Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
2020 Gmc Sierra 1500 — Known Issues & Recalls
Complaints from Jan 2026 to Dec 2020
The most reported issue is engine problems (110 complaints). 11 complaints involved crashes. 4 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 402)
Engine →8 issues
Your transmission's internal pump gears failed catastrophically at under 70,000 miles, sending metal debris throughout the transmission and damaging the exhaust converter. The vehicle made an extremely loud noise before breaking down on the highway with passengers aboard, creating a safety risk. Your GMC dealership has confirmed this damage. Fixing this will require transmission replacement and exhaust converter replacement.
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Your engine is making knocking sounds and vibrating noticeably at 28,000 miles. An auto shop has indicated the engine may be severely damaged. This typically requires engine diagnostics and potentially major engine repair or replacement.
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Your engine has experienced complete failure at 84,000 miles. This is a serious issue that requires a full engine inspection or replacement to diagnose the root cause and restore your vehicle to working condition.
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While driving on the highway with your children, your check engine light suddenly came on without warning, and your engine immediately lost power, made knocking noises, and misfired. You safely pulled off the highway and had the car towed to the dealership, where technicians found internal engine damage to the valve lifters, rods, and camshaft. The owner believes this represents a serious safety issue and notes similar complaints exist online regarding the 5.3L engine.
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Your engine suddenly stopped working while you were driving with no warning lights or signs beforehand. A mechanic found that an internal engine lifter failed and damaged the camshaft, which appears to be a manufacturing defect rather than maintenance-related. This unexpected engine failure forced you to stop in traffic and created a serious safety risk for you and other drivers. Fixing this issue will likely require engine repair or replacement of the failed lifter and camshaft components.
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Your engine is making a distinct knocking sound, especially when you accelerate from a stop. The knock is loud and noticeable during hard acceleration. The repair will likely involve internal engine work to inspect or replace the rod bearings.
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Your 2020 GMC Sierra Denali's 6.2L engine developed a stuck lifter on one bank and a bent push rod, causing a popping noise when starting. The dealership quoted $9,200 for repairs or $9,600 for a complete engine replacement with warranty. This type of failure is unexpected on a low-mileage, well-maintained truck. Fixing this will likely require either removing and repairing the cylinder head to replace the lifter and push rod, or replacing the entire engine.
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Your truck developed a prominent metallic ticking sound at 96,000 miles, which was caused by a collapsed hydraulic lifter in cylinder #1. The dealer confirmed the lifter failure also caused significant wear to the camshaft, requiring both parts to be replaced. The service manager noted this is a common issue with 2020 6.2L engines and attributed it to a design flaw involving Dynamic Fuel Management and GM's oil viscosity recommendation. The repair will involve replacing the hydraulic lifter and camshaft.
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Engine And Engine Cooling →2 issues
Your check engine light came on while driving at 40 MPH. The dealer diagnosed a faulty oil pump solenoid and replaced it, but after the repair, your engine seized and stopped working. This happened at approximately 45,000 miles. The repair may involve replacing the oil pump solenoid and diagnosing why the engine seized after the initial repair.
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Your engine hesitated when starting and displayed warning lights for the check engine and diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) system. Your vehicle showed a message saying you had 94 miles before it would enter limp mode and was limited to 65 mph. A dealer diagnosed that your DEF tank pump assembly had failed and needed replacement.
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Electrical System →2 issues
You discovered that the odometer mileage on your 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 doesn't match the vehicle's history. When you purchased the truck, the odometer showed 75,000 miles, but the Carfax report indicated 175,000 miles at the time of registration. This suggests the odometer reading may have been altered or the mileage history is inaccurate. Resolving this will likely require working with your state's motor vehicle department and potentially consulting with a lawyer regarding the private sale.
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Your backup camera displays an excessively bright image at night, making it difficult or impossible to see what's behind your truck. You've researched online solutions without success, and the dealer was unable to help despite multiple reports of this issue appearing online. The fix may involve adjusting camera settings through the infotainment system, updating the camera firmware, or replacing the backup camera unit.
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Structure,unknown Or Other,visibility/wiper →1 issue
Water is leaking into your truck through the back window frame due to a faulty seal, damaging the headliner, electrical components, and airbags. This water intrusion creates risks of electrical fires, airbag failure, and mold growth that could affect your health. Your GMC dealer confirmed the seal is defective but won't cover it outside the 3-year warranty, and GMC has refused to address the issue. The repair will likely involve replacing the rear window seal or the entire rear window assembly to stop the water intrusion.
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Power Train,electrical System →1 issue
Your truck experienced rear-wheel lockup and had its transmission replaced in June 2025. Since then, it has lost power and entered limp mode (reduced performance mode) twice—once in December 2025 and again in February 2026—while driving on highways. The same diagnostic trouble codes appeared all three times, but the problem wasn't properly fixed after the initial repairs, leaving you concerned about your vehicle's safety and reliability.
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Electrical System,engine →1 issue
Your engine shut down suddenly while driving on the freeway with no warning, and you noticed a burning smell. When a mechanic examined it, they found a camshaft issue and heard knocking noises—the engine would only run briefly before shutting off again. You'll need to replace the entire engine due to the camshaft failure and internal engine damage.
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Steering,power Train,engine →1 issue
Your engine suddenly lost power while driving, causing all dashboard warning lights to illuminate. You lost control and swerved off the road, hitting a roadside object and damaging your rear passenger door. The GMC dealer determined your 6.2L engine's camshaft and lifters failed, requiring $8,185.20 in repairs. The repair will likely involve removing and rebuilding or replacing the engine's camshaft and valve lifter components.
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Suspension →1 issue
Your front suspension has experienced failures on both the driver and passenger sides, with the tie rod and wheel hub failing first on one side, then the other side failing shortly after. These failures caused your front wheels to become unstable and created a serious safety concern while driving. The repairs will likely involve replacing the tie rods and wheel hub assemblies on the front suspension.
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Power Train →1 issue
While driving at various speeds, your truck suddenly started shaking and slipping between gears, with an "Idle Transmission" warning message appearing on the dashboard. When you pulled over and shifted from Park to Drive, you heard a loud banging noise from the rear of the vehicle. A mechanic diagnosed this as transmission failure requiring repair.
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Vehicle Speed Control,engine And Engine Cooling →1 issue
Your truck's DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) tank failed while you were driving at highway speed, causing the engine to enter limp mode and unexpectedly slow down. Your dealer diagnosed a DEF tank failure and had to replace the tank even though it was full, though the part was on backorder for several weeks. The repair involves replacing the DEF tank and potentially related components in the diesel exhaust system.
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Engine And Engine Cooling,engine →1 issue
Your engine made an unusual noise while idling without any warning lights appearing on your dashboard. When the dealer inspected it, they found that the crankshaft and thrust bearings had failed inside the engine. The dealer disassembled and repaired your engine, and the manufacturer covered part of the repair cost. This happened at 60,000 miles.
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