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2020 GMC Sierra 3500 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 51 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 GMC Sierra 3500, most often about the transmission (37% of complaints). It is the most complained-about Sierra 3500 model year since 2000 and has 8 recalls.
Most common 2020 GMC Sierra 3500 problems
Transmission
19 complaints · 37%The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated that after stopping at a stop light, the light turned green and the contact depressed the accelerator pedal however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact drove a short distance and noticed that the failure was reoccurring. The contact…
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the rear differential seized, in addition, the contact was hauling a median size tracker on top of a flat bed. The flat bed jackknifed and hit the left side of the contact's vehicle. The vehicle was able to come to a stop. The…
Electrical
9 complaints · 18%Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery.
Brakes
7 complaints · 14%Engine
7 complaints · 14%Parts named most often: exhaust system.
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle jerked, lost motive power, and almost stopped unintendedly. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull into a parking lot, where the vehicle shut off. The contact stated that while…
Other or unspecified
6 complaints · 12%While towing a fifth wheel camper, the exhaust was so hot it melted the camper directly behind it. Was caught in side mirror before anything caught on fire.
Fuel system
6 complaints · 12%The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle jerked, lost motive power, and almost stopped unintendedly. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull into a parking lot, where the vehicle shut off. The contact stated that while…
Wheels and tires
5 complaints · 10%Parts named most often: tread/belt.
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 3500 equipped with goodyear tires, tire line: wrangler trail runner, tire size: lt275/65/r20), dot number: (na). The contact stated that while driving approximately 40-45 MPH, the vehicle exhibited the death wobble, causing the vehicle to become difficult to steer. The contact took…
Body and structure
5 complaints · 10%Parts named most often: body.
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH with passengers seated in the rear seats, the passengers became aware that water was entering the vehicle between the window and frame. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who informed…
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 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 GMC Sierra 3500
- What are the most common problems with the 2020 GMC Sierra 3500?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (19 complaints); electrical (9 complaints); brakes (7 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2020 GMC Sierra 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 GMC Sierra 3500?
- It is the most complained-about Sierra 3500 model year since 2000, with 51 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.