2020 GMC Sierra 2500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 15, 2026 · 78 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Sierra 2500 years
More complaints than other years 9th of 30 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 78 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500. That ranks 9th out of 30 Sierra 2500 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (24 complaints, 31%), typically at around 114,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 3 fires, 1 injury. There are 9 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Power Train24 · ~114,000 mi
Unknown or Other17 · ~6,501 mi
Electrical System13 · ~4,706 mi
Service Brakes12 · ~1,000 mi
Engine10 · ~2,800 mi
Steering6 · ~19,050 mi
Structure6 · ~69,000 mi
Forward Collision Avoidance5 · ~102,000 mi
Vehicle Speed Control4
Engine and Engine Cooling2 · ~112,500 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Power Train2431%114,000——
Unknown or Other1722%6,501——
Electrical System1317%4,706——
Service Brakes1215%1,000——
Engine1013%2,800——
Steering68%19,050——
Structure68%69,000——
Forward Collision Avoidance56%102,000——
Vehicle Speed Control45%———
Engine and Engine Cooling23%112,500——
Exterior Lighting23%212——
Tires23%25,400——
Wheels23%6,300——
Air Bags11%15,500——
Back Over Prevention11%———
Electronic Stability Control (esc)11%———
Fuel/propulsion System11%———
Fuel System, Diesel11%125,000——
Parking Brake11%62,000——
Suspension11%6,300——
Traction Control System11%571——
Visibility/wiper11%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2025, with 29 complaints
2019: 1201912020: 8202082021: 7202172022: 8202282023: 7202372024: 102024102025: 292025292026: 820268

n = 78 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2020 GMC Sierra 2500 recalls (9)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Power train:automatic transmission:control module:software; power train:automatic transmission:fluid/lubricant:valves/valve bodyFeb 12, 2026 · NHTSA campaign 26V083000 · 1,055 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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:fluid/lubricant:valves/valve body; power train:automatic transmission:control module:softwareOct 24, 2024 · NHTSA campaign 24V797000 · 463,295 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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:latchFeb 1, 2024 · NHTSA campaign 24V060000 · 570,434 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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 tireJul 29, 2021 · NHTSA campaign 21V578000 · 86 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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:critical fastenersDec 17, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V792000 · 624,216 vehicles

Problem: 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.

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. 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:inflatorJul 30, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V446000 · 769 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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:hoodJun 4, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V324000 · 272 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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:latchMar 12, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V142000 · 1,909 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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:pretensionerNov 14, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V814000 · 556,399 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • Air Bag Malfunction (PE21010) — opened Apr 9, 2021, closed Aug 24, 2023.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

Rear sliding window leak. Water stains on head liner unsure of addition damage.

Unknown or Other · received Oct 15, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11771423

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.

Structure · received Oct 7, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11769733

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…

Power Train · received Sep 24, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11766667

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…

Vehicle Speed Control · received Sep 19, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11765548

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.

Electrical System · received Sep 5, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11762323

Other GMC Sierra 2500 years

← 2019 Sierra 2500 · 2021 Sierra 2500 →

See all GMC Sierra 2500 problems by year, every GMC model, or the GMC VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500?

Owners most often report power train, unknown or other, electrical system problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 24 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500?

Yes, 9 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sierra 2500 model years, the 2020 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.