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GMC · Large Pickup truck

2020 GMC Sierra

Gas Diesel

Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
26 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

32 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 4–5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.

Recalls4 critical 12

Complaints12 crash · 5 fire · 13 injured reported 492

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 26 mpg

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2020 GMC Sierra is sold in the U.S. as a gas and diesel large pickup truck with 26 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Sierra 2WD, is EPA-rated at 26 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns for this model year, 4 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 492 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

GMC Sierra — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — GMC Sierra · Photo: Ethan Llamas · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

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	$3,200
Sierra 2WD	Gas	RWD	2.7L 4-cyl turbo	19	22	20	$3,350
Sierra 2WD	Gas	RWD	5.3L 8-cyl	17	24	20	$3,350
Sierra 4WD	Gas	4WD	2.7L 4-cyl turbo	19	22	20	$3,350
Sierra 4WD	Gas	4WD	2.7L 4-cyl turbo	19	22	20	$3,350
Sierra 2WD	Gas	RWD	5.3L 8-cyl	17	23	19	$3,550
Sierra 4WD	Gas	4WD	5.3L 8-cyl	16	22	19	$3,550
Sierra 4WD	Gas	4WD	5.3L 8-cyl	16	22	18	$3,700
Sierra 4WD AT4	Gas	4WD	5.3L 8-cyl	16	21	18	$3,700
Sierra 4WD AT4	Gas	4WD	5.3L 8-cyl	16	21	18	$3,700
Sierra 2WD	Gas	RWD	4.3L 6-cyl	16	21	17	$3,950
Sierra 2WD	Gas	RWD	5.3L 8-cyl	15	21	17	$3,950
Sierra 4WD	Gas	4WD	6.2L 8-cyl	15	20	17	$4,850
Sierra 4WD	Gas	4WD	5.3L 8-cyl	15	20	17	$3,950
Sierra 4WD	Gas	4WD	4.3L 6-cyl	15	20	17	$3,950
Sierra 4WD AT4	Gas	4WD	6.2L 8-cyl	15	19	17	$4,850
Sierra Cab Chassis 2WD	Gas	RWD	4.3L 6-cyl	15	19	17	$3,950
Sierra 2WD	Gas	RWD	5.3L 8-cyl	15	19	16	$4,200
Sierra 4WD	Gas	4WD	5.3L 8-cyl	14	19	16	$4,200
Sierra 4WD AT4	Gas	4WD	5.3L 8-cyl	14	18	16	$4,200
Sierra Cab Chassis 2WD	Gas	RWD	5.3L 8-cyl	14	18	15	$4,450
Sierra Cab Chassis 4WD	Gas	4WD	4.3L 6-cyl	14	16	15	$4,450
Sierra Cab Chassis 4WD	Gas	4WD	5.3L 8-cyl	14	17	15	$4,450
Sierra 2WD	Diesel	RWD	3.0L 6-cyl turbo	23	30	26	$3,700
Sierra 4WD	Diesel	4WD	3.0L 6-cyl turbo	22	26	24	$4,000
Sierra 4WD AT4	Diesel	4WD	3.0L 6-cyl turbo	22	26	24	$4,000

*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.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Sierra 2WD, Sierra 4WD, Sierra Cab Chassis 2WD, Sierra Cab Chassis 4WD	6 / 10	California LEV-III ULEV50 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 50	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Sierra 2WD, Sierra 4WD, Sierra 4WD AT4, Sierra Cab Chassis 2WD, Sierra Cab Chassis 4WD	5 / 10	California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Sierra 2WD, Sierra 4WD, Sierra 4WD AT4	3 / 10	California LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Sierra 2WD, Sierra 4WD, Sierra 4WD AT4	1 / 10	California LEV-III LEV160 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 160	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body style	Pickup
Doors	4
GVWR class	Class 3: 10,001 - 14,000 lb (4,536 - 6,350 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	8
Displacement	6.6 L
Engine configuration	V-Shaped

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Diesel

Seating

Seat rows	2
Seating capacity	6 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain	4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4
Transmission speeds	6

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Parking assist, Rear cross-traffic alert

Optional: Adaptive cruise control, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: AT4, Denali, Elevation, SLE). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	229.5–241.3 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	81.1 in
Height	75.6 in
Wheelbase	139.4–156.7 in
Track, front	68.1 in
Track, rear	68.1 in
Curb weight	4,378–4,888 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	58/42

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 8 configurations: 1500 Crew Cab M/Box 2WD, 1500 Crew Cab M/Box 4WD, 1500 Crew Cab S/Box 2WD, 1500 Crew Cab S/Box 4WD, 1500 Double Cab M/Box 2WD, 1500 Double Cab M/Box 4WD …. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

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Recalls (12)

Source: NHTSA recall database

!critical

Power Train

N252516560

1,055 vehicles 60% reported repaired built Nov 11, 2019 – Sep 12, 2020

Problem 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 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.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 26V083000 reported Feb 12, 2026 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

!critical

Power Train

N242454440

463,295 vehicles 78% reported repaired

Problem 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 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.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 24V797000 reported Oct 24, 2024 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

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Tires

N212346510

626 vehicles 64% reported repaired

Problem 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. 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. Risk An ABS system that does not function properly can increase the risk of a crash. 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 num

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 21V985000 reported Dec 16, 2021 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

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Tires

N212329050

33,838 vehicles 82% reported repaired

Problem 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. The affected tires were cured for too long during production. 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. 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.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 21V115000 reported Feb 25, 2021 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Seat Belts

N202314670

624,216 vehicles 90% reported repaired

Problem 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. The seat belt brackets may not be secured to the seat frame in the front-row center seating position. 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. 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. 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.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 20V792000 reported Dec 17, 2020 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

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Tires

N202319030

7,516 vehicles 96% reported repaired

Problem 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. The vehicles may have been manufactured with Continental tires that were overcured. 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. 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.

NHTSA campaign 20V684000 reported Nov 5, 2020 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

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Power Train

N202314870

42 vehicles 98% reported repaired

Problem 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 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N202314870.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 20V650000 reported Oct 22, 2020 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Air Bags

N202305380

769 vehicles 93% reported repaired

Problem 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. Risk If the diffuser separates from the inflator during deployment, RRAB performance may be degraded, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. 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.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 20V446000 reported Jul 30, 2020 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

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Service Brakes, Hydraulic

N202294420

20,352 vehicles 96% reported repaired

Problem General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles. The bolts used to attach the front and/or rear brake calipers may have not been heat treated and may break under load. Risk Broken caliper bolts can reduce brake performance or interfere with wheel rotation and increase the risk of a crash. 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.

NHTSA campaign 20V116000 reported Feb 27, 2020 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

!critical

Electrical System

N192273510

350,371 vehicles 95% reported repaired built Jul 11, 2018 – Nov 22, 2019

Problem General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks. 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. 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. 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 m

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 19V888000 reported Dec 12, 2019 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

N192283991

502 vehicles 96% reported repaired built Aug 28, 2019 – Sep 28, 2019

Problem 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 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N192283991.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 19V837000 reported Nov 21, 2019 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

!critical

Seat Belts

N192270600

556,399 vehicles 95% reported repaired built Mar 2, 2018 – Oct 28, 2019

Problem 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. When the front seat belt pretensioners deploy, hot gas may vent through an opening in the pretensioner bracket, possibly igniting the carpet. Risk A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle. 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.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 19V814000 reported Nov 14, 2019 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA 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 supplie

Opened Oct 23, 2025 · action EA25007 · the investigation’s page →

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 L87 en

Opened Jan 16, 2025 · closed Oct 23, 2025 · action PE25001 · the investigation’s page →

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 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Sierra

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2020 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. GMC publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →GMC’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2020 GMC Sierra, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

492complaints filed

12 involved a crash · 5 a fire · 13 injuries · 0 deaths reported

30 per 10,000 built · GMC reported 162,195 Sierra built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2019: 1 · 2020: 42 · 2021: 37 · 2022: 23 · 2023: 24 · 2024: 40 · 2025: 189 · 2026: 136

Most-cited components

Engine → 270

Power Train → 98

Electrical System → 82

Service Brakes → 55

Unspecified 45

Steering 37

In depth: engine problems → · transmission and drivetrain problems → · electrical problems → · brake problems →

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

The contact owned a 2020 GMC Sierra Denali. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer; however, the cause of the failure was not yet determined.

Engine at 25,000 miles Sep 11, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11763621

The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra Denali. The contact stated that while driving with Adaptive Cruise Control set to 55 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The contact depressed the brake pedal to disengage the Adaptive Cruise Control settings, preventing the vehicle from crashing into the vehicle ahead.

Forward Collision Avoidance at 99,000 miles Sep 14, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11764047

The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra Denali. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH at night, the vehicle stalled and the “Shift to Neutral and Restart Vehicle” message was displayed. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle and was unable to visibly see the roadway. The contact was able to park on the side of the road.

Electrical System Apr 26, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11519126

Two issues broken valve spring caused engine to shut down, second service brake, brake failure light, service ESC, service trailer brake messages causing brake failure

Service Brakes at 350 miles Oct 29, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11367036

Parked truck for one hour, engine off. Came back and upon startup, received multiple errors that power steering and ESC required dealer attention. Brake pedal would depress to floor. Gmc Sierra 1500 elevation trim

Electronic Stability Control at 3,000 miles Aug 29, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11352041

The contact owns a 2020 Gmc Sierra 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle was at a stand still in a hospital parking lot, when the steering wheel ceased. The contact stated that the power steering assist warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle had not been repaired as of yet.

Steering at 1,000 miles Aug 12, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11348853

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.

Reported by GMC itself: 47 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 killed, 62 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 29 per 100,000 built. Every Sierra model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 40k

miles, typically

Half the 131 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 5,000 and 85,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 43

10k–20k 11

20k–30k 6

30k–40k 5

40k–50k 11

50k–60k 3

60k–70k 7

70k–80k 7

80k–90k 9

90k–100k 7

100k–150k 18

150k + 4

Median mileage by component

Component	Reports	Median miles	Vs same age
Engine	66	65,000	1.3×
Electrical System	24	8,800	0.89×
Service Brakes	22	11,000	1.45×
Power Train	17	75,200	1.83×
Steering	14	10,300	2.58×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2020-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported later: power train (1.83×), steering (2.58×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Across 2018–2022 model years the GMC Sierra ranks 51 of 79 nameplates in the odometer-at-first-complaint study: owners reported problems at 1.37× the mileage of vehicles the same age (median 34,500 miles against a fleet 23,512).

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

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.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Extended coverage on file 4 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

Term not in NHTSA’s summary · GM warranty extension 22-NA-244This warranty administration service bulletin provides information about GM Accessories - Dealer-Installed, Repaired or Replaced During Warranty Coverage Period.
15 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first · GM service campaign N242454441-02Certain vehicles listed above, may have a condition where the transmission control valve has worn, resulting in a gradual loss of pressure within the valve.
15 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first · GM service campaign N242454441-01Certain vehicles listed above, may have a condition where the transmission control valve has worn, resulting in a gradual loss of pressure within the valve.
15 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first · GM bulletin N242454441Certain vehicles listed above, may have a condition where the transmission control valve has worn, resulting in a gradual loss of pressure within the valve.

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every GM warranty extension (33) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 1,897

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-10-05

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 1882 service bulletins, 11 service campaigns, 2 warranty extensions

Most often about: Engine, Equipment, Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Power Train.

PIP6127B Service bulletin
2026-10-05 · Unknown Or Other
This document assists GM dealer technicians with diagnosing torque converter concerns to ensure torque converter replacement is necessary. The torque converter part number will be placed on order restriction, and the technician will be asked to follow 25-NA-148 before requesting a part through PQC.
PIT5698F Service bulletin
2026-09-26 · Unknown Or Other
This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.
PIP5700H Service bulletin
2026-09-21 · Unknown Or Other
This PI communicates the proper part numbers for transmission connectors and internal harness to prevent confusion when ordering
PIP4902W Service bulletin
2026-09-04 · Unknown Or Other
This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
PIP6127A Service bulletin
2026-08-27 · Unknown Or Other
This document assists GM dealer technicians with diagnosing torque converter concerns to ensure torque converter replacement is necessary. The torque converter part number will be placed on order restriction, and the technician will be asked to follow 25-NA-148 before requesting a part through PQC.
PIT6031B Service bulletin
2026-08-07 · Unknown Or Other
This Preliminary information communicates an issue where an aftermarket autostop device or rear taillights is causing a dead battery.
PIP6127 Service bulletin
2026-07-31 · Unknown Or Other
This document assists GM dealer technicians with diagnosing torque converter concerns to ensure torque converter replacement is necessary. The torque converter part number will be placed on order restriction, and the technician will be asked to follow 25-NA-148 before requesting a part through PQC.
PIT5680B Service bulletin
2026-07-23 · Unknown Or Other
This PI provides information to repair the door water deflector which is not sealed properly allows water into the door jam/sill area.

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
P12A6 P12A6 on GMC →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	18 bulletins
P30BF P30BF on GMC →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	14 bulletins
P0300 P0300 on GMC →	Misfire detected, but not isolated to one cylinder.	Engine · Ignition coils →	12 bulletins · 1 owner report
P0442 P0442 on GMC →	A small leak in the evaporative emissions system.	Engine · Gas cap →	9 bulletins
P0455 P0455 on GMC →	A large leak in the evaporative emissions system — often a fuel cap left off.	Engine · Gas cap →	9 bulletins
P26BB P26BB on GMC →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	8 bulletins
B2B0D B2B0D on GMC →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	7 bulletins
B2B0E B2B0E on GMC →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	7 bulletins
P2463 P2463 on GMC →	Soot has built up in the diesel particulate filter beyond the allowed limit.	Engine	7 bulletins
P0107	Manifold absolute pressure sensor signal too low.	Engine	6 bulletins
P0308 P0308 on GMC →	Cylinder 8 is misfiring.	Engine · Ignition coils →	6 bulletins
P0747 P0747 on GMC →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	6 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 6.5%

failed emissions

3,002 initial inspections of 2,937 vehicles.

Measure	The 2020 Sierra	Every 2020 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	6.5%	2.2%	2,995
Failed the safety inspection	1.3%	1.6%	3,002
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.07%	0.19%	3,002
Miles driven a year	11,629	9,980	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	72,860	62,630	odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2020 vehicle” is every 2020 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Compare the 2020 Sierra with

Any vehicle, your weights →

Head-to-head	Verdict
2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup · Large Pickup truck · grade F	Sierra +7.3

Sierra by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2026 D 5 150 Do not drive 2025 B 2 133 390 mi 2024 C 4 377 25 mpg 2023 B 3 496 26 mpg 2022 F 6 598 26 mpg 2021 F 7 596 26 mpg 2020 this page F 12 492 26 mpg 2019 F 10 684 21 mpg 2018 F 7 322 20 mpg 2017 D 6 431 20 mpg 2016 F 10 379 Do not drive

Common questions about the 2020 Sierra

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2020 GMC Sierra have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 12 recall campaigns for the 2020 GMC Sierra, 4 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 26V083000, covering Power Train. 1 of them was filed with no repair available at the time — NHTSA's file records what the manufacturer had in hand on the filing date, not what exists today. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2020 GMC Sierra?

NHTSA gave the 2020 GMC Sierra 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it F (32/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2020 GMC Sierra?

Across the 26 EPA-rated configurations of the 2020 GMC Sierra, the best EPA combined figure is 26 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2020 GMC Sierra?

Transport Canada measured it at 229.5–241.3 in long, 81.1 in wide (body, without mirrors), 75.6 in tall, on a 139.4–156.7 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,378–4,888 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2020 GMC Sierra?

Owners have filed 492 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 GMC Sierra, most often about engine, power train, electrical system. Of those, 12 involved a crash, 5 a fire, 13 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2020 GMC Sierra?

The EPA smog rating for the 2020 GMC Sierra runs 1 to 6 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III LEV160, California LEV-III ULEV125, California LEV-III ULEV50, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 160, Federal Tier 3 Bin 50, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2020 GMC Sierra?

The manufacturer has filed 1897 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2020 GMC Sierra, most often covering engine, equipment, electrical system. The most recent is dated 2026-10-05. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2020 GMC Sierra do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2020 GMC Sierra failed the emissions check on 6.5% of first inspections — higher than the 2.2% for every 2020 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.3% (every 2020 vehicle: 1.6%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

Is the 2020 GMC Sierra better than the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup?

The GMC Sierra wins clearly, 80.8 to 73.5, on space & cargo, fuel & range, safety. We publish a full side-by-side of the 2020 GMC Sierra against the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup — specifications by family, equipment feature by feature, safety record and ownership costs. You can re-weight what matters to you and the verdict recalculates.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	26 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	26 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	12	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	492	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	6 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	1897	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	3	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	11 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

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). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

JSON for this page · API

2020 GMC Sierra

Specs & fuel economy

Emissions & certification

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Dimensions Exterior

Engine Basics

Fuel Economy

Seating

Transmission

Driver assistance

Dimensions & weight

Factory warranty running out?

Recalls (12)

Power Train

Power Train

Tires

Tires

Seat Belts

Tires

Power Train

Air Bags

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Electrical System

Fuel System, Gasoline

Seat Belts

NHTSA defect investigations

Whether any of this applies to one specific Sierra

Hear about a recall before the letter does

Parts & accessories for the 2020 GMC Sierra

Owner complaints

Most-cited components

In owners' own words

When owners reported it

miles, typically

Median mileage by component

Crash ratings

Service bulletins & campaigns

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

At the New York inspection station

failed emissions

Compare the 2020 Sierra with

Sierra by model year

Common questions about the 2020 Sierra

Does the 2020 GMC Sierra have any recalls?

How safe is the 2020 GMC Sierra?

What is the fuel economy of the 2020 GMC Sierra?

What are the dimensions of the 2020 GMC Sierra?

What do owners complain about on the 2020 GMC Sierra?

How clean is the 2020 GMC Sierra?

Are there service bulletins for the 2020 GMC Sierra?

How does the 2020 GMC Sierra do at state inspection?

Is the 2020 GMC Sierra better than the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup?

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Where to go next

Sources & method