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2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 42 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500, most often about the transmission (38% of complaints). It is 10th of 27 Silverado 3500 model years by number of complaints and has 8 recalls.
Most common 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 problems
Transmission
16 complaints · 38%The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v797000 (power train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at 62 MPH during snow weather and switching lanes; the accelerator pedal was…
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle later failed to start and became undrivable. The dealer was notified of the failure and an appointment was scheduled for diagnostic testing and for the manufacturer…
Engine
7 complaints · 17%Parts named most often: exhaust system, engine.
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated that after driving at an undisclosed speed and towing a fifth wheel, after visual inspection, the contact observed that due to the routing of exhaust system, heat from the exhaust had started to melt the front wall of the trailer. The contact was…
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle later failed to start and became undrivable. The dealer was notified of the failure and an appointment was scheduled for diagnostic testing and for the manufacturer…
Brakes
7 complaints · 17%Parts named most often: foundation components.
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and made an abnormal grinding sound. The contact stated that extra effort while depressing the brake pedal was needed to stop the vehicle. The contact stated the brake wear sensor indicated…
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated while driving 10-15 MPH and approaching a stop sign, the brake pedal was depressed down to the floorboard, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact made a left turn to avoid a ditch. The contact stated that the vehicle then rolled to a stop.…
Fuel system
5 complaints · 12%The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would independently downshift as the vehicle would fail to accelerate upon the depression of the accelerator pedal. The DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) malfunction warning light would illuminate on the…
Electrical
5 complaints · 12%Parts named most often: integrated trailer brake control.
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the tailgate brake light failed to illuminate. In addition, the contact stated that while a trailer was hitched to the vehicle, the message "check trailer connection" was displayed, and other unknown warning…
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated that while hauling a 2020 heartland cyclone, the trailer brakes unexpectedly deactivated. The contact stated that the trailer brake was disconnected, and the warning light to check the trailer winch was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the…
Wheels and tires
5 complaints · 12%Parts named most often: tread/belt.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 recalls
Transmission: software
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Transmission: valves/valve body
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: An unlatched tailgate may open while driving and result in a loss of unsecured cargo, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Owners are advised to check that the tailgate is closed and latched before driving. Dealers will replace the exterior touchpad switch assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed may 17, 2024. Owners may contact chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or gmc customer service at 1-800-462-8782. Gm's number for this recall is n232426400.
Full defect summary
General motors, llc (gm) is recalling certain 2020-2024 chevrolet silverado 2500, 3500, gmc sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with power-unlatching tailgates. The tailgate's electronic gate-release switch may short circuit due to water intrusion, which can result in the tailgate inadvertently unlatching while the vehicle is in park.
Seat belts: critical fasteners
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: inflator
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: If a striker wire fractures, the hood may open unexpectedly while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the hood assembly, free of charge. For hoods sold over the counter, dealers will contact customers with instructions for hood replacement. The recall began july 7, 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 n202306490.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain 2020 chevrolet silverado 2500 and 3500 and gmc sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles previously recalled under 20v-142. Some of the vehicles in 20v-324 were not part of recall 20v-142 but received defect parts during another service (typically during collision repair). The hood-latch striker wires on replacement hoods installed for safety recall 20v-142 may not have been heat-treated properly, possibly causing them to fracture.
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: If a striker wire fractures, the hood may open unexpectedly while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the hood assembly, free of charge. The recall began april 13, 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 n192284960.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain 2020 chevrolet silverado 2500 and 3500 and gmc sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The hood-latch striker wires may not have been heat-treated properly, possibly causing them to fracture.
Seat belts: pretensioner
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Air bag malfunction
Summary
On april 9, 2021, the office of defects investigations (odi) opened pe21-010 to investigate instances of air bag malfunction indicator light (mil) illumination and potential for frontal air bag non-deployment in several vehicles manufactured by general motors (gm). The vehicles included model year (my) 2020 through 2021 ct4 and ct5 passenger cars, sierra and silverado trucks (1500/2500/3500 models), xt4 and my 2021 escalade, suburban, tahoe, yukon suvs.technical service bulletin (tsb) 21-na-005, issued in march 2021, addresses air bag mil illumination with diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) b0001-1b or b0012-0d. It cites rust particles in the connection terminal interface of the driver air bag
Questions about the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
- What are the most common problems with the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (16 complaints); engine (7 complaints); brakes (7 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 have?
- 8 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 12, 2026 (transmission). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2020 a bad year for the Chevrolet Silverado 3500?
- It is 10th of 27 Silverado 3500 model years by number of complaints, with 42 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.