CSR

Chevrolet · NHTSA safety record

2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

101

Complaints

2

Crashes

3

Fires

2

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 have filed 101 safety complaints with NHTSA between March 2020 and August 2026. The most complained-about system is the power train, named in 29 of them (29%). The typical failure was reported at 20,000 miles, the median across the 33 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 10 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (10)

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE

26V083000 · February 12, 2026

The defect
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.
The risk
Rear wheel lock up increases the risk of a crash.
The 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.

General Motors, LLC · up to 1,055 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE

24V797000 · October 24, 2024

The defect
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.
The risk
Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
The 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.

General Motors, LLC · up to 463,295 vehicles across all model years covered

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH

24V060000 · February 1, 2024

The defect
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.
The 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.
The 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.

General Motors, LLC · up to 570,434 vehicles across all model years covered

TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

21V578000 · July 29, 2021

The defect
General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and GMC Sierra 2500 vehicles equipped with a 17" spare tire (RPO ZHQ or ZXT) and either the 20" accessory road tire (RPO REM) or the 18" accessory road tire (RPO Q2V). Operating the spare tire with other 20" or 18" tires can prevent the Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) from engaging.
The risk
An ABS system that cannot control the rear wheels independently increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will provide the appropriate spare tire and apply a new spare tire information label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 18, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212329780.

General Motors, LLC · up to 86 vehicles across all model years covered

SEAT BELTS

20V792000 · December 17, 2020

The defect
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon XL and 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The seat belt brackets may not be secured to the seat frame in the front-row center seating position.
The risk
If a seat-belt bracket is not secured, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the front-row center seat position, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect left-side and right-side front-row center seat-belt bracket attachments and reassemble it correctly as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202314670.

General Motors, LLC · up to 624,216 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

20V650000 · October 22, 2020

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 and 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 trucks. One of the driveshaft joints may not have been properly welded, causing the driveshaft to separate while the vehicle is moving.
The risk
If the driveshaft separates, there may be a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N202314870.

General Motors LLC · up to 42 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR

20V446000 · July 30, 2020

The defect
General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT5 and XT6, Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500 and Traverse and GMC Acadia and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The diffuser component of the Roof-Rail Air Bag (RRAB) inflator may not have been properly crimped to the inflator and could separate from the inflator during air bag deployment.
The risk
If the diffuser separates from the inflator during deployment, RRAB performance may be degraded, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect RRAB modules, free of charge. The recall began September 3, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is N202305380.

General Motors LLC · up to 769 vehicles across all model years covered

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD

20V324000 · June 4, 2020

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles previously recalled under 20V-142. Some of the vehicles in 20V-324 were not part of Recall 20V-142 but received defect parts during another service (typically during collision repair). The hood-latch striker wires on replacement hoods installed for Safety Recall 20V-142 may not have been heat-treated properly, possibly causing them to fracture.
The risk
If a striker wire fractures, the hood may open unexpectedly while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the hood assembly, free of charge. For hoods sold over the counter, dealers will contact customers with instructions for hood replacement. The recall began July 7, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N202306490.

General Motors LLC · up to 272 vehicles across all model years covered

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

20V142000 · March 12, 2020

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The hood-latch striker wires may not have been heat-treated properly, possibly causing them to fracture.
The risk
If a striker wire fractures, the hood may open unexpectedly while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the hood assembly, free of charge. The recall began April 13, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N192284960.

General Motors LLC · up to 1,909 vehicles across all model years covered

SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER

19V814000 · November 14, 2019

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, and 2020 Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Sierra 2500, and Sierra 3500 vehicles equipped with carpet floor covering. When the front seat belt pretensioners deploy, hot gas may vent through an opening in the pretensioner bracket, possibly igniting the carpet.
The risk
A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will close off the opening in the pretensioner bracket, free of charge. The recall began December 13, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N192270600.

General Motors LLC · up to 556,399 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Air Bag Malfunction

PE21010

Closed preliminary evaluation · opened April 9, 2021 · closed August 24, 2023

the air bags

On April 9, 2021, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE21-010 to investigate instances of air bag malfunction indicator light (MIL) illumination and potential for frontal air bag non-deployment in several vehicles manufactured by General Motors (GM). The vehicles included model year (MY) 2020 through 2021 CT4 and CT5 passenger cars, Sierra and Silverado trucks (1500/2500/3500 models), XT4 and MY 2021 Escalade, Suburban, Tahoe, Yukon SUVs.Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 21-NA-005, issued in March 2021, addresses air bag MIL illumination with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) B0001-1B or B0012-0D. It cites rust particles in the connection terminal interface of the driver air bag inflator housing as the cause of the air bag MIL illumination. Illumination of the air bag MIL under these circumstances may result in a non-deployment of the frontal driver air bag during a frontal collision and increased risk of injury to the driver.GM stated a correlation exists between production delays due to the pandemic shutdown and premature corrosion initiation on the surface of the air bag inflator housing, which, in some cases, caused rust development during a seven (7) month period of vehicle production. In the rare instance when a rust particle dislodges from the driver air bag inflator housing and enters the air bag connector prior to assembly, an intermittent resistance spike at the air bag connector may result. The condition generates excessive resistance in the air bag electrical system when the steering wheel horn cover is manipulated or the steering wheel is turned. This excessive resistance is momentary. A crash commanding air bag deployment would need to occur exactly when the momentary excessive resistance occurs. Thus, there is a very low likelihood the hazard will present a risk during a crash of sufficient severity to warrant a commanded deployment. This failure mechanism occurs early in life and results in an air bag MIL illumination that corresponds to a DTC warning the driver that the vehicle requires service. The vehicle's air bag remains functional while the MIL is illuminated, and the DTC is present.Once the connection of the driver air bag module to the clockspring is made at the plant, or at the dealership for service, there is no longer an opportunity for rust migration into the connection point. The connector is sealed and has gold terminals, eliminating the expectation of fretting corrosion. All subject vehicles passed standard corrosion validation testing for extensive corrosion with no issue of air bag non-deployment.There is a low rate of occurrence: 1.41 incidents per thousand vehicles (IPTV) for all related occurrences, and 0.04 IPTV for occurrences with a mention of visible rust and/or corrosion on the air bag inflator housing. The average occurrence mileage for the subject vehicles is approximately 2,100. Every occurrence related to the alleged defect experienced an air bag MIL illumination and there are no verified allegations of air bag non-deployment within all data sources.To date, there have been no reported fires, crashes, injuries, or fatalities related to this issue. In view of the low rate, and the nature of early-life failure, the high detectability of failures, and low potential hazard to drivers, this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.Review the ODI reports cited above at nhtsa.gov under the following identification numbers: 11537927, 11528888, 11525020, 11521401, 11506057, 11493107, 11486767, 11441525, 11433146, 11425658, 11423440, 11385267, 11376429, 11373466, 11366995.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 101.

POWER TRAIN 29 29%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16 16%
SERVICE BRAKES 15 15%
ENGINE 10 10%
TIRES 10 10%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10 10%
STEERING 9 9%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 8 8%
STRUCTURE 6 6%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 4 4%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 4 4%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2 2%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2025 at 22.

2020 2025 2026
2020 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

ENGINE

2 injured

In 2024, I noticed that my truck was experiencing rough shifts. It felt as if the back wheels were jerking over uneven ground, even though the vehicle was on a flat surface. In November 2024, my sister sent me an article about General Motors' massive recall due to rear wheel lock-up, which increased the risk of crashes. I contacted GM and learned that my truck was part of the recall. I reported the issues my truck was exhibiting, and GM instructed me to reach out to my dealer about the problem. However, I was informed that they did not have the parts to fix the issue and had no idea when they would receive them. I asked GM if they would provide me with a rental vehicle, but they declined,

NHTSA complaint 11635869, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

fire · 20,000 miles

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, a warning alarm engaged and advised that there was an emission system issue and the vehicle needed to be serviced within 160 miles. The transmission warning light illuminated. The contact stated that she parked at some point to run an errand and upon restarting the vehicle, a death issue system alarm engaged indicating that the vehicle needed to be repaired within 90 miles. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where the failure was diagnosed as a dead issue and one of the pins on the wiring harness had burnt and was starting to melt. The local dealer informed the contact that the death

NHTSA complaint 11451528, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire

We just arrived to our out to town destination and exited the vehicle. We drove 80 miles to get there. The truck was running when we noticed white smoke coming from under the hood then immediately large red flames.

NHTSA complaint 11616909. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire

I got to my destination and got out of the truck and like a hour later I came back to my truck to get in and my truck was full of smoke and stunk and my center console and center dash melted and gone . Nothing would work . That’s all I know

NHTSA complaint 11746570. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL

126,000 miles

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds and towing a trailer, the message "Trailer Brake Disconnected" was displayed with an audible chime. The vehicle was inspected by the dealer, but no fault was found with the vehicle. Upon investigation, the contact discovered Service Update Program: N232414840; and associated the failure with the service update. The dealer and the manufacturer confirmed that the vehicle was not included in the program. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.

NHTSA complaint 11755940. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TIRES
Tire size 275 65 R20 entire tread came completely off the tire & caused damage to my fender & fender well. This tire had approximately 29,830 miles on it. It was 1 of the original tires from the factory on this truck.

NHTSA complaint 11754338. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
2020 3.0 diesel duramax sucked in the antifreeze and caused a hydrolock. The dealer says that it is not covered under warranty since the engine was over 100k miles. They did offer a new engine for $30K which I declined. The truck was always well taken care of and only received the best in all products

NHTSA complaint 11737820. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
my 2020 Chevrolet Silverado has locked up a couple times on 4/2/26 i immediately drove to the robins chevy dealership, the service writer and i discussed the recall of the transmission, the next day i was sent a estimate of 6800.00 dollars to replace the valve body of the transmission, i asked why am i responsible for the replacement cost due to a known recall of the transmission valve body? i was instructed to call gm directly which i did and no action was taken, i was told to speak to the dealership manager. i need help with this matter.

NHTSA complaint 11729039. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
My dash has been displaying intermittently “Service electric trailer brakes”. I have recently purchased a 30’ travel trailer. After driving a couple hundred miles with trailer in tow. The code started appearing even with the trailer not connected. I have contacted GM and they have indicated no recall on electric brake controller.

NHTSA complaint 11724272. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Chevrolet Silverado 2500

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2024 139 3
2023 44 1
2022 91 3
2021 84 6
2019 74 7
2018 52 5
2017 54 5
2016 122 5
2015 175 6
2014 40 2
2013 51 3
2012 53 3
2011 104 4
2010 21 5

Other 2020 Chevrolet models

Every Chevrolet on this site — 298 vehicles, 747 recall campaigns and 5 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst