2020 GMC Sierra 1500 Engine Problems
Owners have filed 239 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500, 50% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 44,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “engine failed” (6% of reports).
- 239engine complaints
- 44,000median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $10,300typical repair cost reported by owners
- 62%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Engine failed: mentioned in 14 of 239 complaints (6%)
- Cam shaft: mentioned in 13 of 239 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 at $10,300, and half of them between $9,600 and $12,400.
Based on 25 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2025–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 43 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 239 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 1 a fire.
GMC Sierra 1500 engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sierra 1500 | 96 | 68% | 5,509 |
| 2025 Sierra 1500 | 54 | 46% | 25,819 |
| 2024 Sierra 1500 | 188 | 51% | 25,000 |
| 2023 Sierra 1500 | 209 | 43% | 17,500 |
| 2022 Sierra 1500 | 238 | 40% | 60,800 |
| 2021 Sierra 1500 | 314 | 54% | 57,761 |
| 2020 Sierra 1500 | 239 | 50% | 44,000 |
| 2019 Sierra 1500 | 309 | 47% | 74,000 |
| 2018 Sierra 1500 | 67 | 22% | 47,000 |
| 2017 Sierra 1500 | 58 | 16% | 56,000 |
| 2016 Sierra 1500 | 39 | 11% | 73,760 |
| 2015 Sierra 1500 | 84 | 12% | 57,000 |
| 2014 Sierra 1500 | 69 | 9% | 58,500 |
| 2013 Sierra 1500 | 8 | 7% | 151,500 |
| 2012 Sierra 1500 | 6 | 6% | 126,000 |
| 2011 Sierra 1500 | 16 | 6% | 40,688 |
| 2010 Sierra 1500 | 11 | 7% | 67,500 |
| 2009 Sierra 1500 | 13 | 6% | 83,500 |
| 2008 Sierra 1500 | 19 | 5% | 109,000 |
| 2007 Sierra 1500 | 19 | 7% | 87,000 |
| 2006 Sierra 1500 | 5 | 3% | 143,000 |
| 2005 Sierra 1500 | 6 | 3% | 123,500 |
| 2004 Sierra 1500 | 5 | 2% | 96,494 |
| 2003 Sierra 1500 | 3 | 2% | 150,000 |
| 2001 Sierra 1500 | 2 | 1% | 174,900 |
| 2000 Sierra 1500 | 1 | 1% | 270,000 |
| 1999 Sierra 1500 | 1 | 1% | 677 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine for the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I have a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4 with the L87 6.2L V8. The cam shaft and lifters have failed for a 2nd time. The first time happened in 2022. It was under warranty and happened at approximately 40,000 miles. This last time it happened in 2026 and was at 125,000 miles - both for the same thing…
While driving down interstate noticed drop in oil pressure and immediately a noise in engine with loss of power. immediately took it to dealership and they diagnosed rod bearing failure. Gm refuses to pay for engine.
My 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT with the 6.2L L87 engine experienced complete engine failure at approximately 129,000 miles. The vehicle is currently at Trent Cadillac GMC in New Bern, NC and is available for inspection upon request. The dealer confirmed the engine requires replacement along with…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2020 GMC Sierra 1500s have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 239 owner complaints about engine for the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 (50% of the 475 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 44,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500?
Owners report a typical cost of $10,300 (half paid between $9,600 and $12,400), from 25 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500?
The most frequent phrase is “engine failed”, in 14 of 239 complaints, followed by “cam shaft” (13).
Other 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 problems
See all 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 problems or engine problems across all Sierra 1500 years.