about 78,442 miles with no warning lights appearing. Fixing this will require replacing the torque converter, which is a major transmission component.
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Service Brakes →2 issues
Your brakes applied on their own while you were driving, causing the front and rear rotors to become very hot and smell like burning brake pads. After pulling over and letting the truck cool, the brakes released, but then applied themselves again when you resumed driving. You had to drive slowly with hazard lights on to get home.
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Your truck felt sluggish and lacked power when you first drove it in the morning. You noticed the wheels were extremely hot and smelled like something was burning, and you realized your brakes were locked even though the parking brake wasn't engaged. The dealer has not yet found a service code or diagnosis after two days, despite your brakes showing only 42% wear remaining on the vehicle display.
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Suspension →1 issue
Your upper control arm failed suddenly while driving on the highway at 68,000 miles, with no warning signs. The failure caused your tire to collapse into the suspension, resulting in thousands of dollars in damage and requiring a tow. You suspect the ball joints were defective, and you've found similar reports online of other vehicles experiencing the same problem. The fix will likely involve replacing the upper control arm assembly and inspecting the ball joints for defects.
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Steering,vehicle Speed Control,service Brakes →1 issue
Your truck is experiencing an intermittent issue where the dashboard warns that brake failure and steering assist have stopped working, and the truck limits itself to 43 mph. When this happens, steering becomes difficult, brakes feel ineffective, and the brake system generates excessive heat. You're having to manually reset the engine control module (ECM) with special tools to restore normal function, which is particularly dangerous on the highway.
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Power Train,engine,fuel/propulsion System →1 issue
Your truck's 6.2L engine makes noise when starting and the problem continues while driving, causing a sudden loss of power and sluggish acceleration. You mention this is the same issue affecting other 6.2L engines under a current recall, but your truck was built just before the recall dates. Your truck is currently undriveable and unsafe to drive on the road, despite regular maintenance with recommended oil and filters.
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Engine,fuel/propulsion System →1 issue
Your engine's lifter failed while driving on the highway, causing a sudden loss of power during rush hour traffic on a multi-lane interstate. This near-miss with other vehicles could have resulted in a serious accident. The repair will likely involve replacing the failed lifter and inspecting the engine for any related damage.
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Power Train,engine →1 issue
Your engine is consuming oil internally at an alarming rate — the oil level dropped from full to completely empty on the dipstick after just 153 miles of driving with no visible leaks underneath the vehicle. This symptom suggests failed valve lifters related to the Active Fuel Management system, which could damage the camshaft, push rods, and piston rings. The dealer's approach of adding dye to check for leaks doesn't address the actual internal consumption problem, and this severe oil loss could cause engine failure during driving, creating a safety hazard. Fixing this will likely require engine disassembly to replace or repair the valve lifters, camshaft, and related components, possibly including an engine rebuild or replacement.
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Power Train,service Brakes,engine →1 issue
Your brake pedal required abnormal force to stop the vehicle on multiple occasions, and your power steering became inoperative while trying to pull out of a parking lot—both without warning lights. A dealer found that your engine control module had incorrect codes requiring reprogramming, and a corroded ground strap that needed replacement. The fix involved clearing the engine control module codes and replacing or cleaning the ground strap connection.
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Engine And Engine Cooling →1 issue
While driving at 40 mph, you heard a loud banging noise from your engine. A dealer diagnosed the problem as worn lifters and camshaft that need replacement. This issue occurred at 120,000 miles. Fixing this will require the dealer to remove and replace both the lifters and camshaft.
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Latches/locks/linkages →1 issue
Your tailgate won't lock using the manual latch, key fob, or automatic lock function, and it opened on its own while parked. You've checked and your truck isn't included in a related recall (24V060000) for this issue. The fix will likely involve inspecting and repairing or replacing the tailgate latch mechanism and its linkage components.
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Unknown Or Other →1 issue
Your truck's ignition key sometimes won't come out after turning off the engine. You have to repeatedly cycle the engine on and off until the key finally releases. This is a frustrating workaround that shouldn't be necessary on a vehicle with only 54,000 miles.
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Related Vehicles
Other Chevrolet Silverado 1500 years:
Other 2020 vehicles: