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2020 GMC Sierra 1500 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
69% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 91% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 317 of 468 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (69%), and the largest group is filed under engine (234). For comparison, the 2019 scores 67% and the 2021 scores 77%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. 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 GMC Sierra 1500 years
Of the 14 GMC Sierra 1500 years with enough complaints to score, the 2020 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (69%). The worst is the 2021 (77%), the best the 2013 (19%). By volume, the 2020 drew 468 complaints (317 drivetrain), against 647 for the 2019 and 577 for the 2021.
GMC Sierra 1500 years to avoid and best years →
2010 Sierra 1500 problems · 2011 Sierra 1500 problems · 2012 Sierra 1500 problems · 2013 Sierra 1500 problems · 2014 Sierra 1500 problems · 2015 Sierra 1500 problems · 2016 Sierra 1500 problems · 2017 Sierra 1500 problems · 2018 Sierra 1500 problems · 2019 Sierra 1500 problems · 2020 · 2021 Sierra 1500 problems · 2022 Sierra 1500 problems · 2023 Sierra 1500 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine 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 317 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2020 GMC Sierra 1500 transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 12 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…
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.
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. The recall is expected to begin December 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at…
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.
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. The recall began December 18, 2019. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at…
8 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 GMC Sierra 1500? 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.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500
Does the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 317 of 468 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (69%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 is engine: 234 of 468 complaints (50%) name it, followed by power train (97) and electrical system (80). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 69% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 91% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 GMC Sierra 1500 years we score, it ranks 2nd-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 GMC Sierra 1500?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 12 in total: 26V083000 (power train: automatic transmission: control module: software), 24V797000 (power train: automatic transmission: control module: software), 20V650000 (power train: driveline: driveshaft), and more. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which GMC Sierra 1500 years are better?
Among the GMC Sierra 1500 years we track, the 2013 (19%), the 2010 (22%) and the 2014 (25%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2020 (69%). 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/gmc-sierra-1500
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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.