2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
60/100
#7 most-complained of 16 Silverado 3500 years
The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 has 42 NHTSA complaints, a Complaint Index of 60, and ranks 7th worst of 16 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Transmission & Powertrain issues make up 38% of complaints, with 8 recalls on file.
- Complaints
- 42
- Recalls
- 8
- Crashes / fires
- 1 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- —
Top 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain16 (38%)
- Brakes7 (17%)
- Engine7 (17%)
- Electrical System5 (12%)
- Fuel System5 (12%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (12%)
- Other2 (5%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (2%)
- Structure & Body1 (2%)
- Visibility & Wipers1 (2%)
What owners report
- Owners report the diesel engine failing to start remotely, with the check engine light coming on after a manual start.
- Brake pedals reportedly grind and require extra effort to stop the truck, even when front pad wear was still within range.
- Owners describe the transmission downshifting on its own during acceleration, paired with a DEF malfunction warning light.
- Rear tires on trucks towing fifth-wheel trailers reportedly had tread separate or blow out at highway speeds, damaging wheel wells and bumpers.
- Some owners report the engine fan pulley breaking, snapping the fan belt, and causing the truck to overheat without shutting off.
- Parking brake pads reportedly delaminated from the brake shoe, triggering a Service Emergency Brake warning light.
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 recalls
8 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 24V060000Feb 1, 2024Structure & Body570,434 vehicles
Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with power-unlatching tailgates. The tailgate's electronic gate-release switch may short circuit due to water intrusion, which can result in the tailgate inadvertently unlatching while the vehicle is in park.
Risk: An unlatched tailgate may open while driving and result in a loss of unsecured cargo, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised to check that the tailgate is closed and latched before driving. Dealers will replace the exterior touchpad switch assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2024. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232426400.
2020 compared with other Silverado 3500 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 reliable?
- NHTSA lists 42 complaints and a Complaint Index of 60 for the 2020 model, ranking it 7th worst of 16 Silverado 3500 model years. It carries a Caution verdict relative to other years of this model.
- What is the biggest problem area on the 2020 Silverado 3500?
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints account for 38% of all reported issues, with a median failure mileage of 40,000 miles, based on NHTSA data.
- Does the 2020 Silverado 3500 have recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 2020 Silverado 3500, covering transmission control software, tailgate release switches, hood latch strikers, seat belts, and airbags.
- How does the 2020 Silverado 3500 compare to other years?
- Its Complaint Index of 60 is higher than the 2014, 2017, and 2018 model years (rated Best) but lower than 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025, which carry Avoid verdicts.