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2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
50% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 65% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 14 of 28 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (50%), and the largest group is filed under power train (9). For comparison, the 2021 scores 35%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2020 compares with other Chevrolet Silverado 3500 years
Of the 11 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 years with enough complaints to score, the 2020 is the worst on engine and transmission share (50%). The best is the 2022 (28%). By volume, the 2020 drew 28 complaints (14 drivetrain), against 24 for the 2019 and 40 for the 2021.
Chevrolet Silverado 3500 years to avoid and best years →
2010 Silverado 3500 problems · 2011 Silverado 3500 problems · 2012 Silverado 3500 problems · 2013 Silverado 3500 problems · 2014 Silverado 3500 problems · 2015 Silverado 3500 problems · 2016 Silverado 3500 problems · 2017 Silverado 3500 problems · 2020 · 2021 Silverado 3500 problems · 2022 Silverado 3500 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 14 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 8 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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…
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…
6 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 14 of 28 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (50%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 is power train: 9 of 28 complaints (32%) name it, followed by service brakes (8) and engine (6). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 50% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 65% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 11 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 years we score, it ranks worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 8 in total: 26V083000 (power train: automatic transmission: control module: software), 24V797000 (power train: automatic transmission: control module: software). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Chevrolet Silverado 3500 years are better?
Among the Chevrolet Silverado 3500 years we track, the 2022 (28%), the 2016 (31%) and the 2012 (33%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2020 (50%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/chevrolet-silverado-3500
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.