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2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: common problems and reliability
· 4th generationOne of the weaker Silverado 1500 years.
738 owner complaints, most about engine. 12 recalls.
Should I buy one?The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has 738 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 12 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are engine and power train. Owners most often flag 8-speed automatic transmission problems: including hard low-speed shifting, banging out of first gear, and early failure.
Safety record for the 2020 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other Silverado 1500 years only. How we score it
Is 2020 a good year for the Silverado 1500?
Across the 28 Silverado 1500 model years we track, complaint volume runs from 384 (2023) to 2,323 (1999). With 738 complaints, the 2020 Silverado 1500 sits below the model's median of 1,076.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2020 Silverado 1500
tires
Campaign 21V115000General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, XT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, 2018-2021 Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana, 2019-2020 Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, GMC Acadia, Sierra 1500, and certain Continental tires sold to the aftermarket for various model year 2018-2021 vehicles. The affected tires were cured for too long during production.
electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery:cables
Campaign 19V888000General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks. The battery positive (B+) cable rings may have been manufactured with excessive glue, potentially causing an intermittent electrical connection between the B+ cable and alternator.
seat belts
Campaign 20V792000General 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.
tires
Campaign 20V684000General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT5, GMC Acadia and Chevrolet Traverse vehicles and 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles. The vehicles may have been manufactured with Continental tires that were overcured.
Show 8 more recalls
air bags:side/window:curtain:inflator
Campaign 20V446000General 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.
seat belts:pretensioner
Campaign 19V814000General 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.
fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Campaign 19V837000General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Camaro, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The fuel pump may be missing a pressure regulator, allowing for over-pressurization of the fuel system.
tires:temporary/emergency spare tire
Campaign 21V985000General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2021 GMC Sierra 1500 and Silverado 1500 vehicles equipped with certain accessory road tires and a 17" spare tire. The 17" spare tire provided with the vehicle is not compatible for use with the accessory wheels, which can cause the anti-lock brake system (ABS) to not function properly under certain conditions.
power train:driveline:driveshaft
Campaign 20V650000General 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.
service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper
Campaign 20V116000General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles. The bolts used to attach the front and/or rear brake calipers may have not been heat treated and may break under load.
power train:automatic transmission:control module:software
Campaign 24V797000General 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.
power train:automatic transmission:control module:software
Campaign 26V083000General 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.
What owners report on the 4th generation Silverado 1500
Owner sentiment for the 2018-2026 Silverado 1500 is mixed and leans cautious. Owners praise the 5.3L V8 and the 3.0L Duramax diesel for power and fuel economy, and several describe their trucks as trouble-free when driven mostly on the highway.
- Very frequent8-speed automatic transmission problems
Including hard low-speed shifting, banging out of first gear, and early failure.
- RecurrentAFM/DFM lifter failure requiring head work
Reported around 100k miles and, in 2019 trucks, within the first 10k miles.
- RecurrentTransmission failure in the 80k-140k range on fleet trucks
- IsolatedDriveshaft clunking when coming to a stop, described as present from the factory
- IsolatedMisfire code that appears roughly every 10k miles and clears on its own
Owner insights for the 4th generation Silverado 1500. Read the full 4th generation owner report.
Typical used price
Used Silverado 1500 listings typically run $19,567–$37,495.
Other Silverado 1500 model years
Compare every Silverado 1500 year side by side to see how 2020 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Silverado 1500 against its rivals
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