Complaint volume
424 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
424 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2020 GMC Sierra, grouped by component category.
424 Total complaints
11 Crash reports
4 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, 4 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 118 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 44,233 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
4 Fire
6 Injury
0 Fatality
28 Towed
4 Medical attention
What are the most common 2020 GMC Sierra complaint categories?
ENGINE 125
POWER TRAIN 36
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 21
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 17
SERVICE BRAKES 16
STEERING 14
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 9
SUSPENSION 9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 8
424 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2026 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | The brakes suddenly activate and cause the vehicle to rapidly stop with no warning of any kind and without any braking action being taken by the driver. Then, the brakes do not release and the vehicle cannot be moved as the brakes remain on. Turning the engine off and then restarting it or shifting to other gears does not release the brakes. The vehicle remains immobile and cannot be driven. After a few hours have passed, like overnight, the brakes release and the vehicle can started and driven just as if nothing had happened. A message briefly appears on the vehicle information screen each time this inadvertent braking occurs. It reads, “Brake Failure System”. These brake lockdowns occurred when driving on streets and in the driveway. No accident resulted but could have easily occurred. This is dangerous for a driver and occupants of a vehicle with this safety flaw as well as for other people and vehicles in the vicinity. This has happened five times. The last two instances resulted in the vehicle being loaded onto a tow truck and taken to a dealer of the vehicle’s manufacture. Thus far the dealership has not found what may be causing this intermittent braking problem. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | ENGINE | I had a complete engine failure that I had to pay out-of-pocket for I really think that this vehicle should’ve been included in the 2021 and beyond engine recall for 6.2 GMC Sierra‘s. I drove to work one morning Fein after work I turned my vehicle on, and the engine started shaking violently and smoke coming out of my exhaust like I’ve never seen it before dealer said engine was completely blown and had to be repaired again I paid for this out of my own pocket. It is now coming to my attention that this vehicle is being looked at as an engineering analysis in line with the recall for the 2021 in above GMC Sierra‘s what do I need to do? | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | My engine is projecting a ticking sound. Oil consumption is extreme. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | ENGINE | Engine failure as related to RQ26-001. engine misfires after following recommended maintenance schedule for 6.2L engine. Vehicle is at dealership and available for inspection and dealer is recommending engine replacement. Engine light came on and was brought to GMC dealership same day. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | ENGINE | Catastrophic engine failure at 62,445 miles. Dealer state excessive oil in cylinder 7, ring failure. Recommendations; remove and replace engine. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | SUSPENSION | I am writing to formally express my dissatisfaction regarding a significant safety and reliability issue with my 2020 GMC Denali. Specifically, the vehicle is experiencing premature wear and imminent failure of the front ball joints. I expect the suspension components of a premium Denali-trim vehicle to last significantly longer than the 37,061 miles currently on my odometer. Industry standards typically place the lifespan of these components between 70,000 and 150,000 miles. Technical Details of the Failure: The vehicle is currently exhibiting the following symptoms of accelerated ball joint degradation: •Excessive Vertical and Lateral Play: Inspection reveals play in the right lower ball joint that exceeds the manufacturer’s maximum allowable wear specifications. The left lower Ball Joint is starting to have a small amount of play, according to the technician | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | POWER TRAIN | My 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 experienced a premature transmission failure consistent with GM’s known 8-speed transmission defect. My safety and the safety of others were put at risk if/when the transmission occurs a temporary lockup which can/will cause the vehicle to stall on the highway, and potentially create a minor/major automobile incident if vehicle stalls. The vehicle was taken to dealership Capital Chevrolet Montgomery, AL where dealership technician diagnosed/confirmed the issue along with pictures of internal transmission failed components as well as recommended resolution for fix. The vehicle has been inspected by my out-of-pocket expense extended warranty company Endurance Warranty Services sub-contracted repair claims adjuster. No warning lamps, vehicle messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure were noticeable; the vehicle had multiple diagnostic scans prior to original sale and after sale to present no issues or trouble scans. the first issue appeared or was noticeable 12/08/2025. GM has refused action by asserting warranty expiration despite widespread knowledge of this defect. The vehicle has been out of service since December 8, 2025. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | ENGINE | I purchased my 2020 gmc sierra 1500 6.2L in September 2024 with 80,000 miles. 9 months later the lifters gave out. Had them replaced and 6 months later, the lifters again were bad and was knocking. They are now replacing the lifters and cam. I am so disappointed that this is happening. I hear that the 2019 and 2020 was not included in this recall! Why not!! If it’s still doing the same thing and it is the same engine, why isn’t my truck in this recall? I would like to know why? If it is doing the same thing as the recall, shouldn’t it be covered by this recall? Best, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine made an abnormal popping and crackling sound. The traction control, check engine, and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The message "Service Emergency Brake" was displayed. The engine later made knocking sounds, and the vehicle vibrated while driving. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the year and VIN were not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 138,000 |
| Feb 2026 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ENGINE | The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and hauling a boat, the vehicle shook violently and made a loud banging sound. The vehicle failed to accelerate above 40 MPH. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, and it was determined that there was a misfire in cylinder #6, and that the engine required further inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: EA25007 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 87,000 |
| Jan 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER | Back window leaks down onto electrical compents and causes mold behind rear seat, plus staining mold on headliner | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | ENGINE | When driving at about 30 mph the truck randomly shut off and would not start or try to start. I was later told the engine crankshaft rod bearings seized. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | ENGINE | The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact disabled the stop-to-start feature, and the failure ceased. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under recall. In addition, the contact was informed that the vehicle needed to remain with the dealer for two weeks while performing diagnostic tests on the vehicle. The contact was unable to be without a vehicle for two weeks. The vehicle was the only means of transportation. The contact stated that the failure was a known failure with the vehicle and that the manufacturer needed to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the recall. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 123,000 |
| Jan 2026 | ENGINE | The bearings in my engine failed while on the road! The dealer says I need a full engine replacement for $16,000. There were no warnings or indication there was a problem. The vehicle has been maintained perfectly since it’s purchase. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | ENGINE | While accelerating on the highway the truck started to vibrate along with a loud tick, CEL came on for misfire and traction control, hard shifting to where I could park at a safe area to wait for a tow. Kids in the car with me 90 plus degree day on the side of the highway. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | ENGINE | Truck started to vibrate and loud tick sound, CEL for misfire and traction control. Hard shifting until I could pull to a safe area to call for a tow. Around 76k miles on the truck when it happened. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Transmission 10l80 stuck solenoid truck has hesitation delayed shifting. And will not shift after certain gears. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | ENGINE | Sudden engine issue. Knocking, power loss, brake and steering warnings. Severely damaged engine. Mechanic says 2 cylinders are irreparably damaged and entire engine must be replaced | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | ENGINE | Driving to the lake on the highway towing a trailer, a loud tapping noise started followed by vibration. Engine seems to have lost power during acceleration. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | My 2020 gmc sierra has had poor gas mileage problems i have taken it to gm a few times with them not able to dind anything wrong through diagnostic. A couple years later my horrible gas mileage came back and service ecs and stabilitrack message came back on and disappeared. I spoke to another shop and they advised me its the dfm lifter issues that everyone has been talking about. So the shop performed the well know fix and has fix the issue. A month after now the valve body gave me a p2817 code showing that the solenoid is stuck in the off and was also advised that this is a know issue being addressed. Currently the truck is in the shop. When is enough enough with all the issues across the nation whwn is gm going to make it right | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked violently. The driver stated that the vehicle failed to respond as intended while depressing the accelerator or brake pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The driver was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle stopped jerking while driving but failed to exceed 30 MPH. The driver pulled into a parking lot and parked the vehicle. The contact was made aware of the failure and went to the parking lot. The vehicle was restarted and jerked abnormally. Additionally, while shifted into reverse(R), the vehicle failed to function as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and two DTC were retrieved for unknown transmission software failure, and it was determined an unknown part in the transmission had failed. The dealer informed the contact that an unstated recall was closed. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, a claim was filed, and the contact was informed that the recall was closed. The failure mileage was approximately 146,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 146,000 |
| Jan 2026 | ENGINE | MY 2020 GMC SIERRA DENALI EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE in June of 2024. Dealer repair was in excess of $7,700.00. They stated they knew this was going to happen at about the 70,000 mile mark as they have fixed many in that same time. Repair resulted in rod replacement and cam shaft damage and replacement. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | POWER TRAIN | I was driving my vehicle on the highway when the transmission suddenly gave out with no warning whatsoever. When I say gave out, I mean, it just completely stopped working and was unable to go into any gear. I was luckily able to coast over to the median without an accident occurring, but it was not without much concern or worry as traffic moving on the highway is 70 miles an hour plus and quite full of vehicles .I consider myself lucky that I have extensive driving experience and was able to conduct myself calmly under the circumstances. It was a bit tricky, getting situated though under those circumstances. There was no advanced warning in anyway. no engine lights, no sounds ,nothing. This is a well maintained vehicle. All my service is done by the dealership, and I have never been given any indication that there was something wrong. However,After this happened, I have been researching and found that many of these vehicles with this transmission continue to have this problem. This is not normal wear and tear or normal mechanical failure. I have owned many vehicles and never felt as unsafe as I did in that moment, or had a vehicles transmission fail so abruptly.For me, and the research I have done, I can only hypothesize the materials and engineering involved with this transmission are inherently inferior, completely faulty, and a safety risk/hazard to anyone who owns or operates the vehicle. I consider myself lucky to walk away unscathed, other than the economic price that it is going to incur on my finances for repairs.I would hope that it doesn’t take something serious to happen before someone takes action and conducts a recall of this product. From what I have read and what I have experienced, this is truly an unfortunate accident waiting to happen and it appears nothing is being done. I truly hope that you could take a little more look into this matter. Thank you for your time and energy. I have already contacted the manufacturer and felt ignored. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | My 2020 GMC Sierra with a 5.3L engine and 78,272 miles on the vehicle, experienced damaged lifters which also resulted in a damaged cam shaft. The total repair bill was $9,208.86. While in the GMC dealership for repair, there were 2 other trucks - same model, same year, same engine - in for the same repair. When searching on-line, I found the recall for the GMC 6.2L engine for similar issues. It is my opinion that the 5.3L engine is experiencing the same types of issues. I have driven GMC trucks for almost 40 years and have never experienced these types of issues. I have been told by several people that it is related to the Dynamic Fuel Management system and to fix the problem to disable the system to keep the truck in V8 mode. There are several solutions on line to make this happen. I am no engineer and only provide this as background information. From my perspective, it is clear that GM has a problem (whatever the root cause) with their 5.3L engines. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | ENGINE | We were driving down the interstate at about 75 mph when a message came up that said to shift to neutral and push the start button. My husband did and it continued to drive perfectly fine, but about 6 miles down the road it did the same thing again except when he pushed the start button it did not start. I cannot begin to tell you the cause as to why it would’ve been doing that as I have never had any other issues with it. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |