2020 Chevrolet Silverado transmission and drivetrain problems
228 of the 733 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 297 manufacturer bulletins, 3 recalls. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 of the 228 reports a crash · 2 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2020: 10 · 2021: 8 · 2022: 16 · 2023: 19 · 2024: 24 · 2025: 93 · 2026: 58
Half of the 47 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 11,000 and 88,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
733 complaints in all about the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado, 58 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Chevrolet Silverado transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Whine sound possible torque converter does not go away. Surging or delay in switching into second gear upon first start up and put in drive
My truck has already had a shimmy feel in the transmission around 60 MPH it shook and would slip gears. I just had it get worse this week. I also noticed that the front end is not shaking really bad from 60-75 MPH on newly paved roads. The truck used to drive like a dream now its driving so rough and there is something going on!
The vehicle does not shift into 4WD low range. The vehicle has been taken to the dealer 4 times to correct the issue but the issue still occurs
2020 Silverado 1500 duramax. Torque converter failed with 6700 miles on new leased vehicle. Originally began having transmission issues in nov 2020 with surging while stopped in cold weather. Dealer reseated all connections. Began to have loud whining when shifting. Took back to dealer and informed it is turbo whine. Not convinced.
2020 Silverado rst 1500 4X4 allstar with 8 speed transmission. At 4,000 miles developed a shutter in transmission and slipping and hard shifting mainly between gear 1-2. Bad enough when you start from a stop when it shifts you fall forward. The acceleration pushes you back and then it just slips to no where till it catches and goes.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecalls filed under this heading
- 26V083000 CriticalFeb 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. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock up.
- 24V797000 CriticalOct 24, 2024 · 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. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.
- 20V650000 HighOct 22, 2020 · 42 vehicles
- 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.
297 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado
Source: the same files- engine problems 271 complaints
- brake problems 114 complaints
- electrical problems 113 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 228 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (31% of everything owners filed about it), and 297 manufacturer bulletins, 3 recalls are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado?
Yes — 3 campaigns are filed under this heading: 26V083000, 24V797000, 20V650000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 60,000 miles; half of them between 11,000 and 88,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.