2020 GMC Sierra
The 2020 GMC Sierra is sold in the U.S. as a gas and diesel pickup truck with 26 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Sierra 2WD, is EPA-rated at 26 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 16 recall campaigns for this model year, 3 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 592 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra 2WD | Gas | RWD | 2.7L 4-cyl turbo | 20 | 23 | 21 | $2,950 |
| Sierra 2WD | Gas | RWD | 2.7L 4-cyl turbo | 19 | 22 | 20 | $3,100 |
| Sierra 2WD | Gas | RWD | 5.3L 8-cyl | 17 | 24 | 20 | $3,100 |
| Sierra 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 2.7L 4-cyl turbo | 19 | 22 | 20 | $3,100 |
| Sierra 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 2.7L 4-cyl turbo | 19 | 22 | 20 | $3,100 |
| Sierra 2WD | Gas | RWD | 5.3L 8-cyl | 17 | 23 | 19 | $3,300 |
| Sierra 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 5.3L 8-cyl | 16 | 22 | 19 | $3,300 |
| Sierra 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 5.3L 8-cyl | 16 | 22 | 18 | $3,450 |
| Sierra 4WD AT4 | Gas | 4WD | 5.3L 8-cyl | 16 | 21 | 18 | $3,450 |
| Sierra 4WD AT4 | Gas | 4WD | 5.3L 8-cyl | 16 | 21 | 18 | $3,450 |
| Sierra 2WD | Gas | RWD | 4.3L 6-cyl | 16 | 21 | 17 | $3,650 |
| Sierra 2WD | Gas | RWD | 5.3L 8-cyl | 15 | 21 | 17 | $3,650 |
| Sierra 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 6.2L 8-cyl | 15 | 20 | 17 | $4,550 |
| Sierra 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 5.3L 8-cyl | 15 | 20 | 17 | $3,650 |
| Sierra 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 4.3L 6-cyl | 15 | 20 | 17 | $3,650 |
| Sierra 4WD AT4 | Gas | 4WD | 6.2L 8-cyl | 15 | 19 | 17 | $4,550 |
| Sierra Cab Chassis 2WD | Gas | RWD | 4.3L 6-cyl | 15 | 19 | 17 | $3,650 |
| Sierra 2WD | Gas | RWD | 5.3L 8-cyl | 15 | 19 | 16 | $3,900 |
| Sierra 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 5.3L 8-cyl | 14 | 19 | 16 | $3,900 |
| Sierra 4WD AT4 | Gas | 4WD | 5.3L 8-cyl | 14 | 18 | 16 | $3,900 |
| Sierra Cab Chassis 2WD | Gas | RWD | 5.3L 8-cyl | 14 | 18 | 15 | $4,150 |
| Sierra Cab Chassis 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 4.3L 6-cyl | 14 | 16 | 15 | $4,150 |
| Sierra Cab Chassis 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 5.3L 8-cyl | 14 | 17 | 15 | $4,150 |
| Sierra 2WD | Diesel | RWD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 23 | 30 | 26 | $3,450 |
| Sierra 4WD | Diesel | 4WD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 22 | 26 | 24 | $3,750 |
| Sierra 4WD AT4 | Diesel | 4WD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 22 | 26 | 24 | $3,750 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 41831, 41827, 41892, 41850, 41857, 41826, 41848, 41846, 41847, 41849.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2020 GMC Sierra is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.
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Recalls (16)
Source: NHTSA recall databasePower Train
N242454440Latches/Locks/Linkages
N232426400Tires
N212346510Tires
N212329780Tires
N212329050Seat Belts
N202314670Tires
N202319030Power Train
N202314870Air Bags
N202305380Structure
N202306490Latches/Locks/Linkages
N192284960Service Brakes, Hydraulic
N202294420Electrical System
N192273510Fuel System, Gasoline
N192283991Seat Belts
N192270600NHTSA defect investigations
Engine — Loss of motive power due to engine failure open
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). Of the 1,157 reports received, 173 are outside of the scope of recall 25V-274. These engines are installed in Model Years (MY) 2019–2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, and 2021-2024MY Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, GMC Yukon/Yukon XL, and Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV vehicles. The subject engine failures were investigated as part of a Preliminary Evaluation (PE25001). GM determined that these engine failures were due to multiple supplier manufacturing and quality issues. GM issued recall 25V-274 to address the supp
Opened Oct 23, 2025 · action EA25007
Engine — Loss of motive power due to engine failure closed
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 T1XX platform equipped with the L87 6.2L V8 engine. These complainants alleged engine bearing failures resulting in knocking and growling noises from the engine’s bottom end and in some cases more severe consequences such as broken connecting rods leading to engine damage, or engine failure. If the engine fails during vehicle operation, the vehicle will lose propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. On April 24, 2025, GM issued recall 25V-274 to address the concern with L8
Opened Jan 16, 2025 · closed Oct 23, 2025 · action PE25001
Air Bags:Srs Malfunction Warning Lamp/Light — Air Bag Malfunction closed
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 vehicles manufactured by General Motors (GM). The vehicles included model year (MY) 2020 through 2021 CT4 and CT5 passenger cars, Sierra and Silverado trucks (1500/2500/3500 models), XT4 and MY 2021 Escalade, Suburban, Tahoe, Yukon SUVs.Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 21-NA-005, issued in March 2021, addresses air bag MIL illumination with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) B0001-1B or B0012-0D. It cites rust particles in the connection terminal interface of the driver air bag
Opened Apr 9, 2021 · closed Aug 24, 2023 · action PE21010
Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database17 involved a crash · 10 a fire · 18 injuries · 0 deaths reported
Filed per year: 2019: 3 · 2020: 52 · 2021: 49 · 2022: 39 · 2023: 36 · 2024: 63 · 2025: 233 · 2026: 117
Most-cited components
What owners describe
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAP| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PU/EC 2WD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 19% |
| PU/EC 4WD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 20% |
| PU/RC 2WD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 19% |
| PU/RC 4WD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 20% |
| PU/CC 2WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 19% |
| PU/CC 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 20% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.
Compare the 2020 Sierra with
Other Sierra model years
2026 GMC Sierra
6 recalls · 120 complaints
D2025 GMC Sierra
4 recalls · 161 complaints
F2024 GMC Sierra
8 recalls · 501 complaints
C2023 GMC Sierra
4 recalls · 517 complaints
F2022 GMC Sierra
8 recalls · 646 complaints
F2021 GMC Sierra
10 recalls · 624 complaints
F2019 GMC Sierra
17 recalls · 705 complaints
F2018 GMC Sierra
12 recalls · 366 complaints
F2017 GMC Sierra
10 recalls · 477 complaints
F2016 GMC Sierra
12 recalls · 454 complaints
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.