YearToAvoid

2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 16 engine-area complaints for the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 15% of its 108 total complaints for the year. Median mileage at failure was 102,500 miles, with one fire and two injuries reported. No related recalls are listed for this engine category.

Engine complaints
16
15% of 108
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
102,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Engine block failures with holes in the block and destroyed pistons, sometimes preceded by a strange noise and oil spitting from the side of the engine.
  • DEF tank heater and wiring harness shorts that trigger limp mode and speed-limited driving, especially during towing.
  • Overheating episodes that owners say led to the engine locking up while towing a trailer, in one case on a highway overpass.
  • Persistent check engine light issues traced to fuel module, fuel tank, or fuel rail sensor problems that recur after dealer repairs.
  • Intermittent check engine and emissions system warnings paired with a message limiting vehicle speed to 65 MPH.

When 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 engine complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 18, 2020, latest May 14, 2026.

2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Mar 2020Mar 2022Sep 2024Jan 2025Apr 2025Nov 2025May 2026
16 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2020 to May 2026; peak Mar 2022 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Silverado 2500 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200526 (10%)
  2. 200620 (11%)
  3. 200719 (9%)
  4. 200810 (5%)
  5. 20098 (13%)
  6. 20102 (10%)
  7. 201114 (13%)
  8. 20129 (17%)
  9. 20137 (14%)
  10. 20147 (18%)
  11. 201514 (8%)
  12. 20169 (7%)
  13. 201712 (22%)
  14. 201814 (26%)
  15. 201922 (30%)
  16. 202016 (15%)
  17. 20217 (8%)
  18. 20229 (9%)
  19. 20238 (17%)
  20. 202416 (12%)
  21. 20258 (29%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems on the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500?
NHTSA lists 16 engine-area complaints for the 2020 Silverado 2500, which is 15% of the 108 total complaints filed for that model year.
At what mileage do these engine problems typically show up?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 102,500 miles for engine-area complaints on this model year.
Is there a recall for the 2020 Silverado 2500 engine?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the engine problem area on the 2020 Silverado 2500.
Have engine problems caused fires or injuries on this truck?
NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2020 Silverado 2500 records one fire and two injuries, with no crashes reported.
What kinds of engine failures do owners describe?
Owners describe block failures with piston damage, DEF heater and wiring harness shorts causing limp mode, overheating that locks up the engine while towing, and recurring check engine light issues tied to the fuel system.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.