2020 GMC Sierra 1500
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 468 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 7th highest complaint count among 26 Sierra 1500 model years with reports.
Of the 2020 reports, 12 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 13 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Power train, automatic transmission, control module, softwareFeb 12, 2026
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.
Rear wheel lock up increases the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 26V083000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, control module, softwareOct 24, 2024
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.
Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 24V797000 on NHTSA.gov
Tires, temporary/emergency spare tireDec 16, 2021
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.
An ABS system that does not function properly can increase the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 21V985000 on NHTSA.gov
TiresFeb 25, 2021
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 21V115000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat beltsDec 17, 2020
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 20V792000 on NHTSA.gov
TiresNov 5, 2020
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 20V684000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, driveline, driveshaftOct 22, 2020
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.
If the driveshaft separates, there may be a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of crash.
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.
Campaign 20V650000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, side/window, curtain, inflatorJul 30, 2020
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.
If the diffuser separates from the inflator during deployment, RRAB performance may be degraded, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
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.
Campaign 20V446000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, disc, caliperFeb 27, 2020
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.
Broken caliper bolts can reduce brake performance or interfere with wheel rotation and increase the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 20V116000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, 12v/24v/48v battery, cablesDec 12, 2019
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 19V888000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpNov 21, 2019
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.
Over-pressurization can crack the fuel pump and cause leaks, increasing the risk of a fire in the presence of an ignition source.
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.
Campaign 19V837000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat belts, pretensionerNov 14, 2019
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.
A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
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.
Campaign 19V814000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: steering
37 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Feb 8, 2022
Steering locked up after normal use at lunch. After sitting, traction control light then on and wheel would not turn after work. Did a computer reboot and steering released. Results still pending, she is not home yet.
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, May 1, 2021
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, PARROT TULIP VIEW, PFLUGERVILLE, TX 78660. RAINING ALL NIGHT, NOT SURE IF IT'S RELATED TO THE WEATHER.
Steering, Service brakes, Mar 18, 2021
MY TRUCK TUESDAY MARCH 16TH HAD ME UPDATE SOFTWARE AS SOON AS I GOT TO WORK, AFTER IT WAS DONE I GOT OUT OF MY TRUCK AND IT WOULD NOT LOCK WITH PUSH BUTTON OR FOB. WHEN I GOT INTO MY TRUCK TO GO HOME 10HRS LATER IT MADE A BUNCH OF CLICKING NOISES AND AFTER A MINUTE IT SHOWED UPDATE COMPLETE ON SCREEN THEN STARTED. THE VERY NEXT DAY I DROVE BACK TO WORK WHICH IS 22 MILES. WHEN I TOOK MY TRUCK TO LUNCH THREE BLOCKS AWAY I HAD ESC SERVICE LIGHT AND SERVICE PARKING BRAKE ACCOMPANIED BY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I CALLED LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO GET IT LOOKED AT AND THEY SAID FRIDAY WAS AS EARLY AS I COULD GET IT IN. I LEFT WORK EARLY AT 1:30 AND TRIED TO DRIVE IT AND IT WAS SQUALENE LIKE A BAD POWER STEERING PUMP AND SHAKING AS I DROVE. I WENT AHEAD AND TOOK IT THE DEALER.
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Feb 25, 2021
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 YEAR AGO, INCLUDING THE ONE THAT SHOULD OF ADDRESSED THE ISSUE. TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE HISTORY SHOWS RECORDS OF PAST "LOSS OF COMMUNICATION TO DIC" BUT AS THEY CAN'T IMMEDIATELY REPRODUCE NO ACTION WAS TAKEN.
Steering, Feb 17, 2021
THE STEERING WILL COMPLETELY LOCK UP, THIS IS THE 2ND OCCURRENCE. IT WAS AT THE DEALER 1143 MILES AGO AND CODES WERE CLEARED, PROBLEM REOCCURRED. I WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE, PUT IN DRIVE/REVERSE NEUTRAL ETC WITHOUT ISSUES, HOWEVER THE STEERING WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT ALLOW STEERING/CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, COLD OUTSIDE BOTH TIMES. I HAVE VIDEO EVIDENCE. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE 12/26/2020 AT 9591 MILES, 2ND OCCURRENCE 2/16/2021 AT 10733 MILES (1142 MILES LATER)
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 13, 2021
ON DECEMBER 14, 2020 MY SIERRA WITH 2339 MILES DISPLAYED, AT STARTUP, THE POWER STEERING WAS OUT, TO DRIVE WITH CARE. ALSO DISPLAYED SERVICE ESC AND TRACTION CONTROL FAILURES. I DROVE WITH MUCH DIFFICULTY, WITHOUT POWER STEERING, TEN MILES TO THE NEAREST GMC DEALERSHIP, LAFONTAINE IN HIGHLAND, MI. I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE ON DECEMBER 29, 2020 WITH AN ADDITIONAL 60 MILES. THE SERVICE PERSONNEL SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THEREFORE NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. LAFONTAINE HAD CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS TECH CENTER WHO OFFERED NO SOLUTIONS OTHER THAN CHECKING THE BATTERY AND WIRING HARNESS CONNECTIONS. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT REAPPEARED IN THE FIFTEEN DAYS SINCE I PICKED UP MY VEHICLE.
Steering, Electrical system, Service brakes, Sep 23, 2020
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, MOST RECENTLY, I TRIED TO START THE TRUCK THE NEXT DAY AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A COMPLETE SHUT DOWN. NO ENGINE, NO LIGHTS - NOT EVEN LOCK/UNLOCK WITH KEY FOB. IT HAD TO BE TOWED. THIS IS A 2020 VEHICLE AND SEEMS LIKE IT WILL STRAND ME SOME PLACE AT THE VERY LEAST. AWFUL, EXPENSIVE, AND PERHAPS DEADLY DYNAMICS HERE. GMC, GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER. YOU OWE US IMMEDIATELY. PROVIDE THE FIX IMMEDIATELY OR GIVE ME MONEY BACK WITH NO CONTEST.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Aug 29, 2020
PARKED TRUCK FOR ONE HOUR, ENGINE OFF. CAME BACK AND UPON STARTUP, RECEIVED MULTIPLE ERRORS THAT POWER STEERING AND ESC REQUIRED DEALER ATTENTION. BRAKE PEDAL WOULD DEPRESS TO FLOOR. GMC SIERRA 1500 ELEVATION TRIM
Steering, Aug 12, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STAND STILL IN A HOSPITAL PARKING LOT, WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL CEASED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LOCAL DEALER PHILLIPS BUICK GMC LOCATED AT 2160 US-441 #27, FRUITLAND PARK, FL 34731, (352) 728-1212, HOWEVER THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Jul 14, 2020
2020 GMC SIERRA STEERING ISSUES. LOSS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN MODULES. RESULTS IN LOCKED STEERING OR NO POWER STEERING ASSIST. HAPPENS RANDOMLY AT VEHICLE START UP. BEEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES SO FAR. THE FIRST TWO WAS INFORMED THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. REPAIRS ATTEMPTED, UPDATE SOFTWARE, ENGINE HARNESS REPAIR, AND STEERING MODULE REPLACEMENT.
Steering, Service brakes, Jun 17, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE SYSTEM BRAKE FAILURE WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ONCE THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED COMPLETE BRAKE AND STEERING FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE INTO A CURB TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE AND AVOID A POSSIBLE COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD SUFFERED PAIN TO HIS LEFT SHOULDER BLADE AND LEFT KNEE; HOWEVER, HE DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION DUE TO COVID-19. AFTER EXPERIENCING THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DESERT SUN MOTORS, INC. (2600 N WHITE SANDS BLVD, ALAMOGORDO, NM 88310) WHERE THEY CLEARED THE SYSTEM'S COMPUTER AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY FOUND NO DEFECTS WITH THE VEHICLE. UPON RETURN OF THE VEHICLE, HE EXPERIENCED ANOTHER BRAKE FAILURE AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO RUN A RED LIGHT AND DRIVE UP AN INCLINE IN ORDER TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED SHAMALEY BUICK GMC (955 CROCKETT ST, EL PASO, TX 79922) WHERE IT REMAINED IN THEIR POSSESSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A FIELD INSPECTOR WAS SENT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT KNOW BRAKE FAILURE CODES WERE DETECTED. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER THE THIRD FAILURE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SHAMALEY GMC WHERE IT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Feb 23, 2020
I WAS GOING ABOUT 15 MILES PER HOUR WHEN SUDDENLY ALL THESE ERROR CODES STARTED POPPING UP, FIRST "ESC MALFUNCTION" THEN TRAILER BRAKE MALFUNCTION,STABILITRAK, STEERING ASSIST REDUCED, BRAKE SYSTEM FAIL, LIGHS JUST POP UP I DO FEEL LIKE THE TRUCK LOOSES SOME POWER FEELS MORE SLUGGISH, I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP, THEY RECALIBRATED THE BREAK SYSTEM AND STUFF, IT FIXED THE ISSUE TEMPORARILY, BUT THE LIGHTS KEEP COMING BACK, SOMETIMES I TURN THE TRUCK ON IN THE MORNING AND LIGHTS ARE GONE, THEN LATER ON I GET ALL THE ERROR CODES AGAIN WHILE DRIVING IT. IT STARTED 4 DAYS AFTER I PURCHASED THE TRUCK AND HAPPENS DAILY SINCE.