VehicleVerdict

2020 GMC Sierra 2500 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 106 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 1.9 times the median Sierra 2500 year — the 2020 model ranks #7 of 31 Sierra 2500 years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across transmission (22), other (16), and electrical system (14), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.

106

NHTSA complaints

9

Recalls

1

Investigations

1

Crash-involved

7

Fires reported

1

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2020 compare to other Sierra 2500 years?

See all Sierra 2500 years to avoid →

What are the most common 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Transmission2221%
Other1615%
Electrical System1413%
Brakes1312%
Engine1110%
Steering66%
Body & Structure55%
Driver Assistance55%
Tires & Wheels44%
Speed Control33%
Lighting22%
Fuel System22%
Visibility & Wipers11%
Suspension11%
Airbags11%

Does the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 have recalls?

9 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.

21V578000Tires & WheelsJuly 29, 2021 · 86 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

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.

After the transmission recall was completed, I’m now having erratic shifting. Having the recall adding software monitoring for a hardware issue is inadequate. Now that I am out of warrentee, gm has not resolved the issue and now I am having shifting problems.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · May 12, 2025

I HAVE A 5TH WHEEL WITH SOLAR AND MY BRAKE CONTROLER STOPS WORKING PERIODICALLY. I HAVE A CASE# WITH GM 9-13676268071. I ALSO HJAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH GM AND IT'S NOT COVERED DUE TO MY VIN# NOT BEING ON A BULLENTIN# 23-NA-149. GM ALSO HAS A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGREAM # N232414840 AND…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · September 9, 2024

The rear defroster massively overheated. It started heavily smoking and eventually exploded the rear windows. Only warning sign was the smoke which we noticed quickly because the windows were up. Had the windows been down we might not have noticed before a fire started. I'm taking it to a…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · November 23, 2025 · fire

My vehicle inadvertently locks the rear tires at highway speeds and then releases and drives. In some instances it may brake several times causing the tires to burn rubber for a short distance causing rear traffic to either swerve to avoid rear ending me and in a couple instances causes the rear…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · March 28, 2024

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 GMC SIERRA 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, HE NOTICED SMOKE ENTERING THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, EXITED THE VEHICLE SAFELY WITH HIS PASSENGER, UPON OPENING THE HOOD NOTICED THAT THE WHOLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · May 18, 2020 · fire

2020 GMC Sierra 2500 — common questions

Is the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 106 complaints put the 2020 model at #7 of 31 Sierra 2500 years. It is one of the Sierra 2500 years to avoid.

What are the most common 2020 Sierra 2500 problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are transmission (22 complaints), other (16 complaints), electrical system (14 complaints).

Does the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns affecting the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 under NHTSA investigation?

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

Which GMC Sierra 2500 years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Sierra 2500 years to avoid are 2003, 2004, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2024, 2020, 2015, 2007, 2011, 2008, 2013, 2012, 2014, 2009, 2010. The cleanest record among Sierra 2500 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.