YearToAvoid

2020 GMC Sierra 2500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

90/100

#3 most-complained of 21 Sierra 2500 years

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

The 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 has 76 owner complaints and 9 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 90 out of 100 — #3 highest of 21 Sierra 2500 model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is transmission & powertrain (24 complaints, 32% of the total). Complaints report 1 crash, 3 fires, and 1 injury.

Complaints
76
Recalls
9
Crashes / fires
1 / 3
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain24 (32%)
  2. Other16 (21%)
  3. Engine15 (20%)
  4. Brakes13 (17%)
  5. Electrical System13 (17%)
  6. Collision Avoidance & Cameras6 (8%)
  7. Steering6 (8%)
  8. Structure & Body5 (7%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (5%)
  10. Fuel System2 (3%)
2020 GMC Sierra 2500 complaints: complaints filed per month11Nov 2019Dec 2020Jan 2022Jan 2023Dec 2023Nov 2024May 2025Nov 2025
106 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2019 to Sep 2026; peak Mar 2025 (11).

2020 GMC Sierra 2500 recalls

9 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 9 recalls for the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 →

2020 compared with other Sierra 2500 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
2018Best15355—
2019Good30327—
2020Avoid90769—
2021Avoid80516—
2022Avoid85433—

All GMC Sierra 2500 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 ranks #3 of 21 among Sierra 2500 model years (Complaint Index 90/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 76 complaints and 9 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500?
The most reported problem areas are transmission & powertrain (24 complaints), engine (15 complaints), and brakes (13 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 28,600 miles.
Does the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500, most recently reported 2026, covering transmission & powertrain, structure & body, suspension, wheels & tires, and seat belts.

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.