2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
67/100
#6 most-complained of 16 Silverado 1500 years
The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has a complaint index of 67, ranking 6th worst of 16 model years, with a Caution verdict. It has 730 NHTSA complaints, 12 recalls, and 13 crashes, with Engine (38%) and Transmission & Powertrain (31%) as top problem areas.
- Complaints
- 730
- Recalls
- 12
- Crashes / fires
- 13 / 9
- Injuries / deaths
- 12 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 16 city / 22 hwy
Top 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine281 (38%)
- Transmission & Powertrain225 (31%)
- Brakes119 (16%)
- Electrical System118 (16%)
- Other77 (11%)
- Steering74 (10%)
- Fuel System39 (5%)
- Structure & Body34 (5%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires34 (5%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras12 (2%)
What owners report
- Backup camera image becomes unusable in dark, rainy, or cloudy conditions, showing poor resolution and yellow lines.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during crashes, including rollovers and high-speed impacts, sometimes with serious injuries.
- Brake pedal reportedly went to the floor with no stopping power, sometimes preceded by ABS or brake system warning lights.
- Seat heater reportedly stayed engaged and hot after being turned off, in one case linked to a fire.
- Brake system failures reportedly occurred at low speeds like 30 MPH, leaving the vehicle unable to stop or slow down.
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 recalls
12 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V083000Feb 12, 2026Transmission & Powertrain1,055 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission:fluid/lubricant:valves/valve body
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.
Remedy: 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.
- NHTSA 24V797000Oct 24, 2024Transmission & Powertrain463,295 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission:fluid/lubricant:valves/valve body
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.
Remedy: 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.
- NHTSA 21V985000Dec 16, 2021Suspension, Wheels & Tires626 vehicles
Tires:temporary/emergency spare tire
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.
Remedy: 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.
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16 MPG
- Highway
- 22 MPG
- Combined
- 19 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,600
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2020 compared with other Silverado 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 reliable?
- Compared to other Silverado 1500 model years, 2020 carries a Caution verdict with a complaint index of 67, ranking 6th worst out of 16 years tracked. It is not among the worst years (like 2014 or 2015) but sits above several better years.
- What are the most common problems on the 2020 Silverado 1500?
- NHTSA complaints show Engine issues make up 38% of reports and Transmission & Powertrain issues make up 31%. Brakes and Electrical System each account for 16% of complaints.
- Does the 2020 Silverado 1500 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 12 recalls for the 2020 Silverado 1500, covering areas including Transmission & Powertrain, Suspension/Wheels/Tires, Seat Belts, and Airbags. None of these are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2020 Silverado 1500 compare to other years?
- The 2020 model year has a complaint index of 67, which is higher than better years like 2018 (27) and 2023 (47), but lower than the worst years, 2014 (100) and 2015 (87).
- What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Silverado 1500?
- EPA rates the 2020 Silverado 1500 at 19 MPG combined (16 city / 22 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,600.