NHTSA lists 12 safety recalls and 484 owner complaints for the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. It has 1 open investigation that names this model year.
Recalled components: powertrain, tires, seat belts, air bags, and 3 more. Most-described problem: engine failure or replacement (92 complaints, 19%). Most-reported area: engine (245 complaints, 51%; median mileage when it happened: 44,000).
Fewer complaints than a typical Sierra 1500 year
The 2020 drew 98 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 98 for a typical Sierra 1500 year.
Years to avoid: 2014 and 2023. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
Data: NHTSA recall, complaint and investigation filesUpdated
Year to avoid
Excludes the Sierra EV and heavy-duty models.
12 safety recalls for the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500
Grouped by the part recalled, largest group first, newest first within each part. Summaries are NHTSA's own wording. Open a recall for what is wrong, the fix and the full notice.
Powertrain 3 recalls
automatic transmission · control module · software
Risk: Rear wheel lock up increases the risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock up.
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.
1,055 vehicles.
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.
NHTSA listing: SIERRA 1500. Components: Powertrain: automatic transmission, control module, software; Powertrain: automatic transmission, fluid/lubricant, valves/valve body. GMC campaign N252516560.
automatic transmission · control module · software
Risk: Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.
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.
463,295 vehicles.
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.
NHTSA listing: SIERRA 1500. Components: Powertrain: automatic transmission, control module, software; Powertrain: automatic transmission, fluid/lubricant, valves/valve body. GMC campaign N242454440.
Risk: If the driveshaft separates, there may be a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
One of the driveshaft joints may not have been properly welded, causing the driveshaft to separate while the vehicle is moving.
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 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N202314870.
42 vehicles.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 and 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 trucks.
NHTSA listing: SIERRA 1500. GMC campaign N202314870.
Risk: An ABS system that does not function properly can increase the risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
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.
Fix: Dealers will provide a new 17" spare tire and wheel assembly that is compatible with the accessory wheels, free of charge. Dealers will also apply a new spare tire information label, and provide owners with an owner's manual insert clarifying which spare tire to use with the accessory road tires and with the 17" original tires. Owner notification letters were mailed February 7, 2022. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212346510.
626 vehicles.
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.
NHTSA listing: SIERRA 1500. GMC campaign N212346510.
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. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The affected tires were cured for too long during production.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212329050.
33,838 vehicles.
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.
NHTSA listing: SIERRA 1500. GMC campaign N212329050.
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. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The vehicles may have been manufactured with Continental tires that were overcured.
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. The recall began December 17, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202319030.
7,516 vehicles.
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.
NHTSA listing: SIERRA 1500. GMC campaign N202319030.
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.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The seat belt brackets may not be secured to the seat frame in the front-row center seating position.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect left-side and right-sidefront-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.
624,216 vehicles.
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.
Risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
When the front seat belt pretensioners deploy, hot gas may vent through an opening in the pretensioner bracket, possibly igniting the carpet.
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.
556,399 vehicles.
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.
NHTSA listing: SIERRA 1500. GMC campaign N192270600.
Risk: If the diffuser separates from the inflator during deployment, RRAB performance may be degraded, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
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.
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.
769 vehicles.
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.
NHTSA listing: SIERRA 1500. GMC campaign N202305380.
Risk: Broken caliper bolts can reduce brake performance or interfere with wheel rotation and increase the risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The bolts used to attach the front and/or rear brake calipers may have not been heat treated and may break under load.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake caliper bolts, free of charge. The recall began March 23, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-866-522-9559. GM's number for this recall is N202294420.
20,352 vehicles.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles.
NHTSA listing: SIERRA 1500. GMC campaign N202294420.
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. The intermittent connection could also lead to electrical arcing, which could generate sufficient heat to damage surrounding material, increasing the risk of a fire.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
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.
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. If arcing has damaged the cable, nut, or alternator, the dealer will replace the damaged components. All services will be performed free of charge. GM issued owners an interim notification on February 4, 2020. GM issued second notice and the recall began March 9, 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 N192273510.
350,371 vehicles.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks.
NHTSA listing: SIERRA 1500. GMC campaign N192273510.
Risk: Over-pressurization can crack the fuel pump and cause leaks, increasing the risk of a fire in the presence of an ignition source.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The fuel pump may be missing a pressure regulator, allowing for over-pressurization of the fuel system.
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 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N192283991.
502 vehicles.
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.
NHTSA listing: SIERRA 1500. GMC campaign N192283991.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA has opened 3 investigations that name the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500; 1 is still open. An investigation means NHTSA is reviewing reports of a problem. It is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
Engineering analysis EA25007Open since Oct 23, 2025
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 1,157 reports of engine bearing failure failures in the L87 6.2L engine produced by General Motors (GM).
NHTSA listing: SIERRA 1500. Components: Engine and cooling; Engine.
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
Preliminary evaluation PE25001Closed Oct 23, 2025 (opened Jan 16, 2025)
On January 16, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE25001 after receiving complaints and field reports concerning engine failures in MY2019-2024 GM’s full-size truck and SUV… NHTSA's full summary
NHTSA listing: SIERRA 1500. Components: Engine and cooling; Engine.
Air bag malfunction
Preliminary evaluation PE21010Closed Aug 24, 2023 (opened Apr 9, 2021)
On April 9, 2021, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE21-010 to investigate instances of air bag malfunction indicator light (MIL) illumination and potential for frontal air bag non-deployment in several… NHTSA's full summary
NHTSA listing: SIERRA 1500. Component: Air bags (frontal, driver side, inflator module, SRS malfunction warning lamp/light).
A preliminary evaluation is NHTSA's first step, to gather information and decide whether to look further. An engineering analysis is a deeper review, usually opened after a preliminary evaluation. NHTSA lists investigations by make, model and model year only, so one can apply to only some versions of a model, such as one engine; its summary says which.
What owners report
Owners have filed 484 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Sierra 1500. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Engine failure or replacement92 · 19%
Check engine light68 · 14%
Median 69,000 miles at failure, from 27 reports with mileage
Loss of power or limp mode67 · 14%
Median 102,000 miles at failure, from 16 reports with mileage
Median 44,000 miles at failure, from 43 reports with mileage
Powertrain99 · 20%
Median 72,600 miles at failure, from 18 reports with mileage
Electrical system81 · 17%
Median 5,100 miles at failure, from 27 reports with mileage
Brakes52 · 11%
Median 9,000 miles at failure, from 20 reports with mileage
Steering38 · 8%
Fuel and propulsion system27 · 6%
Engine and cooling21 · 4%
Median 93,000 miles at failure, from 19 reports with mileage
Unknown or other45 · 9%
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
GMC Sierra 1500 recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2020 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2023 Sierra 1500 drew the most (285) and the 2020 drew 98.
Owner complaints
2020: 484 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, GMC Sierra 1500
Model year
Complaints
2010
202
2011
327
2012
136
2013
155
2014
845
2015
774
2016
350
2017
418
2018
305
2019
662
2020
484
2021
603
2022
607
2023
516
2024
384
2025
130
2026
150
Safety recalls
2020: 12 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, GMC Sierra 1500
Model year
Recalls
2010
4
2011
7
2012
4
2013
4
2014
18
2015
14
2016
10
2017
6
2018
7
2019
10
2020
12
2021
7
2022
6
2023
3
2024
1
2025
1
2026
2
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
What are the most common 2020 Sierra 1500 problems?
In the 484 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500, the problems described most are engine failure or replacement (92), the check engine light coming on (68), and loss of power or limp mode (67). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 safe?
In NHTSA crash tests the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 earns 4 to 5 stars overall, depending on the version. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500?
Yes. NHTSA has 1 open investigation that names the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500: loss of motive power due to engine failure (EA25007, opened Oct 23, 2025). It has closed 2 others. An investigation is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
How do I check if my Sierra 1500 has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at GMC dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: SIERRA 1500.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.