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2020 GMC Sierra 2500 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 78 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500, most often about the transmission (31% of complaints, typically around 114,000 miles). It is 9th of 27 Sierra 2500 model years by number of complaints and has 9 recalls.
Most common 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 problems
Transmission
24 complaints · 31%Half of these problems showed up before 114,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the transmission jerked. The contact stated that the transmission was skipping gear while shifting. The check engine warning light turned on and off. The contact received…
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated while driving 63 MPH, and towing a 15,000 lb. 5th wheel rv, the contact heard the rear wheels make an abnormal squealing or chirping sound. The contact stated that the front end of the vehicle was pulling to the right. The contact adjusted the steering wheel…
Other or unspecified
17 complaints · 22%The front park assist sensors on this truck do not operate as intended, or as on prior years or as on other vehicles. The sensors did not pick up parking bollards in front of a convenience store and resulted in a minor ding that cost over $1300 to repair. When bumper was repaired the service person said sensors were…
The screen on my truck has gone blank several times and the volume on the radio goes super load and the only way to stop it seems to be to stop and turn off the truck, open the doors and re start truck. Today, I couldn't get my screen to go off in my truck when I turned it off, I tried turning off, restarting etc but…
Electrical
13 complaints · 17%Went out to my vehicle that has been sitting in my driveway for 24 hours and attempted to unlock it with the key fob. Nothing. Tried the other fob. Nothing. Used the key to unlock the door and get in to push button start and nothing. I plugged both batteries into chargers and they would start to charge, then discharge…
Brakes
12 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 1,000 miles.
Brakes since new squeeled. Took to dealer and dealer said it was normal. Have had the truck about 11 months now. Dealer stated gm now uses a different pad material and I would have to pay for it at a cost of close to $1,000 to replace the pads.
My brakes are squeaking very loudly they have been since august. I was driving down the road on us1 and prepared to stop to make a turn and my truck would not stop. I was making a right turn and ended up in the other lane of oncoming traffic sideways because I tried to turn my truck to slow it down. I complained about…
Engine
12 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 100,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated, and the message "reduced power" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the turbo actuator and wastegate position sensor a-circuit were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The…
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the transmission jerked. The contact stated that the transmission was skipping gear while shifting. The check engine warning light turned on and off. The contact received…
Steering
6 complaints · 8%The vehicle pulls to the right or left into oncoming traffic within 800 feet or sooner depending on speed. This occurs on city streets or interstate. Gm and gm approved dealerships say this is done to gm specifications. The first 7000 miles, it didn't pull. After gm shop aligned, and 3 months later, it is unsafe to…
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was pulling to the left unintentionally. Additionally, the contact stated that there was significant play in the steering wheel. The contact stated that while driving 35-40 MPH and driving through a…
Body and structure
6 complaints · 8%Parts named most often: body.
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that when the vehicle was parked, the contact's husband noticed that rainwater had entered the rear interior of the vehicle. The contact stated that the rainwater had entered through the rear sliding window. In addition, the contact stated that the aluminum…
Driver assistance
5 complaints · 6%Parts named most often: automatic emergency braking, warnings.
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle independently slowed and dramatically decelerated. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The contact stated that when the failure occurred, the gear shifter position…
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 2500 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.
Wheels and tires: temporary/emergency spare tire
Risk: An ABS system that cannot control the rear wheels independently increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will provide the appropriate spare tire and apply a new spare tire information label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on october 18, 2021. Owners may contact chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; gmc customer service at 1-800-462-8782. Gm's number for this recall is n212329780.
Full defect summary
General motors, llc. (gm) is recalling certain 2020-2021 chevrolet silverado 2500 and gmc sierra 2500 vehicles equipped with a 17" spare tire (rpo zhq or zxt) and either the 20" accessory road tire (rpo rem) or the 18" accessory road tire (rpo q2v). Operating the spare tire with other 20" or 18" tires can prevent the anti-lock braking system (ABS) from engaging.
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 GMC Sierra 2500
- What are the most common problems with the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (24 complaints, typically around 114,000 miles); other or unspecified (17 complaints); electrical (13 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 have?
- 9 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 2500?
- It is 9th of 27 Sierra 2500 model years by number of complaints, with 78 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.