2020 GMC Sierra 1500 Problems

What owners reported to NHTSA about the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500, its recalls, and what to check before you buy one.

GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 to 2024 model years
Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0
How the 2020 compares

About average for the Sierra 1500

Owners filed about as many complaints as a typical Sierra 1500 year. The main thing to watch is the engine and cooling, which half of owners reported by about 65,000 miles.

Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Sierra 1500 years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.

Owners have filed 484 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The most reported problem area is the engine and cooling (260, 54% of complaints), followed by the transmission and drivetrain and the electrical system. That ranks 7th of 13 Sierra 1500 years from 2012 to 2024 for complaints. It has 12 recalls.

Complaints484filed with NHTSA
Recalls12for this model year
Crashes1213 injuries reported
Fires5reported in complaints

2 of these complaints came from Utah owners.

Own one?

Get recall alerts for your 2020 Sierra 1500

Add it to My Garage, free. We email you when a new recall is issued for it, plus service reminders and what it is worth each month.

Add it to My Garage
Shopping for one?

Start a free car search

Tell us what you want in a 2020 Sierra 1500 and your budget. We review every request and show you how we can help you find a good one and skip the bad years.

Start my car search

Most reported problems

Problem areas ranked by how many complaints mention them. One complaint can name more than one area. Open an area to see what to check on a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 before you buy.

Engine and cooling

260 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 65,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

  • Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
  • Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
  • Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
  • Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

6.2 liter engine failed at 59,300 miles. Being replaced right now with remanufactured engine. 2020 GMC Sierra is not part of recall but others have had problems as wellOwner complaint, filed 2026
I was driving and my truck shut down on me while I was driving down the road, I had to get it towed to the dealership where it was confirmed that the motor would need to be replaced. There was no warning, it just turned off and luckily I was able to coast to a safe area to wait for the tow truck.Owner complaint, filed 2026

Transmission and drivetrain

99 complaintsHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 73,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

  • Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
  • Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
  • Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
  • If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

My truck shudders when driving. It has 78,000 miles on it. It started shuttering around 73,000 miles. I baby my truck and don't do switch backs or hot rod around.Owner complaint, filed 2026
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to the dealer for a transmission fluid flush and refill, the contact was informed that the transmission was inoperable, and the vehicle could not be driven to the residence. The dealer determined that the torque converter needed to be replaced. The…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 85,165 miles

Electrical system

81 complaintsDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 5,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

  • Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
  • Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
  • Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start intermittently and needed to be jumpstarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and it was determined that there was corrosion on the ground wire which caused the failure. The vehicle was not repaired because the vehicle was not included in…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 51,000 miles
2020 GMC sierra 1500 infotainment system including navigation,OnStar and voice command, stoped working on Friday May 15th with no prior warning. These systems are integral for modern safe travel and severely affects the value and driver confidence in the vehicle. It seems to be running mechanically sound but, with some of the…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Brakes and stability control

58 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 13,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

  • The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
  • The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
  • Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

On Monday, [XXX], at about 1730 hours was traveling Southbound at 45mph on [XXX] approaching the [XXX] intersection. Vehicle alerted to the following codes on the dash; ESCAPE, Traction Control, Check Engine Light, Brake System Failure, "Do not exceed 62 MPH". I took foot off accelerator and looked up and noticed the traffic light…Owner complaint, filed 2025
My vehicle displayed numerous brake failure codes and limited my speed to 43mph. When taken into my local GMC dealer the diagnostics I was given were a bad/leaking master cylinder. This vehicle has 16,200 miles on it and was never used for towing or hauling. The brakes are hard and brake assist has clearly failed. I’ve found numerous…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Steering

38 complaintsLoss of power steering assist, wandering, play in the wheel and noises when turning.What to check before you buy

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 10,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

  • Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
  • On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
  • A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

A known problem with these trucks is ground strap failure. I was driving and all the sudden lost power steering which almost caused an accident. There is a customer satisfaction program N252515590 that covers 2019-2024 trucks but mine was not included in this for some reason. I did have the truck fixed a my cost and was looking to get my…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that upon start the vehicle, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The messages “Service Power Steering”, “Power Steering Disabled” were displayed, and ESC warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 115,000 miles

Fuel system

27 complaintsHesitation, stalling, fuel smell, fuel pump and injector failures.What to check before you buy

What to check before you buy

  • Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
  • On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
  • Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

2020 GMC Sierra Denali, VIN [XXX] On [XXX] while driving the 2020 GMC Sierra to work I noticed a strong gasoline smell inside the cabin. I immediately returned home and parked the truck in the street. Inspecting the driveway where the truck was parked over night, I notice large gasoline spot. The following day I had the truck towed to…Owner complaint, filed 2025
13540028 Fuel Pump Power Control Module Part failed leaving me stranded and had to get a tow. When the failure occurred, vehicle would not crank and there was no forewarning. It worked and then it didn't. The part is on notional backorder and there seems to be a lot of vehicles out there with the same issue and that just with the…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Driver assist systems

20 complaintsPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 10,000 miles. Parts named most: Automatic emergency braking (11), Adaptive cruise control (5), Warnings (5).

What to check before you buy

  • Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
  • Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
  • Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RE ODI 116346689: Tried to report to GM using 800-462-8782 provided by you. Agent would not accept ANY information that I tried to provide, including year/make /model and would not confirm or deny that the issue was known by them. Agent said that the dealer would report their inability to fix the issue directly to…Owner complaint, filed 2025
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra. The contact stated that while driving at speeds over 38 MPH, and the Lane Departure Warning System was activated the seat indicator did not vibrate or sound an alert as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the software was reset but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 47,000 miles

Suspension

18 complaintsClunks over bumps, broken springs, worn struts and uneven tire wear.What to check before you buy

What to check before you buy

  • Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
  • Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
  • Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

My 2020 GMC Sierra Denali diesel with approximately 90,000 miles experienced two separate front suspension failures within a short period of time. The driver side tie rod and wheel hub failed first and required repair. Shortly after, the passenger side front suspension failed in a similar way and the vehicle had to be towed. These…Owner complaint, filed 2026
I am writing to formally express my dissatisfaction regarding a significant safety and reliability issue with my 2020 GMC Denali. Specifically, the vehicle is experiencing premature wear and imminent failure of the front ball joints. I expect the suspension components of a premium Denali-trim vehicle to last significantly longer than the…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Lights, wipers and visibility

18 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 20,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

  • Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
  • Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact noticed an abnormal odor inside the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact observed that the roof, rear seats, and rear carpet were saturated with water. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the rear sliding window frame connected to the roof was…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 90,320 miles
The rear back glass is leaking water excessively in to the inside of the vehicle when it rains or gets washed. The vehicle is available at any time for inspection. The amount of condensation that accumulates on all the interior windows makes it impossible to see out of the vehicle. The defrost can not handle the amount of moisture build…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Body, doors and structure

14 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy

Parts named most: Body (12).

What to check before you buy

  • Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
  • Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
  • Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the tailgate opened unexpectedly after inclement weather or after the vehicle was washed. There was water and rust found inside the tailgate release button, and the message "Tailgate Open" was displayed. The contact associated the failure with Customer…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 29,000 miles
I have a rear sliding window on the cab of my truck that leaks from both ends of the plastic guide. I noticed it when placing my young children in their car seats. I contacted my dealership and was informed the repair would cost $1500+ and not be covered by GM or warranty.Owner complaint, filed 2026

Cruise control and acceleration

12 complaintsHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy

What to check before you buy

  • On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
  • Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

I investigated and Unintended Acceleration crash that occurred on 8-9-2021. The vehicle had just left a body shop where it had repairs to the left front of the vehicle near the ECM. The driver reported the vehicle would not slow down. He face timed a witness and showed her his foot was on the brake and not the accelerator pedal…Owner complaint, filed 2022
The vehicle has made "panic stops" at highway speeds 5 times when using adaptive cruise control with no input from driver or surrounding environment I.e.. Clear road, no traffic, sun or no sun.Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 16,000 miles

Air bags

6 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy

What to check before you buy

  • The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
  • Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra. The contact proceeded through the intersection when a vehicle crashed into the contact's driver's side door and wheel at unknown speeds. The contact stated that the other vehicle crashed into two vehicles, then crashed into the contact's vehicle and stopped. The contact stated that the police report…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 34,800 miles
Driving on state highway at posted speed. A deer ran into the right front and side of vehicle. Side airbags deployed. When the right side airbag deployed, it burned a hole in my passengers winter coat that completely went through the right sleeve forearm and scorched the sweatshirt that she was wearing under the coat. Smoke was visibly…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Wheels and tires

3 complaintsTire failures, wheels and lug nuts, and tire pressure sensor faults.What to check before you buy

What to check before you buy

  • Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
  • Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
  • The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 equipped with Goodyear Tires, Tire line: Wrangler AT/S, Tire Size: LT275/65/R20, DOT Number: PJOTJB1V. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, there was a slight wobble and then an impact was felt when the rear passenger’s side tire tread separated and damaged the rear fender and bumper. The…Owner complaint, filed 2021
The contact owns a 2020 gmc sierra 1500 equipped with bridgestone tires, tire line: alenza a/s 02, tires size: 275/50/r22, dot number: unknown. The contact stated that the tires failed to hold the tire pressure. The vehicle was taken to scenic chevrolet buick gmc cadillac (2300 rockford st, mt airy, nc 27030) where the vehicle was…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 2,976 miles

Seats and seat belts

2 complaintsBelts that will not latch or retract, seat adjusters and passenger occupancy sensors.What to check before you buy

What to check before you buy

  • Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
  • Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

Our middle seat belt has stopped working in the back seat- we have not had it replaced yet. No damage was done on it by us, but will not click into the buckle. Driving on the hi-way engine started making awful noises. We pulled over and had the truck towed to Royal Moore GMC in Hillsboro Oregon as we didn't want to cause any more harm to…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Keep getting "service safety restraint system " alerts. Vehicle only has 550 miles. Alerts are intermitent when driving. Contacted the dealer and was advised that unless it remains on they could not trace the issue.Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 550 miles

GMC Sierra 1500 complaints by year

Compare the 2020 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.

Compare with similar 2020 full-size trucks

Each car is rated against its own other years, since popular models always get more complaints than rare ones.

CarVs. its other yearsRecallsMost reported
2020 GMC Sierra 1500About average12Engine and cooling
2020 Ford F-150One of the better years11Transmission and drivetrain
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500About average12Engine and cooling
2020 Ram 1500One of the better years14Engine and cooling
Compare side by side

2020 GMC Sierra 1500 recalls

This is every recall issued for the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500, not what is still open on one car. A recall that was fixed does not show up any differently here. Check a VIN at NHTSA to see what is still open on the car you are looking at, and ask the seller for proof any recall work was done.

Transmission and drivetrain Control module

Feb 2026 · NHTSA campaign 26V083000
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.
Full recall 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 and drivetrain Control module

Oct 2024 · NHTSA campaign 24V797000
Risk
Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix
Dealers will install new transmission control module software, free of charge.
Full recall 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.

Tires Temporary / emergency spare tire

Dec 2021 · NHTSA campaign 21V985000
Risk
An ABS system that does not function properly can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix
Dealers will provide a new 17" spare tire and wheel assembly that is compatible with the accessory wheels, free of charge.
Full recall summary

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.

Tires

Feb 2021 · NHTSA campaign 21V115000
Risk
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.
Fix
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, replacing them as necessary, free of charge.
Full recall summary

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.

Seat belts

Dec 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V792000
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.
Full recall 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.

Tires

Nov 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V684000
Risk
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.
Fix
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.
Full recall summary

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.

Transmission and drivetrain Driveshaft

Oct 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V650000
Risk
If the driveshaft separates, there may be a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge.
Full recall summary

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.

Air bags Inflator

Jul 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V446000
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.
Full recall 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.

Brakes Caliper

Feb 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V116000
Risk
Broken caliper bolts can reduce brake performance or interfere with wheel rotation and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake caliper bolts, free of charge.
Full recall summary

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.

Electrical system Cables

Dec 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V888000
Risk
An intermittent electrical connection between the B+ battery cable and the alternator could cause the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix
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.
Full recall summary

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.

Fuel system Fuel pump

Nov 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V837000
Risk
Over-pressurization can crack the fuel pump and cause leaks, increasing the risk of a fire in the presence of an ignition source.
Fix
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge.
Full recall summary

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.

Seat belts Pretensioner

Nov 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V814000
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.
Full recall 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.

2020 GMC Sierra 1500 questions

What are the most common problems with the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500?

The most reported problem areas on the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 are the engine and cooling (260 complaints), the transmission and drivetrain (99 complaints) and the electrical system (81 complaints).

Is the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 a good year to buy?

About average for the Sierra 1500. Owners filed about as many complaints as a typical Sierra 1500 year. The main thing to watch is the engine and cooling, which half of owners reported by about 65,000 miles. Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Sierra 1500 years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.

How many recalls does the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 have?

NHTSA lists 12 recalls for the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The most recent, from Feb 2026, covers the control module. Recalls cover the whole model year, so check the VIN of the car you are looking at to see which are still open.

At what mileage do 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 problems start?

Half of the owners who reported a problem with the engine and cooling gave a mileage of about 65,000 miles or less. Half of the owners who reported a problem with the transmission and drivetrain gave a mileage of about 73,000 miles or less. Plenty of cars have these problems later or never, so ask for service records.

Which GMC Sierra 1500 years should I avoid?

The Sierra 1500 years with the most complaints compared with the rest are 2014. Years with clearly fewer complaints are 2012, 2013 and 2018. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly yet.

Looking at a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500?

We inspect the car with a scan tool and paint gauge, read the history report and tell you whether it is worth the asking price, before you hand over any money.

See Our Services
Where these numbers come from. Complaints are reports that owners filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), counted from NHTSA’s complaint database as of November 5, 2026. Owners do not have to prove a problem to file one, so a complaint is a report, not a confirmed defect. Models that sell in big numbers get more complaints, and newer model years have had less time on the road, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Recalls come from NHTSA’s recall database and cover every vehicle of that model year, not one particular car. Quotes are trimmed, and anything that looks like a VIN is hidden.