2020 GMC Sierra 1500 Electronic stability control Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 1%of 484 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 7,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the electronic stability control of the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500, 1% of the 484 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 7,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was going about 15 miles per hour when suddenly all these error codes started popping up, first ESC malfunction then trailer brake malfunction,stabilitrak, steering assist reduced, brake system fail, lighs just pop up I do feel like the truck looses some power feels more sluggish, I took it to dealership, they recalibrated the break system and stuff, it fixed the issue temporarily, but the lights keep coming back, sometimes I turn the truck on in the morning and lights are gone, then later on I get all the error codes again while driving it. …”
NHTSA complaint #11310853, filed 2020-02, 300 miles“Highway driving engine light started flashing, received codes on service ESC and service parking brake. Truck seemed to loose power transmission started shifting very hard, cruse disengaged,lane keep assist stopped working , brakes and steering seemed to act different . When ignition was turned off loud noises from under truck sounded like brakes releasing with loud clunking noise.”
NHTSA complaint #11328737, filed 2020-06, 1,950 miles“Parked truck for one hour, engine off. Came back and upon startup, received multiple errors that power steering and ESC required dealer attention. Brake pedal would depress to floor. Gmc SIERRA 1500 elevation trim”
NHTSA complaint #11352041, filed 2020-08, 3,000 miles“The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35-40 MPH and hauling a trailer in stop-and-go traffic, there was white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe, and the vehicle started losing power. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road, where the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and the check engine warning lights illuminated. The parking brake was engaging and disengaging independently. …”
NHTSA complaint #11690794, filed 2025-10, 93,000 miles“The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle failed to properly respond. There were no warning lights illuminated; however, the message ESC was displayed. The contact stated that the brakes, steering, and a message to check the trailer brakes was also displayed. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and the brake pedal was depressed several times however, the brakes failed to respond, and the vehicle was difficult to control. The vehicle was towed by AAA and then towed to a dealer however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed. …”
NHTSA complaint #11656277, filed 2025-04, 125,000 milesElectronic stability control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 0% |
| 2020 | 6 | 1% |
| 2019 | 16 | 2% |
| 2018 | 1 | 0% |
| 2017 | 1 | 0% |
| 2016 | 6 | 2% |
| 2015 | 13 | 2% |
| 2014 | 56 | 8% |
| 2013 | 1 | 1% |
| 2012 | 3 | 3% |
| 2011 | 7 | 2% |
| 2010 | 1 | 1% |
| 2009 | 3 | 1% |
| 2008 | 1 | 0% |
| 2007 | 2 | 1% |
| 2006 | 1 | 1% |
| 2005 | 2 | 1% |
| 2004 | 3 | 1% |
| 1994 | 1 | 8% |
Other parts of the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500
245 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
99 complaintsElectrical system
81 complaintsBrakes
55 complaintsOther or unknown
46 complaintsSteering
38 complaintsFuel system
27 complaintsEngine cooling
21 complaintsSuspension
18 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
15 complaintsForward collision avoidance
14 complaintsBody and structure
13 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology