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Chevrolet Silverado 3500Model year report

2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Problems

Compared with other Chevrolet Silverado 3500 years

Typical for this model

56/100 1.2× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with a typical complaint level and no open NHTSA investigation: 2022

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
42filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
40,000miles, 11 complaints with mileage
Recalls
8campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 42 consumer complaints for the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The part named most often is transmission and drivetrain, with 16 complaints (38% of the total), followed by brakes (7) and engine (6). 11 of the complaints include a mileage, and 73% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 40,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns and 945 technical service bulletins for this model year. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 2 recall campaigns covering the software and 122 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Brakes complaints overlap with 28 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 7 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 56 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Transmission and drivetrain: “Dealership told me the throttle body failed in my transmission. I wanted it completely torn down to find the actual point of failure since it did represent the current recall on the truck that hadn't been done because the part isn't yet available. The transmission has been replaced for almost $10,000.00”

NHTSA complaint #11632943, filed 2024-12

Brakes: “This problem concerns faulty emergency brakes. The issue was discovered in the driveway, when I engaged the parking brake with the vehicle in park and my foot on the brake. The Service Emergency Brake light came on and stayed on. When the problem was investigated at the dealership, it was found that the brake pad abradable material had delaminated from the brake shoe and was floating loose inside the drum. This same condition was found on 3 of the 4 brake shoes. …”

NHTSA complaint #11552780, filed 2023-10

Engine: “The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle later failed to start and became undrivable. The dealer was notified of the failure and an appointment was scheduled for diagnostic testing and for the manufacturer internal recall repairs. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …”

NHTSA complaint #11672413, filed 2025-07, 28,000 miles

Electrical system: “I purchased a certified pre-owned 2020 Chevy Silverado 3500HD (6.6 Gas) November 2021. Within the next few weeks, I noticed brake squeaking that kept getting worse and the truck braking system would not stop like the 2500 I had traded in when I purchased the 3500HD. I had to adjust the trailer brake gain control up to as high as 9 or 9.5, should not have to adjust that high. I had trouble stopping at intersections and quick /emergency braking situations while pulling our trailer. This tells me the truck braking system is not working properly. …”

NHTSA complaint #11521535, filed 2023-05

Mileage when problems were reported

73% of the 11 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 23,000 and 52,000 miles.

18%0–109%10–2545%25–5018%50–750%75–1000%100–1509%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (11 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 40,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

202020212022202320242025132026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

See all 8 recalls for the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 945 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 945 bulletins →

Other model years of the Chevrolet Silverado 3500

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2025121,5001———Too new
2024512,8003——Too new to compareToo new
20231618,0001———Too new
20222753,5003——43 · TypicalRising
20214134,5005——64 · TypicalRising
20204240,0008——56 · TypicalRising
2019227,3907———Rising
20181923,0006———Stable
20171322,0006———Not enough data
20165124,4867——91 · MoreRising
20155234,4617——79 · MoreStable
20141037,9003———Not enough data
20132656,0004——28 · FewerRising
20122346,9624———Rising
20112954,5885——28 · FewerFalling
20091047,6556———Not enough data
20083174,6294——24 · FewerRising
20073934,5005——Not compared (before 2008)Rising
20065252,0360——Not compared (before 2008)Rising
20054656,6330——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20044150,0000——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20034284,7280——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20025044,8441——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20017268,0001——Not compared (before 2008)Rising
20008047,9741——Not compared (before 2008)Rising
19994752,0000——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19986771,2000——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19976161,5170——Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Chevrolet Silverado 3500 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 have?

NHTSA recorded 42 consumer complaints for the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 is reported most often?

Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 16 complaints (38% of the total), followed by brakes with 7.

Has the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 reported?

Among the 11 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 40,000 miles and the middle half falls between 23,000 and 52,000 miles; 73% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.