2020 GMC Sierra 2500 problems, complaints & recalls
Updated from NHTSA data · How we count
Owners have filed 76 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500, most often about transmission & drivetrain. There are 9 recalls for this model year.
- Complaints
- 76
- Recalls
- 9
- Crashes
- 1
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 1
- Median mileage
- 31,800 mi at time of problem
Key facts
- Transmission & Drivetrain is the most-reported problem area, named in 24 of 76 complaints (32%).
- Electrical System (13) and engine (12) follow.
- Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 31,800 mi.
- Owners reported 1 crash, 3 fires and 1 injury.
- The 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 has 9 recalls on file.
- NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation covering this vehicle.
- It ranks 2nd of 22 GMC Sierra 2500 model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
- That is 145% more complaints than the 2019 model year (31).
2020 GMC Sierra 2500 problems by category
- 24 complaints
- Other / Unknown16 complaints
- Electrical System13 complaints
- Engine12 complaints
- Brakes11 complaints
- Driver Assistance & Safety Tech7 complaints
- Body & Structure6 complaints
- Steering6 complaints
- Wheels & Tires4 complaints
- Acceleration & Cruise Control4 complaints
- Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion2 complaints
- Lighting2 complaints
- Airbags · 1 crash1 complaints
- Suspension1 complaints
- Visibility & Wipers1 complaints
A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.
Most-reported components
| Component (as filed with NHTSA) | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Power train | 24 |
| Unknown or other | 16 |
| Electrical system | 13 |
| Service brakes | 11 |
| Engine | 10 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Structure:body | 5 |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 |
When problems happen (mileage)
2020 GMC Sierra 2500 recalls (9)
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:FLUID/LUBRICANT:VALVES/VALVE BODY
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.
Risk: Rear wheel lock up increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:FLUID/LUBRICANT:VALVES/VALVE BODY
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.
Risk: Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
- LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH
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.
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.
Remedy: 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.
- TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
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.
Risk: An ABS system that cannot control the rear wheels independently increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
- SEAT BELTS · SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
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.
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.
Remedy: 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.
- AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR
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.
Risk: If the diffuser separates from the inflator during deployment, RRAB performance may be degraded, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: 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.
- LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH · STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
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.
Risk: If a striker wire fractures, the hood may open unexpectedly while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
- LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
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.
Risk: If a striker wire fractures, the hood may open unexpectedly while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
- SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER
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.
Risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA defect investigations
- PE21010Opened Apr 9, 2021Closed Aug 24, 2023
Air Bag Malfunction
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…
Recent 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 complaints
Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
- Filed Oct 7, 2026MDBody & Structure
My rear spoiler roof area leaks. This is something GM knows about and has sent out memos to dealers. To fix this it’s around $1000. I think GM should fix a problem they have been well aware of for sometime.
NHTSA complaint #11769733 · source - Filed Sep 24, 2026KYTransmission & Drivetrain
A dealer "fixed" the P20EE code on this date, then the code came back a week later. Same dealer said they don't have qualified diesel technician, took vehicle to a 2nd dealer 9/22/2025, unable to determine cause of code. On 6/18/2026 same P20EE code came on again, took to dealer, dealer able to perform repairs on 7/30/2026 after ordering the correct parts. No on 9/23/2026 P20EE code is back.
NHTSA complaint #11766667 · source - Filed Sep 19, 2026KSDriver Assistance & Safety TechAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain
While driving vehicle flashed engine power reduction signal and then the emergency brake automatic feature came on abruptly. Fortunately, I had been able to slow down after the reduced power, but if I wouldn't have quickly reacted to that, I think the emergency brake system would have caused a safety issue. Now. The vehicle is incapacitated. There were two recalls that describe this exact situation on the same year and model of truck, but my VIN number did not fall. Under…
NHTSA complaint #11765548 · source - Filed Sep 5, 2026NCElectrical System
When I try to start my truck it comes up as service trailer brake control module and it has caused my truck battery to drain so I cant even crank my truck up.
NHTSA complaint #11762323 · source - Filed Jun 30, 2026100,000 miLAEngine
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 vehicle was taken back to the dealer, and the contact was advised that another diagnostic test was needed. The contact declined to pay for the diagnostic test. The…
NHTSA complaint #11747347 · source - Filed Mar 10, 2026VATransmission & Drivetrain
While driving down a highway doing between 45 and 55 mph the transmission suddenly and completely faulted causing the truck to come to a complete stop. Just enough power to get to the shoulder luckily. The transmission had basically completely blown out, fluid everywhere. The insurance company did not find any comprehensive damage. The entire transmission needs to be replaced. There were no indicators showing any problems, no alerts, no warning whatsoever. Mechanics said…
NHTSA complaint #11723197 · source - Filed Feb 15, 2026MSTransmission & Drivetrain
A couple times I heard loud clanking coming from rear brakes. One time in particular I was trying to stop and it felt line someone had ran into my truck but must have been the rear wheel locking up
NHTSA complaint #11718162 · source - Filed Dec 20, 2025INBrakesDriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical System
The main tailgate will not go down or function properly and it says online there is a national recall for this, but does not come up when I search my vehicle. When I turn on my left turn signal the brights flash for no reason and this is a known major issue with the vehicles as well. The trucks computer is telling me low on coolant even though it is not that has already been fixed through a 3rd pARTY WARRANTY Parking brake was stuck on when I bought the vehicle and had been…
NHTSA complaint #11706292 · source
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Other 2020 GMC models
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 10, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology