2020 Gmc SIERRA 1500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2020 Gmc SIERRA 1500 has 645 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 8.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (35% of all complaints), specifically: smell of smoke strong in the cab and outside hood of truck. also have seen smoke coming from hood of truck. smells like burning electrical or plastic. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 8 crash reports 5 injuries

645

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

8.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

224 complaints

35%

• SMELL OF SMOKE STRONG IN THE CAB AND OUTSIDE HOOD OF TRUCK. ALSO HAVE SEEN SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD OF TRUCK. SMELLS LIKE BURNING ELECTRICAL OR PLASTIC
• ENGINE LIKE KEEPS COMING ON. CODE READING THE KNOCK SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPAIR. SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACE TWICE IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS. *TR
• RUPTURED OIL COOLER LINE. DRAINING THE ENGINE OF OIL AND CAUSING LOCK-UP. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“SMELL OF SMOKE STRONG IN THE CAB AND OUTSIDE HOOD OF TRUCK. ALSO HAVE SEEN SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD OF TRUCK. SMELLS LIKE BURNING ELECTRICAL OR PLASTIC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

85 complaints

13%

• THE TRUCK RANDOMLY GETS STUCK IN PARK. CANNOT PUT IT INTO DRIVE, NEUTRAL OR REVERSE. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE JANUARY 27, 2020. GMC WONT SEND THEM THE PART, THE DEALSHIP BELIEVES IT MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH THE PART AND THEY ARE TRYING TO FIX OR REDESIGN THE PART BEFORE ITS SENT OUT. A
• AT 550 MILES HAD TO TOW TO DEALER. THEY SAID NEEDED TO REPROGRAM TRANSMISSION. NOW AT 4000 MILES, WENT TO START AND VEHICLE WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. NO POWER. IT IS BEING TOWED TO DEALER AGAIN. PRETTY MUCH BOUGHT A LEMON AS IT LOOKS NOW.
• TRANSMISSION KICKS WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“THE TRUCK RANDOMLY GETS STUCK IN PARK. CANNOT PUT IT INTO DRIVE, NEUTRAL OR REVERSE. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE JANUARY 27, 2020. GMC WONT SEND THEM THE PART, THE DEALSHIP BELIEVES IT MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH THE PART AND THEY ARE TRYING TO FIX OR REDESIGN THE PART BEFORE ITS SENT OUT. A”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

77 complaints

12%

• BRAND NEW TRUCK. STUCK AT THE GYM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TRUCK WONT START. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS, HEAD LIGHTS, AND RADIO WONT SHUT OFF. VEHICLE WONT START. I'M ASSUMING THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED BECAUSE INTERIOR LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTS, RADIO, WONT SHUT OFF. HAS TO BE SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL MALFUNC
• SMELL OF SMOKE STRONG IN THE CAB AND OUTSIDE HOOD OF TRUCK. ALSO HAVE SEEN SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD OF TRUCK. SMELLS LIKE BURNING ELECTRICAL OR PLASTIC
• REVIEW CAMERA IS EXTREMELY BRIGHT WHEN BACKING. IT'S SO BRIGHT THAT A GLARE IS THROWN ONTO REAR WINDOW MAKING IT NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE OUT REAR WINDOW OR USE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS. I OFTEN REVERT TO TO OPEN DRIVERS DOOR AND LOOKING BACKWARDS THAT WAY. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET RUN OVER AS YOU CANNOT S

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“BRAND NEW TRUCK. STUCK AT THE GYM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TRUCK WONT START. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS, HEAD LIGHTS, AND RADIO WONT SHUT OFF. VEHICLE WONT START. I'M ASSUMING THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED BECAUSE INTERIOR LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTS, RADIO, WONT SHUT OFF. HAS TO BE SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL MALFUNC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

51 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 52 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT WAS VERY FIRM. THE PARK BRAKE WAS ACTIVATED BUT FAILED TO EFFECTIVELY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO A PARKING LOT AND WAS PUT IN PARK. THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILU
• VEHICLE WAS PARKED. ENTERED VEHICLE AND TURNED ON VEHICLE USING INTERIOR START BUTTON. VEHICLE WAS PUT IN REVERSE AND WAS BAKING WHEN ALL BREAK PRESSURE DISAPPEARED AND VEHICLE WAS ROLLING BACKWARD AND CAME TO A STOP BEFORE STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE AND CHILD. VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK AND ESC FAILU
• 2020 GMC 6.2 L V8 1500 4W SIERRA DENALI. BOUGHT YESTERDAY NEW FROM DEALERSHIP. TODAY, NOT EVEN 120 MILES AND BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. I STARTED TRUCK WITH GMC APP. GOT IN CAR WITH MY FAMILY AND AS I PULLED OUT OF PARKING STALL PUSHING ON BRAKES MET EXTREME RESISTANCE AND SLUGGISHLY CAME TO A ST

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 52 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT WAS VERY FIRM. THE PARK BRAKE WAS ACTIVATED BUT FAILED TO EFFECTIVELY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO A PARKING LOT AND WAS PUT IN PARK. THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILU”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

47 complaints

• THE BACKUP CAMERA IS ENTIRELY TOO BRIGHT AT NIGHT. IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE MIRRORS DUE TO THE BRIGHTNESS
• BRAND NEW TRUCK. STUCK AT THE GYM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TRUCK WONT START. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS, HEAD LIGHTS, AND RADIO WONT SHUT OFF. VEHICLE WONT START. I'M ASSUMING THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED BECAUSE INTERIOR LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTS, RADIO, WONT SHUT OFF. HAS TO BE SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL MALFUNC
• CAN NOT SEE ANYTHING BACKING UP IN THE DARK BECAUSE OF BACKUP CAMERA. THE PICTURE ON THE SCREEN IS GRAINY AND WASHED OUT SO ALL YOU SEE ARE BLOBS OF NOTHING. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE BACKUP CAMERA IS ENTIRELY TOO BRIGHT AT NIGHT. IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE MIRRORS DUE TO THE BRIGHTNESS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 645 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: SMELL OF SMOKE STRONG IN THE CAB AND OUTSIDE HOOD OF TRUCK. ALSO HAVE SEEN SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD OF TRUCK. SMELLS LIKE BURNING ELECTRICAL OR PLASTIC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: THE TRUCK RANDOMLY GETS STUCK IN PARK. CANNOT PUT IT INTO DRIVE, NEUTRAL OR REVERSE. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE JANUARY 27, 2020. GMC WONT SEND THEM THE PART, THE DEALSHIP BELIEVES IT MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH THE PART AND THEY ARE TRYING TO FIX OR REDESIGN THE PART BEFORE ITS SENT OUT. A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: BRAND NEW TRUCK. STUCK AT THE GYM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TRUCK WONT START. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS, HEAD LIGHTS, AND RADIO WONT SHUT OFF. VEHICLE WONT START. I'M ASSUMING THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED BECAUSE INTERIOR LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTS, RADIO, WONT SHUT OFF. HAS TO BE SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL MALFUNC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 52 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT WAS VERY FIRM. THE PARK BRAKE WAS ACTIVATED BUT FAILED TO EFFECTIVELY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO A PARKING LOT AND WAS PUT IN PARK. THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)