VehicleVerdict

2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Worth extra scrutiny

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 sits mid-pack among Silverado 3500 years: 49 NHTSA complaints against a model median of roughly 42, with 8 recalls and one closed investigation.

Transmission leads the complaint categories with 14 reports (29% of the total).

49

NHTSA complaints

8

Recalls

1

Investigations

1

Crash-involved

1

Fires reported

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2020 compare to other Silverado 3500 years?

See all Silverado 3500 years to avoid →

What are the most common 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Transmission1429%
Brakes918%
Engine816%
Tires & Wheels510%
Electrical System510%
Fuel System48%
Visibility & Wipers12%
Driver Assistance12%
Latches & Locks12%
Other12%

Does the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 have recalls?

8 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

26V083000TransmissionFebruary 12, 2026 · 1,055 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

24V797000TransmissionOctober 24, 2024 · 463,295 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

24V060000Latches & LocksFebruary 1, 2024 · 570,434 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

20V792000Seat BeltsDecember 17, 2020 · 624,216 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

20V446000AirbagsJuly 30, 2020 · 769 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

20V324000Latches & LocksJune 4, 2020 · 272 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

20V142000Latches & LocksMarch 12, 2020 · 1,909 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

19V814000Seat BeltsNovember 14, 2019 · 556,399 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact received a notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V797000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at 62 MPH during snow weather and switching lanes; the…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · December 30, 2024 · crash

I haul vehicles for a living. My rear wheels locked up and my truck came to a complete stop while I was on the highway. Luckily I was able to pull over and no one was behind me. It has happened a total of 3 times. There is no fix for my recall yet. I’m terrified to drive, but this is how I make…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · October 25, 2024

Fan pulley broke in half, snapped fan belt, damaged fan and caused truck to overheat. Truck would not turn off when overheated, even when fan was not working, so truck kept getting hotter. Dealer said this is the 3rd one they've seen this week

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · September 6, 2023

Tire Size LT275/65R20 While towing a trailer was accelerating onto the freeway at approximately 45MPH the rear driver side tire exploded. The tread partially separated causing extensive damage to the vehicles wheel well, rear bumper and undercarriage. Tires was inflated to approximately 77PSI and…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Tires & Wheels · July 16, 2023

GM recall N2123544170 DPF regeneration temperature /DEF heater for cold weather operation to keep def from freezing and also for thawing frozen def...dealer to replace def tank and internal heating element...dealer was unable to give a time line for replacement parts needed to fix truck.(parts are…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · April 28, 2022

2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 — common questions

Is the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 reliable?

It is close to typical for the Silverado 3500: 49 NHTSA complaints, 8 recalls, and 1 investigation on file.

What are the most common 2020 Silverado 3500 problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are transmission (14 complaints), brakes (9 complaints), engine (8 complaints).

Does the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns affecting the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened one investigation into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Chevrolet Silverado 3500 years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Silverado 3500 years to avoid are 2000, 1998, 2001, 1997, 2015, 1999, 2016, 2024, 2002, 2011, 2007, 2013, 2008, 2012, 2009, 2014, 2010. The cleanest record among Silverado 3500 years belongs to 1994.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.