2020 GMC Sierra 1500: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500: 12 recalls, 475 owner complaints.
Recalls
12 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #19V814000 · 2019 · 556,399 vehicles
What's wrong: When the front seat belt pretensioners deploy, hot gas May vent through an opening in the pretensioner bracket, possibly igniting the carpet.
Why it matters: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
The 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.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #19V837000 · 2019 · 502 vehicles
What's wrong: The fuel pump May be missing a pressure regulator, allowing for over-pressurization of the fuel system.
Why it matters: Over-pressurization can crack the fuel pump and cause leaks, increasing the risk of a fire in the presence of an ignition source.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2019.
Electrical Vehicle recall #19V888000 · 2019 · 350,371 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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 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…
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #20V116000 · 2020 · 20,352 vehicles
What's wrong: The bolts used to attach the front and/or rear brake calipers May have not been heat treated and May break under load.
Why it matters: Broken caliper bolts can reduce brake performance or interfere with wheel rotation and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake caliper bolts, free of charge. The recall began March 23, 2020.
Airbags Vehicle recall #20V446000 · 2020 · 769 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If the diffuser separates from the inflator during deployment, rrab performance May be degraded, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect rrab modules, free of charge. The recall began September 3, 2020.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #20V650000 · 2020 · 42 vehicles
What's wrong: One of the driveshaft joints May not have been properly welded, causing the driveshaft to separate while the vehicle is moving.
Why it matters: If the driveshaft separates, there May be a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of crash.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 2020.
Tires Vehicle recall #20V684000 · 2020 · 7,516 vehicles
What's wrong: The vehicles May have been manufactured with continental tires that were overcured.
Why it matters: 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.
The 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.
Seat belts, Seat belts Vehicle recall #20V792000 · 2020 · 624,216 vehicles
What's wrong: The seat belt brackets May not be secured to the seat frame in the front-row center seating position.
Why it matters: 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.
The 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.
Tires Vehicle recall #21V115000 · 2021 · 33,838 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected tires were cured for too long during production.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2021.
Tires Vehicle recall #21V985000 · 2021 · 626 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: An ABS system that does not function properly can increase the risk of a crash.
The 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…
Transmission & drivetrain, Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #24V797000 · 2024 · 463,295 vehicles
What's wrong: The transmission control valve May fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.
Why it matters: Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
The 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.
Transmission & drivetrain, Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #26V083000 · 2026 · 1,055 vehicles
What's wrong: The transmission control valve May fail and cause the rear wheels to lock up.
Why it matters: Rear wheel lock up increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the vehicles and update the transmission control software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 6, 2026.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 5 mention a fire, 13 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine (239): the most common themes are warning light on (81), noise or vibration (60), stalls / loses power (50).
- Transmission & drivetrain (97): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (31), warning light on (27), noise or vibration (16).
- Electrical (81): the most common themes are electrical failure (23), warning light on (23).
- Brakes (49): the most common themes are warning light on (21), brake failure / soft pedal (11).
The 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 has 475 owner complaints, ranking #7 of 33 Sierra 1500 model years for complaints (1.8× the average Sierra 1500 year). Complaints peaked in 2025 (188 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 33,400 miles. Neighboring years: 2019 (650 complaints, 10 recalls), 2021 (582 complaints, 7 recalls).
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500.
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FAQ
Does the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 12 vehicle recalls for the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 problems?
Owners have filed 475 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine (239), transmission & drivetrain (97), electrical (81).
Where can I get a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.