Complaint volume
436 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2020 GMC Sierra Complaints
436 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2020 GMC Sierra, grouped by component category.
436 Total complaints
11 Crash reports
5 Fire reports
6 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are engine, power train, electrical system. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 11 crash reports, 5 fire reports, 6 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 121 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 45,188 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to engine, power train, electrical system?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2020 GMC Sierra?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2020 GMC Sierra
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2020 GMC Sierra complaints?
11 Crash
5 Fire
6 Injury
0 Fatality
29 Towed
4 Medical attention
What are the most common 2020 GMC Sierra complaint categories?
ENGINE 156
POWER TRAIN 53
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 39
SERVICE BRAKES 25
STEERING 19
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 18
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 11
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 10
SUSPENSION 9
VISIBILITY/WIPER 7
436 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2026 | ENGINE | My 2020 GMC Sierra 6.2L (only 46,000 miles which is under warranty mileage criteria), suffered catastrophic engine failure while at 40 miles per hour out of no where and rolled without power for about ~60ft. Power came back on, and I was able to get closer to the dealership but again, lost all power and rolled for about 60ft again right in front of the dealership. The truck died while attempting to make a left turn (in oncoming traffic), it got going again in time to finish the turn. When I pulled into the dealership it pulled code P0016 which is the same code for the 2021-2024 recall currently for the 6.2L GM engine. I had all oil changes completed on time and can show evidence of them. Other repairs, recalls etc were completed at the GMC dealership. The 2020 Sierra 6.2L should absolutely be included on the GM recall. Same issues as 2021-2024. Funny how 2020's just reached over on time limit for warranty. The repair estimate for my truck is over $13K!!! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | ENGINE | I took my 2020 GMC Sierra in for an oil change. The engine seized when it the technician tried to restart the car. We had it towed to GMC where they confirmed the engine seized. The oil repair shop then replaced the engine and when doing so confirmed the original threw a rod which is the same recall issue that is occurring with the 2021-2024 models. I have since taken the car to GMC for a full inspection and made additional repairs. The vehicle is available for future repairs. My safety and others are at risk as the engine could seize leaving my family stranded or endangering others on the road if the seizure occurs while driving. Yes the vehicle was inspected at the GMC dealership and the shop where the engine was replaced with another L87 engine. there was no warning the engine seized after an oil change. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | ENGINE,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed 60 miles away from home, the vehicle lost automotive power and stalled. The contact stated that the vehicle started smoking. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and it was determined that the failure was due to an internal failure with the camshaft and the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the local dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 167,570. | Crash: No Fire: No | 167,570 |
| Apr 2026 | ENGINE | After owning this truck a little over a year I’ve had to replace the transmission and now it’s in the because the motor sounds like a bag of marbles was put in it and the warranty company is a joke they only want to replace just the cam and lifters but yet the dealership hasn’t be authorized to go to the bottom of the motor to check it out this truck has been nothing but a lemon!!!!! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | ENGINE | While driving on the highway, my engine failed unexpectedly and I had to coast across the highway without power. I had the vehicle towed to a GM dealership, where I was informed the failure was due to a lower-end engine issue and that a full engine replacement was necessary. I am aware of known issues with GM’s 6.2L engines and asked the dealership about the related recall. They acknowledged that the failure I experienced is consistent with the symptoms seen in the defective 6.2L engines. However, they stated that because my truck is a 2020 model, it does not fall within the affected VIN range. I ultimately paid nearly $11,000 for a new engine. Given the nature of the failure and its alignment with known issues, it is difficult to believe this was merely coincidental. I strongly believe the same defect exists in my engine, despite it not being included in the current recall range. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | ENGINE | There is a click/ticking noise when vehicle is started. Noise gets louder and faster when accelerating. Have taken vehicle to 2 mechanic shops and been told by both places it is bad lifters and exhaust manifolds. I took this truck in because of loss of power. This issue has put me in unsafe/ dangerous positions on multiple occasions. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | ENGINE | The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode, and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle lost automotive power. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. There was a knock coming from the engine, there was fuel injector failure, a heated oxygen sensor control module Bank 1 failure, and fuel system failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 134,648. | Crash: No Fire: No | 134,648 |
| Apr 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Infotainment screen is flashing different colors and doesn’t work anymore. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | ENGINE | When the truck was idling the dod/afm turned on and disabled a cylinder and now I’m just having codes pop up for cylinder misfires | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the vehicle started shaking and slipped in and out of gear, with the message "Idle Transmission" displayed. The vehicle was pulled over and shifted into park(P) and then to drive(D). There was a loud banging sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 80,000 |
| Mar 2026 | ENGINE | My engine started knocking horribly, I need to get a proper diagnosis but cannot afford to have a shop look at it. I have been building engines my entire life and am certain the rod bearings have failed. The engine has a distinct knock under acceleration, you can hear it clearly when pulling away from a stop sign for example. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | STRUCTURE:BODY | The frame of the back window is cracking allowing water to come in through the back glass. This is causing the headliner and other components such as air bags and other electrical components to get wet and damaged. This could cause risk of fire or failure of safety components within the vehicle such as air bags, cameras and other sensors. With water intrusion comes the high risk for mold to develop and cause serious health risks. GMC is aware of this issue and will not agree to repair it. A GMC dealer has inspected the glass and said it was a faulty seal but since it's not in the 3 year warranty window, it's not covered. Independent auto glass companies state they have seen this issue many times and the glass seal is faulty. GMC should do the right thing and fix this issue. This devalues the vehicle and the GMC brand and poses serious risks to driver. I have created a case with GMC and submitted photos, videos and dealership estimates for proof. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the DEF tank failed. The vehicle went into three phases of LIMP Mode and the vehicle unexpectedly decelerated while driving. The DEF system service message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with DEF tank failure, and the tank needed to be replaced, even though the tank was full. The part was on backorder for several weeks. The contact was not provided with a loaner. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 70,000 |
| Mar 2026 | ENGINE | The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle made an abnormal sound while idling. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the engine was disassembled, and the dealer determined that the crankshaft and the thrust bearings had failed. The vehicle was repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: EA25007 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and partially covered the repair cost. The failure mileage was 60,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 60,000 |
| Mar 2026 | ENGINE | To the best of my knowledge… My 2020 GMC Sierra Denali with a 6.2L engine and 74,000 miles had a complete engine replacement. One lifter on bank 2 was stuck, and the push rod in the cylinder was bent. The engine made a popping noise when starting. I took it to a GM dealership, where they quoted $9,200 to repair the issue or $9,600 for a brand-new engine with a 3-year/100,000-mile warranty. I know there is open recalls for 21’-24’ Models, but I would like some help with mine. This kind of problem shouldn’t happen on a GMC - loaded truck with only 74,000 miles. Thank you! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Truck broke down with a rear-wheel lockup and had the transmission replaced in June 2025. In December 2025 and February 2026, truck lost power two times and entered limp mode while on a major highway and major interstate. The problem was misdiagnosed in June 2025, diagnosed properly in December 2025, but not properly repaired, and diagnosed properly in February 2026. All three times the vehicle had this issue, two of the same exact DTCs were present. This is a safety defect, and I have lost all confidence that the vehicle is reliable enough and safe enough for myself and my family. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ENGINE | The 10L80 transmission had a catastrophic failure just outside of the GM warranty. At under 70K miles the pump gears came apart and sent metallic debris throughout the entire transmission and exhaust gaskets converter next to the transmission. These will need to be replaced. I have found multiple cases online with this 10L80 transmission where there has been significant problems with these transmissions blowing up or even causing momentary lockup with the wheels. This transmission is notorious for problems but has not yet been recalled. My mom and nephews were in the vehicle when it broke down putting their safety at risk on the the highway. This problem was confirmed by the GMC dealership here in Ruston, LA. The dealership has done the mechanical inspection. The engine started making an extremely loud noise and the warning lights did not even come on until I attempted to start it later after the breakdown. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the engine hesitated while turning over. The vehicle started with the check engine warning light illuminated, and the DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) sensor light was illuminated. The message “94 miles before vehicle enters LIMP Mode" was displayed and instructed the contact to see the Diesel Exhaust Fluid section of the Owner's Manual. The vehicle was restricted to a 65 MPH max speed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the DEF tank pump assembly had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 121,000. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 121,000 |
| Mar 2026 | ENGINE | Vehicle has 28,000 miles and auto shop states that the engine is blow, it's knocking and vibrating throughout the engine. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Odometer Fraud. The contact attempted to purchase a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 75,000. At the time of registration, the Carfax Report indicated that the mileage was 175,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 175,000 |
| Mar 2026 | ENGINE | Engine failure at 84000 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | I was driving the truck on the freeway and the engine completely shut off with no warning. I pulled to the side of the shoulder and I could smell a burning smell. The truck wouldn’t start back up or move in neutral. Towed it to a shop and they said it had a camshaft issue and a slight knocking noise when they got it to fire up only would run for a little then shut back off. Now I’m having to replace the whole engine due to being bad with the cam code and knocking. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The backup camera is too bright at night and therefore useless . Tried searching the web but found no fix that would actually work. Took my truck to the dealer and they never heard of this issue even though there are numerous articles about it on the world wide Web. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ENGINE | February 28th 2026, I was driving on the highway with my children and suddenly without any prior warning my cars check engine light came on. It immediately starting losing power, made a knocking noise, and sounded like it was misfiring. Fortunately I was able to make it safely off the highway and have my car towed to the dealership. This was most definitely a life threatening situation which no one should have to face. The dealership dismantled my engine and i was advised the engine had an internal failure due to the valve lifter , rods , and camshaft damage. When looking online there are many complaints and lawsuits regarding this investigation of GMC’s 5.3 engine. I believe this was due to catastrophic damage of the components and there needs to be a recall regarding this issue. The car has always been properly serviced and regular oil changes. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ENGINE | While driving, my vehicle experienced a sudden and complete engine failure without any prior warning. There were no warning lights, dashboard alerts, or performance issues that would have indicated an impending mechanical problem. The failure occurred unexpectedly while I was actively driving on a public roadway. After the incident, the vehicle was inspected and diagnosed by a licensed mechanic. The diagnosis determined that an internal engine lifter failed, which subsequently caused damage to the camshaft. This type of failure appears to be the result of an internal mechanical defect rather than any form of neglect or improper maintenance. The abrupt nature of this engine failure created a serious safety hazard. The vehicle suddenly lost the ability to operate normally, forcing me to slow down and stop in active traffic. This unexpected loss of power placed my safety, as well as the safety of other motorists on the road, at significant risk. A critical engine component failing without warning while the vehicle is in operation raises serious concerns about reliability and safety. The vehicle has been properly maintained throughout ownership. All routine maintenance and servicing have been performed by licensed mechanics, and I can provide complete maintenance records documenting this history. At no point prior to this incident were there any signs, warnings, or diagnostic alerts indicating an issue with the engine. The vehicle has already been fully inspected and diagnosed by a licensed mechanic, and the findings are available for review. If necessary, arrangements can be made for the manufacturer or an authorized representative to inspect the vehicle and verify the damage. Given the sudden nature of this failure, the internal engine damage involved, and the safety risk it created while driving, I am requesting that this issue be formally reviewed and addressed by the manufacturer. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |