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2020 GMC Sierra 1500 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 480 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500, most often about the engine (53% of complaints, typically around 64,500 miles). It is 7th of 27 Sierra 1500 model years by number of complaints and has 12 recalls.
Most common 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 problems
Engine
256 complaints · 53%Half of these problems showed up before 64,500 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system, engine.
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving and decelerating from 65 MPH to 15-20 MPH to make a turn, the engine made an abnormal knocking sound. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was towed to pechous repair to be…
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked while accelerating and while coming to a stop. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but no cause of failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired.…
Transmission
99 complaints · 21%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving approximately 40-60 MPH, the transmission hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with transmission control module (TCM) failure. The contact was informed…
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while accelerating from a complete stop, the vehicle lunged forward. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving at various speeds depressing the accelerator pedal, and while decelerating to come to a complete stop. The check engine warning…
Electrical
81 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 5,000 miles. Parts named most often: adas, integrated trailer brake control, instrument panel.
Battery was dead in the garage. Called road side assistance who jump-started car. Car would not go into gear. We rolled it out into driveway where it sat for 24 hours. When it was loaded for travel to dealership, it cranked and was driven up on wrecker trailer like it had no apparent problems. Was carried to…
Everything was fine for about 6 months after having purchased vehicle as new. Then I got warning lights asking me to both service the parking break and service ESC with a warning that driving would be compromised just over 60mph. I notified dealer who says they fixed the glitch but it happened again. The last time…
Brakes
55 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 11,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock.
My 2020 GMC sierras brakes failed on may 22nd and ECM and now the engine and transmission are experiencing issues based on the onstar report.
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the parking brake was independently activated. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle had an oil leak from the oil pan. The contact stated that the oil needed to be added every two days. The contact stated that…
Other or unspecified
44 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 5,500 miles.
After vehicle sits idle for a while, the vehicle makes a high pitch whistling sound on startup that last for approximately minute of driving.
When stationary and preparing to start vehicle intermittently see "service steering column lock" message appears and disappear once vehicle is started. This was previously supposed to be addressed with service bulletin 20-na-21 however being told by service department that vehicle has all current updates applied a…
Steering
37 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 9,500 miles. Parts named most often: hydraulic power assist.
When stationary and preparing to start vehicle intermittently see "service steering column lock" message appears and disappear once vehicle is started. This was previously supposed to be addressed with service bulletin 20-na-21 however being told by service department that vehicle has all current updates applied a…
It was fine and we drove to our neighbor, parked about 15 mins. When we started the truck to turn back, the steering was super heavy, with 2 messages pop up on the dashboard: services ESC, and service power steering drive with care. Tried several times to re-start the truck, it's keep the same. In our neiborhood…
Fuel system
27 complaints · 6%Suspension
18 complaints · 4%Highway driving engine light started flashing, received codes on service ESC and service parking brake. Truck seemed to loose power transmission started shifting very hard, cruse disengaged,lane keep assist stopped working , brakes and steering seemed to act different . When ignition was turned off loud noises from…
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving out of the driveway, the front passengerâs side wheel separated from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the contact was informed that the upper control arm ball joint had fractured and that the front upper control arm needed…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2020 GMC Sierra 1500 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.
Wheels and tires: temporary/emergency spare tire
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Wheels and tires: tires
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.
Full defect summary
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.
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.
Wheels and tires: tires
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Transmission: driveshaft
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.
Full defect summary
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.
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.
Brakes: caliper
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Electrical: cables
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
Full defect summary
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.
Fuel system: fuel pump
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.
Full defect summary
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.
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
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) has received 1,157 reports of engine bearing failure failures in the l87 6.2l engine produced by general motors (gm). Of the 1,157 reports received, 173 are outside of the scope of recall 25v-274. These engines are installed in model years (my) 2019â2024 chevrolet silverado 1500 and gmc sierra 1500, and 2021-2024my chevrolet suburban and tahoe, gmc yukon/yukon xl, and cadillac escalade/escalade esv vehicles. The subject engine failures were investigated as part of a preliminary evaluation (pe25001).â gm determined that these engine failures were due to multiple supplier manufacturing and quality issues. Gm issued recall 25v-274 to address the suppl
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
Summary
On january 16, 2025, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened preliminary evaluation pe25001 after receiving complaints and field reports concerning engine failures in my2019-2024 gmâs full-size truck and SUV t1xx platform equipped with the l87 6.2l v8 engine. These complainants alleged engine bearing failures resulting in knocking and growling noises from the engineâs bottom end and in some cases more severe consequences such as broken connecting rods leading to engine damage, or engine failure. If the engine fails during vehicle operation, the vehicle will lose propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. On april 24, 2025, gm issued recall 25v-274 to address the concern with l8
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 GMC Sierra 1500
- What are the most common problems with the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (256 complaints, typically around 64,500 miles); transmission (99 complaints, typically around 75,000 miles); electrical (81 complaints, typically around 5,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 have?
- 12 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 GMC Sierra 1500?
- It is 7th of 27 Sierra 1500 model years by number of complaints, with 480 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.