2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2020 Silverado 2500 most often describe transmission problems — hard or slipping shifts, loss of power, and in some cases rear-wheel lock-up that owners link to transmission control valve recalls — typically showing up past 60,000 miles. A second, earlier cluster covers brakes (squealing or grinding pads at low mileage) and electrical/software faults reported in the first few thousand miles, along with diesel emissions (DEF) warnings and leaks at the rear window.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission hard shifting, slipping or wheel lock-up

   • 34 complaints (31%)
   • median 73,500 mi at 4.3 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2026

   Complaints describe harsh or delayed shifts, shuddering, slipping and occasional loss of motive power, sometimes with the rear wheels locking briefly while driving. Some owners say a dealer replaced the transmission, valve body or control module, or applied a software update; others report the problem returned after the repair. Several complaints about recall 24V797000 say parts were unavailable and the truck could not be repaired for weeks. Mostly reported between roughly 60,000 and 130,000 miles, often while driving at highway speed or while towing.

   Recall 24V797000Recall 26V0830003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the truck has had the 24V797/26V083 transmission control valve remedy applied and whether any parts are still outstanding. During a test drive, watch for harsh shifts, shudder or hesitation, and check for transmission fluid leaks at the cooler lines.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 2026-04

   “Rear wheels locked up while driving/accelerating. Happened 5 times, 4 times while towing a camper once without towing. Luckily no harm or damage came to anyone. Traded in at dealership due to safety concerns after no diagnostics found anything “wrong”. It is already listed for sale, but I don’t think It’s been addressed or fixed.”

   NHTSA complaint #11581033, filed 2024-04
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake squeal, grinding and premature pad wear

   • 16 complaints (15%)
   • median 18,500 mi at 0.9 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners report loud squealing or grinding from the brakes, in some cases from new, and say dealers described the pads as a wear item that is not covered. Some complaints reference a GM bulletin on front brake pad noise and material, and note that pad replacement did not always stop the noise. A few describe the electric parking brake applying or failing to release, with warning messages on the dash. Often reported at low mileage — many under 25,000 miles, some within the first few thousand.

   What to check: Listen for squeal or grind during a slow stop and ask whether the pads were replaced and when. On trucks with the electric parking brake, confirm it releases cleanly and that no brake warning message appears.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Following a vehicle with 4-5 car lengths between, the vehicle in front of us did a panic stop in heavy traffic. When trying to stop our new truck al it did was skid without any noticeable ABS actions. We were traveling approximately 65mph at the time of the panic stop. Truck only had 4000 miles on it at the time of the accident. Roads were dry.”

   NHTSA complaint #11376297, filed 2020-11, 4,006 miles

   “I purchased this vehicle brand new from Lunghamer Chevrolet in Pontiac, MI. I park my truck on a hill every day and as of around a week ago the emergency brake system won't disengage properly. I know it has been engaging since, my gas milage has decreased significantly. Then, a warning light came on the dash, so I took it to Wally Edgar Chevrolet in Lake Orion for diagnosis and they told me that the actuators and wiring harness need to be replaced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11559253, filed 2023-12
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) warnings and speed limiting

   • 11 complaints (10%)
   • median 20,000 mi at 2.3 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   Complaints describe emission-system warnings telling the driver service is required within a set number of miles before top speed is limited, often traced by dealers to the DEF pump, heater or tank. Some owners report the parts were on back order and the truck sat at the dealership for weeks. Mostly reported under about 20,000 miles, and in a few cases later past 130,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the DEF pump, tank or heater has been replaced and request any emission-related repair records. Before buying a diesel, check that no emission warning messages or reduced-speed messages are showing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My vehicle is less than 1 year old with about 11500 miles. My service exaust system warning light illuminated and provided a warning that my speed would be reduced in a set amount of miles. After adding additional def fluid to determine if that was the issue my car the car returned an error of service def system. This then lowered the amount of driving mileage until my car would be forced to a reduced speed. This occurred while operating the vehicle and may have resulted in damage to my vehicle or other motorist when traveling on an expressway. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11397309, filed 2021-02, 11,500 miles

   “The DEF heater/tank shorted out. The DEF system has thrown a code 3 times in the little over a year I’ve owned the truck. This final time I was told that the tank needs to be replaced. The truck has now been in the shop for 2 months and there is still no ship date on the replacement tank. The tanks are on a national back order. From what I understand there are about 9,000 people waiting for this DEF tank countrywide. I now have a $60k work truck that I am paying for but cannot use with no reasonable end in sight.”

   NHTSA complaint #11458547, filed 2022-03
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Electrical faults: tailgate opens on its own, camera and

   • 23 complaints (21%)
   • median 55,881 mi at 3.5 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2026

   Complaints describe the power tailgate opening unexpectedly while driving, backup cameras failing over bumps, and no-start or battery-drain problems. Owners often link the tailgate behavior to the power-unlatching tailgate recall, and some say their truck was not included in the campaign. Reported from a few hundred miles up to about 120,000 miles, with several at very low mileage.

   Recall 24V0600003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the VIN against the power tailgate recall and ask whether it has been done. Test the rear camera, cycle the tailgate several times, and confirm the truck starts reliably and holds a charge.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Three days after purchasing my 2020 chevy 2500 silverado, on september 28th, 2020 around 1253 I tried to start my truck and it wouldn't start. The truck turned over but seemed like it wasn't getting fuel. I then received a diagnostic alert. After changing the relay the truck ran fine. I then scheduled to take it in to the dealer on october 5,2020 to have a diagnostic done on the truck and they found nothing. The very next day it did the same thing on october 6th, 2020. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11366110, filed 2020-10, 328 miles

   “This vehicle does not recognize that the gear is on park. Due to the issue, it has left me stranded twice. The first time it was at a very remote area up in the mountains. I was stuck for hours due to battery dying. The second time being a very dangerous situation Because it was a very dangerous area late at night.”

   NHTSA complaint #11723754, filed 2026-03
5. 5
   Other or unknown

   Rear window leaks and water intrusion

   • 9 complaints (8%)
   • median 37,531 mi at 2.4 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners report water entering the cab at the rear window, soaking the headliner, seats and carpet, sometimes after only light rain or heavy dew. Some note the cracks or the plastic molding around the rear glass and that water reached the stereo amplifier, causing the radio volume to change on its own. Complaints describe being told the leak was not covered or that no fix was available. Reported from roughly 11,000 to 63,000 miles, often noticed after rain.

   What to check: Inspect the headliner, rear seats and carpet for water stains or mold, and check the rear window surround for cracks. Test the radio volume and ask whether the amplifier has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The cab is leaking rain water in the back driver side corner of the cab! I just noticed it while we were driving in the rain. It looks like it has occurred twice before because of stains.”

   NHTSA complaint #11352124, filed 2020-08, 11,300 miles

   “Back window leaked. It was a heavy mist all night, not even heavy rain yet, and when we opened the passenger back door in the morning around 7:30 am, we found a pool of water on the back seat and water running down the seat. When I checked the forums, there is an abundance of complaints about the back windows leaking in Chevy trucks for many years now.”

   NHTSA complaint #11554371, filed 2023-11

Buying note. Transmission behavior is the main thing to verify: confirm the recall remedies are complete, ask for service history on the valve body or control module, and drive at highway speed before buying. Also check for brake noise, rear-window water stains, and on diesel trucks any outstanding DEF or emission repairs.

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.