2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year cluster in two areas: engine top-end problems (collapsed lifters, camshaft and cam phaser damage) that often appear as ticking, knocking or misfires, and transmission complaints about shuddering, harsh or delayed shifts and torque converter noise. A separate, much earlier group covers brake and stability-control warnings where pedal effort rises and speed is limited, typically on low-mileage trucks.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine ticking or knocking with lost power (lifters

   • 237 complaints (32%)
   • median 77,177 mi at 5.5 yrs old (70 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $5,054 (median of 22 quotes)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners describe a ticking or knocking sound from the engine, sometimes at idle and sometimes while driving, followed by rough running, a misfire, or a sudden loss of power with the check engine light on. Complaints report dealers diagnosing collapsed lifters, damaged camshafts, cam phasers or detached camshaft actuator screws, with some engines needing replacement. Several owners mention the same repair being done more than once, and others say they were told only part of the cost would be covered. Spread across the range, with most reports between roughly 50,000 and 130,000 miles and a few at very low mileage.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Listen for ticking at cold start and at idle, and ask whether lifters, push rods or camshaft parts have already been replaced. A pre-purchase inspection with a compression or misfire check can help.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle started to hesitate with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that there was a misfire in the engine, and her husband pulled off the roadway and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted and driven back to the residence at speeds no greater than 50 MPH. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11705416, filed 2025-12, 96,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, there was a banging sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the lifters and the camshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11722905, filed 2026-03, 120,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake and stability-control warnings with reduced braking

   • 169 complaints (23%)
   • median 10,000 mi at 1.5 yrs old (65 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $500 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe a cluster of warnings appearing together - brake system failure, service ESC, service trailer brake, ABS - often accompanied by a hard or low brake pedal, longer stopping distance and a message limiting speed. Many say the warnings clear after the truck is shut off and restarted, and that dealers could not duplicate the problem. Mostly on low-mileage trucks, generally under 15,000 miles, and often shortly after start-up.

   Recall 20V116000Recall 21V985000

   What to check: Start the truck and confirm no brake, ABS or ESC warnings appear before driving, and test for a firm pedal. Ask whether the brake caliper bolt recall and ABS-related recall were completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When I stop slowly the brake pedal starts to make a noise and starts to shake. You can literally feel your foot shaking when stopping slowly. It does not make it every time but when it does it makes it like 4 times. I first noticed this when driving on the highway while on a road trip then it started doing it on the city street. It does it when you are making a stop but havent stopped completely because when you come to a complete stop it stops doing it.”

   NHTSA complaint #11340002, filed 2020-07, 1,202 miles

   “In may I purchases a 2020 silverado. On december 05th, 2020. I was driving on the interstate heading home from my son's football game . The service brake system message displayed on the vehicle's dashboard. Braking became sluggish and stiff. I initial thought the brake fluid had had leaked out. The vehicle maintained power to all other systems. Once home I checked the engine bay and brake calibers and found them to be intact. At this time the vehicle has 12,400 miles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11383399, filed 2020-12, 12,500 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder, harsh shifts and torque converter

   • 236 complaints (31%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 3.9 yrs old (57 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $5,725 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners report shuddering while accelerating, hard or delayed shifts (especially from first to second when cold), jerking and hesitation, and in some cases the truck dropping into neutral while driving. Complaints describe dealers flushing the transmission fluid, with the shudder returning, and several mention a diagnosis of a failed torque converter. Some report intermittent lock-up of the rear wheels. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 100,000 miles, with some at lower mileage.

   Recall 24V797000Recall 26V0830003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive it at steady light throttle and uphill to feel for shudder, and ask for transmission service records. Check whether the truck has had the transmission control valve recall work done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The truck is new with 700 miles. September 26th 2020 I came to a stop at a light.as I took off the truck started to jerk and the check engine light came on. I immediately drove it home. As I was driving home while in motion the truck would jerk when it was changing gears. I received a text from GM that said to have the engine or transmission serviced within 7 days. I did not drive it until I was able to take it to chevy. September 28th 2020 on the way there the vehicle did the same thing. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11362658, filed 2020-10, 700 miles

   “The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was shuddering while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact also stated that after cold starting the vehicle, the vehicle shifted hard from first to second gear. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the transmission fluid was flushed; however, the failure persisted and became more frequent. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11540089, filed 2023-08, 59,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Battery drains and no-start / no-restart

   • 118 complaints (16%)
   • median 13,900 mi at 1.5 yrs old (51 state mileage)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners describe the truck failing to start after sitting, a completely dead battery, and in some cases the engine shutting off at a stop in auto-stop mode and not restarting. Complaints mention dealers resetting systems or replacing parts, and one service bulletin addresses aftermarket auto-stop devices or rear taillights causing a dead battery. Often on very low-mileage trucks, some within the first few thousand miles, though also reported later.

   Recall 19V8880002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check battery age and whether the battery cable recall was performed, and ask if any aftermarket auto-stop or lighting accessories are installed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This is my second compliant, on 5/7/20, after my shift ended. The truck would not start. I call the sales person, we went over several steps and it still would not start. I called on star. She said will do a diagnostic. When she started every thing well out. I call back by phone after an half hour..they sent me a jumper. The next day I taken it to the dealer. They reset every thing. Said before I purchased it may have sat on the 6 month. I had it for weeks! On 5/ii/20, I turned the engine off got out and locked the truck. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11324334, filed 2020-05, 1,100 miles

   “The contact owned a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while stopped at a stop light, he observed smoke emanating from the area of the vehicle between the cab and the bed, prompting him and the other occupants to quickly evacuate. Within moments, the vehicle caught fire and was engulfed in flames. Local emergency services arrived and were able to extinguish the fire. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11665057, filed 2025-06, 100,000 miles
5. 5
   Other or unknown

   Tailgate opening on its own

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the tailgate unlatching and dropping open while driving or overnight, in some cases with cargo falling out. Complaints say the tailgate would not lock with the key fob or manually, and that dealers told them their truck was not covered by a related recall. Reported from about 40,000 miles upward, at various driving speeds.

   What to check: Open and close the tailgate several times and check that it latches firmly and locks with the fob; ask whether the tailgate latch recall applies to the truck's VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 75 MPH, the rear tailgate door erroneously opened. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on 4 separate occasions and items had fallen from the vehicle while in motion. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11587995, filed 2024-05, 40,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the tailgate opened independently without warning. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V060000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES) and linked the failure to the recall. The local dealer was notified about the failure, and the contact was informed that the VIN was not covered under the recall, and the contact was provided with an estimate for the repair. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11699771, filed 2025-11, 50,000 miles

Buying note. These trucks are common and parts are easy to find, but engine top-end and transmission work can be costly, so service records and a thorough test drive matter more than mileage alone. Check that open recalls for the transmission control valve, brake calipers and battery cable have been completed on the specific truck.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.