YearToAvoid

2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 has 42 NHTSA complaints, 8 recalls, and a complaint index of 90, ranking 3rd worst of 21 model years with an Avoid verdict. Transmission & Powertrain problems dominate, making up 38% of complaints at a median 40,000 miles.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
90/100
#3 of 21 Silverado 3500 years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
42
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
8
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
1
reported in complaints
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Top issue
Transmission & Powertrain
Best nearby year
2018
rated Best

Top 2020 Chevy Silverado 3500 problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain16 (38%)
  2. Brakes7 (17%)
  3. Engine7 (17%)
  4. Electrical System5 (12%)
  5. Fuel System5 (12%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (12%)
  7. Other2 (5%)
  8. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (2%)
  9. Structure & Body1 (2%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers1 (2%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Diesel engine warning lights activate and the engine fails to start remotely on some low-mileage trucks.
  • Drivers report the transmission independently downshifting and losing acceleration while the DEF malfunction light illuminates.
  • Rear tires, mostly LT275/65R20 size, suffer tread separation or blowouts while towing at highway speed, damaging the wheel well and bumper.
  • Brake pedals require extra effort to stop the truck and produce a grinding sound tied to worn front pads.
  • Some owners describe the emergency brake pad material delaminating and staying illuminated on the dash.
  • A broken fan pulley has snapped the fan belt and caused the engine to overheat, with the truck unable to shut off while hot.
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 complaints: complaints filed per month4Sep 2020Aug 2022Sep 2023Aug 2024Jan 2025Jun 2025Feb 2026Aug 2026
42 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2020 to Aug 2026; peak Jan 2025 (4).

2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 recalls

8 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

See all 8 recalls for the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 →

2020 compared with other Silverado 3500 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2018Best10196—
2019Caution50227—
2020Avoid90428—
2021Avoid95405—
2022Caution65273—

All Chevrolet Silverado 3500 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2020 Silverado 3500 ranks 3rd worst of 21 model years with a complaint index of 90 and an Avoid verdict. Transmission & Powertrain issues account for 38% of complaints.
What problems does the 2020 Silverado 3500 have?
NHTSA complaints point mainly to Transmission & Powertrain (38%), Brakes (17%), and Engine (17%) issues, with a median failure mileage of 40,000 miles for the transmission category.
Does the 2020 Silverado 3500 have transmission recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists two transmission-related recalls, campaigns 26V083000 and 24V797000, covering transmission control software issues.
How many recalls does the 2020 Silverado 3500 have?
NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for the 2020 Silverado 3500, covering transmission control software, hood latches, tailgate switches, seat belts, and airbags.
Which Silverado 3500 years are worse than 2020?
NHTSA data shows the 2024 model (complaint index 100) and 2021 model (complaint index 95) rank worse than 2020's index of 90.

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.