2020 GMC Sierra 2500 Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 13about this part
- Share
- 16%of 80 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 4,706miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the electrical system of the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500, 16% of the 80 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 4,706 miles. 2 a fire, 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.
“As I was driving home my check engine light came on and all of my lights went out. I had no tail lights and the radio started saying no signal detected. The dash screen was saying service keyless entry system. And I had no running lights but my headlights. Pretty scary thinking no one could see me as they were driving behind me at a high rate of speed. My truck only has 200 miles on it so this is really scary to be having issues so early in the ownership of this truck. …”
NHTSA complaint #11362480, filed 2020-10, 212 miles“Went out to my vehicle that has been sitting in my driveway for 24 hours and attempted to unlock it with the key fob. Nothing. Tried the other fob. Nothing. Used the key to unlock the door and get in to push button start and nothing. I plugged both batteries into chargers and they would start to charge, then discharge after the batteries got up to about 20% I called Gmc roadside assistance and they sent someone out. The service guy showed up about 45 min later and hooked up a jump box to each battery. Still no luck in getting it started. He said it must have some major electrical issues. …”
NHTSA complaint #11382789, filed 2020-12, 9,200 miles“The rear defroster massively overheated. It started heavily smoking and eventually exploded the rear windows. Only warning sign was the smoke which we noticed quickly because the windows were up. Had the windows been down we might not have noticed before a fire started. I'm taking it to a dealership now. This module also triggers on from a remote start. Extremely dangerous!!!”
NHTSA complaint #11701143, filed 2025-11“Tailgate fell down when I had a trailer hooked up. I was parked, then backed up the trailer. Tailgate came down on the jack and scratched the tailgate. There is a recall on some trucks but mine says no recall. Sounds like same issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11574977, filed 2024-03“I have taken the vehicle to my local dealership six times. The tailgate started opening and the headlights were blinking on and off. This happened 3 months after I bought it. The dealership told me they changed the tailgate switch and they said there wasn’t anything wrong with my lights. Two weeks after the dealership said they changed the tailgate switch, the tailgate started opening and closing. The lights also stopped working driving down the road at night. This happened 3 different times at night. …”
NHTSA complaint #11691983, filed 2025-10Related service bulletins
- 11024486May 16, 2025This bulletin advises the tech to inspect deeper into what may be to main cause of an engine failure.
- 11019017Apr 10, 2025This bulletin provides a procedure on how to check for a battery drain utilizing the Picoscope and how to measure the load on the system that may be causing a drain.
- 11017595Apr 3, 2025This service bulletin provides information on the proper Reflective High Temperature Heat and/or Insulating Tape to use for certain repairs, such as Wiring Harness Repairs.
- 11017244Mar 31, 2025The intent of this service bulletin is to identify aftermarket ALDL or DLC interface devices as potential sources for causing multiple customer concerns that do not have other…
- 11017255Mar 25, 2025This service bulletin helps diagnose/reduce possible CCND issues on Transfer Cases - Service 4WD on DIC, Intermittent Failures, Noise Concerns, Driveline/Steering…
- 11017207Mar 21, 2025This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Service Programming System (SPS) Error Codes E4398, E4399, E4401, E4403, M4404, M4413, M6954, M6955, E4414…
- 11017031Mar 12, 2025This service bulletin provides information to diagnose batteries that have set for a long period of time and/or cold weather climates and testing those batteries.
- 11014579Feb 19, 2025This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of Diagnostic Tips For Park Assist Off Message / Unwanted Or False Park Assist Alerts / No DTCs.
- 11014230Jan 31, 2025This bulletin advises the dealers to maintain the vehicle stock on hand by doing a full inspection on the vehicles before being sold (prepping) to the customer.
- 11014239Jan 29, 2025This service bulletin provides information on the Transport Mode Feature, also known as Logistics mode, which is used to increase the 12V Battery stand time of the vehicle during…
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 38% |
| 2025 | 1 | 4% |
| 2024 | 33 | 31% |
| 2023 | 6 | 18% |
| 2022 | 12 | 27% |
| 2021 | 6 | 12% |
| 2020 | 13 | 16% |
| 2019 | 9 | 28% |
| 2018 | 7 | 20% |
| 2017 | 6 | 16% |
| 2016 | 9 | 15% |
| 2015 | 11 | 12% |
| 2014 | 4 | 13% |
| 2013 | 3 | 7% |
| 2012 | 4 | 13% |
| 2011 | 9 | 14% |
| 2009 | 7 | 23% |
| 2008 | 3 | 5% |
| 2007 | 5 | 6% |
| 2006 | 4 | 6% |
| 2005 | 42 | 37% |
| 2004 | 48 | 34% |
| 2003 | 36 | 23% |
| 2002 | 1 | 1% |
| 2001 | 4 | 3% |
| 2000 | 3 | 6% |
| 1999 | 2 | 6% |
| 1998 | 1 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500
25 complaintsOther or unknown
18 complaintsBrakes
13 complaintsEngine
10 complaintsSteering
6 complaintsBody and structure
6 complaintsForward collision avoidance
5 complaintsVehicle speed control
4 complaintsEngine cooling
2 complaintsExterior lighting
2 complaintsFuel system
2 complaintsTires
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500
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