2020 Chevrolet Silverado

Showing the 2020 Silverado High Country. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version

Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.

About every 2020 Silverado

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado has 742 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, most for the engine (249) and transmission and drivetrain (232). Its EPA rating is 15 to 27 mpg combined, with a 5-year fuel cost of $15,470 to $26,830 at U.S. average prices. NHTSA gives it 4 overall stars. Its 12 recall campaigns cover transmission and drivetrain, tires, seat belts, and others, and may apply to a given vehicle.

Written by AI from public EPA and NHTSA data. Not a review.

Fuel economy
15–27 mpgcombined; city 14–23, highway 16–33; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$15,470–$26,830U.S. average; Ohio $13,820–$25,280 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
4 starslowest across the versions NHTSA tested
Recall campaigns
12over its history; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
742filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Trims

NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2020 Silverado. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.

Problems owners report

Owners have filed 742 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Silverado. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.

Complaints by part of the car
PartComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine249020
Power train232020
Electrical system114284
Service brakes102200
Unknown or other75020
Steering74100
Fuel/propulsion system35000
Vehicle speed control28000
Engine and engine cooling26000
Structure26000
Suspension20100
Wheels14000
18 more parts
Electronic stability control (ESC)13000
Exterior lighting12200
Air bags117011
Service brakes, hydraulic11100
Forward collision avoidance10100
Visibility/wiper9100
Fuel system, gasoline6000
Latches/locks/linkages6000
Seat belts5213
Tires4000
Visibility3000
Back over prevention2000
Equipment2000
Lane departure2000
Parking brake2000
Seats2000
Traction control system2000
Trailer hitches1000

Complaints by model year

Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.

  1. 2006547
  2. 20071,056
  3. 20081,076
  4. 2009520
  5. 2010425
  6. 2011638
  7. 2012284
  8. 2013365
  9. 20141,560
  10. 20151,192
  11. 2016805
  12. 2017839
  13. 2018524
  14. 20191,093
  15. 2020742
  16. 2021844
  17. 2022647
  18. 2023387
  19. 2024339
  20. 2025120
  21. 2026124

Every Silverado year side by side

Recalls

NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns for the 2020 Silverado over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.

Power train: automatic transmission; Power train: automatic transmission

NHTSA campaign 26V083000 · reported Feb 12, 2026 · 1,055 vehicles potentially affected

General Motors, LLC is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, 3500, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles that may have been repaired incorrectly under recall 24V797. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock up.

Risk: Rear wheel lock up increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles and update the transmission control software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 6, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252516560. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 12, 2026.

NHTSA's record and documents

Power train: automatic transmission; Power train: automatic transmission

NHTSA campaign 24V797000 · reported Oct 24, 2024 · 463,295 vehicles potentially affected

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with diesel engines. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.

Risk: Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will install new transmission control module software, free of charge. GM will provide a special coverage program to cover the repair of transmissions that are identified by the remedy software as containing a defective control valve. Owner notification letters were mailed December 12, 2024. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, GMC customer service at GMC 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N242454440.

NHTSA's record and documents

Tires: temporary/emergency spare tire

NHTSA campaign 21V985000 · reported Dec 16, 2021 · 626 vehicles potentially affected

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2021 GMC Sierra 1500 and Silverado 1500 vehicles equipped with certain accessory road tires and a 17" spare tire. The 17" spare tire provided with the vehicle is not compatible for use with the accessory wheels, which can cause the anti-lock brake system (ABS) to not function properly under certain conditions.

Risk: An ABS system that does not function properly can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will provide a new 17" spare tire and wheel assembly that is compatible with the accessory wheels, free of charge. Dealers will also apply a new spare tire information label, and provide owners with an owner's manual insert clarifying which spare tire to use with the accessory road tires and with the 17" original tires. Owner notification letters were mailed February 7, 2022. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212346510.

NHTSA's record and documents

Tires

NHTSA campaign 21V115000 · reported Feb 25, 2021 · 33,838 vehicles potentially affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, XT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, 2018-2021 Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana, 2019-2020 Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, GMC Acadia, Sierra 1500, and certain Continental tires sold to the aftermarket for various model year 2018-2021 vehicles. The affected tires were cured for too long during production.

Risk: Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation which could lead to a tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212329050.

NHTSA's record and documents

Seat belts; Seat belts: critical fasteners

NHTSA campaign 20V792000 · reported Dec 17, 2020 · 624,216 vehicles potentially affected

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon XL and 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The seat belt brackets may not be secured to the seat frame in the front-row center seating position.

Risk: If a seat-belt bracket is not secured, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the front-row center seat position, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect left-side and right-side front-row center seat-belt bracket attachments and reassemble it correctly as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202314670.

NHTSA's record and documents

Tires

NHTSA campaign 20V684000 · reported Nov 5, 2020 · 7,516 vehicles potentially affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT5, GMC Acadia and Chevrolet Traverse vehicles and 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles. The vehicles may have been manufactured with Continental tires that were overcured.

Risk: Overcured tires may experience a carcass break in the sidewall resulting in a sudden air loss or could develop a belt edge separation which could lead to partial or full tread/belt loss. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect vehicles and replace tires that have DOT number and production mold number combinations identified by Continental, free of charge. The recall began December 17, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202319030.

NHTSA's record and documents

Power train: driveline

NHTSA campaign 20V650000 · reported Oct 22, 2020 · 42 vehicles potentially affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 and 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 trucks. One of the driveshaft joints may not have been properly welded, causing the driveshaft to separate while the vehicle is moving.

Risk: If the driveshaft separates, there may be a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N202314870.

NHTSA's record and documents

Air bags: side/window

NHTSA campaign 20V446000 · reported Jul 30, 2020 · 769 vehicles potentially affected

General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT5 and XT6, Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500 and Traverse and GMC Acadia and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The diffuser component of the Roof-Rail Air Bag (RRAB) inflator may not have been properly crimped to the inflator and could separate from the inflator during air bag deployment.

Risk: If the diffuser separates from the inflator during deployment, RRAB performance may be degraded, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect RRAB modules, free of charge. The recall began September 3, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is N202305380.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components

NHTSA campaign 20V116000 · reported Feb 27, 2020 · 20,352 vehicles potentially affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles. The bolts used to attach the front and/or rear brake calipers may have not been heat treated and may break under load.

Risk: Broken caliper bolts can reduce brake performance or interfere with wheel rotation and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake caliper bolts, free of charge. The recall began March 23, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-866-522-9559. GM's number for this recall is N202294420.

NHTSA's record and documents

Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery

NHTSA campaign 19V888000 · reported Dec 12, 2019 · 350,371 vehicles potentially affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks. The battery positive (B+) cable rings may have been manufactured with excessive glue, potentially causing an intermittent electrical connection between the B+ cable and alternator.

Risk: An intermittent electrical connection between the B+ battery cable and the alternator could cause the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash. The intermittent connection could also lead to electrical arcing, which could generate sufficient heat to damage surrounding material, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect for the presence of glue or other contamination at the B+ cable attachment to the alternator and clean the connection and reattach the B+ cable connection, as necessary. If arcing has damaged the cable, nut, or alternator, the dealer will replace the damaged components. All services will be performed free of charge. GM issued owners an interim notification on February 4, 2020. GM issued second notice and the recall began March 9, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N192273510.

NHTSA's record and documents

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery

NHTSA campaign 19V837000 · reported Nov 21, 2019 · 502 vehicles potentially affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Camaro, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The fuel pump may be missing a pressure regulator, allowing for over-pressurization of the fuel system.

Risk: Over-pressurization can crack the fuel pump and cause leaks, increasing the risk of a fire in the presence of an ignition source.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2019. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N192283991.

NHTSA's record and documents

Seat belts: pretensioner

NHTSA campaign 19V814000 · reported Nov 14, 2019 · 556,399 vehicles potentially affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, and 2020 Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Sierra 2500, and Sierra 3500 vehicles equipped with carpet floor covering. When the front seat belt pretensioners deploy, hot gas may vent through an opening in the pretensioner bracket, possibly igniting the carpet.

Risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will close off the opening in the pretensioner bracket, free of charge. The recall began December 13, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N192270600.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 1,553 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2020 Silverado, the latest on Oct 5, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.

The parts they mention most: equipment (380), electrical system (375), engine and engine cooling (325), power train (188), unknown or other (172).

NHTSA defect investigations

Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.

InvestigationPartOpenedStatus
Engineering analysis EA25007
Loss of motive power due to engine failure · covers 3 makes
Engine and engine coolingOct 23, 2025Open
NHTSA's summary names recall 25V274000
NHTSA's record and documents
Preliminary evaluation PE25001
Loss of motive power due to engine failure · covers 3 makes
Engine and engine coolingJan 16, 2025Closed Oct 23, 2025
NHTSA's summary names recall 25V274000
NHTSA's record and documents
Preliminary evaluation PE21010
Air Bag Malfunction · covers 3 makes
Air bagsApr 9, 2021Closed Aug 24, 2023
NHTSA's record and documents

Maintenance

Oil

The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2020 Silverado.

Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5

Used ones for sale

See used 2020 Chevrolet Silverados for sale on: Autotrader · CarMax

These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.

Specs

EPA class: standard pickup trucks. EPA greenhouse gas score: 2–5 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
Silverado
Rear-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turboAutomatic 10-spdDiesel23 / 33 / 27
Silverado
4-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turboAutomatic 10-spdDiesel23 / 29 / 25
Silverado
Rear-Wheel Drive
2.7 L, 4 cyl, turboAutomatic 8-spdRegular Gasoline20 / 23 / 21
Silverado
Rear-Wheel Drive
2.7 L, 4 cyl, turboAutomatic 8-spdRegular Gasoline19 / 22 / 20
Silverado
4-Wheel Drive
2.7 L, 4 cyl, turboAutomatic 8-spdRegular Gasoline19 / 22 / 20
Silverado
Rear-Wheel Drive
5.3 L, 8 cylAutomatic 8-spdRegular Gasoline17 / 24 / 20
Silverado
Rear-Wheel Drive
5.3 L, 8 cylAutomatic 8-spdRegular Gasoline17 / 23 / 19
Silverado
4-Wheel Drive
5.3 L, 8 cylAutomatic 10-spdRegular Gasoline16 / 22 / 19
Silverado
4-Wheel Drive
5.3 L, 8 cylAutomatic 8-spdRegular Gasoline16 / 22 / 18
Silverado
Rear-Wheel Drive
4.3 L, 6 cylAutomatic 6-spdRegular Gasoline16 / 21 / 17
Silverado
Rear-Wheel Drive
5.3 L, 8 cylAutomatic 6-spdRegular Gasoline15 / 21 / 17
Silverado
4-Wheel Drive
6.2 L, 8 cylAutomatic 10-spdPremium Gasoline16 / 20 / 17
Silverado
4-Wheel Drive
5.3 L, 8 cylAutomatic 6-spdRegular Gasoline15 / 20 / 17
Silverado
4-Wheel Drive
4.3 L, 6 cylAutomatic 6-spdRegular Gasoline15 / 20 / 17
Silverado
Rear-Wheel Drive
5.3 L, 8 cylAutomatic 6-spdRegular Gasoline or E8515 / 19 / 16
Silverado
4-Wheel Drive
5.3 L, 8 cylAutomatic 6-spdRegular Gasoline or E8514 / 18 / 16
Silverado
4-Wheel Drive
5.3 L, 8 cylAutomatic 6-spdRegular Gasoline14 / 17 / 15
Silverado
Rear-Wheel Drive
5.3 L, 8 cylAutomatic 6-spdRegular Gasoline14 / 18 / 15
Silverado
4-Wheel Drive
4.3 L, 6 cylAutomatic 6-spdRegular Gasoline14 / 16 / 15
Silverado TrailBoss
4-Wheel Drive
5.3 L, 8 cylAutomatic 8-spdRegular Gasoline16 / 21 / 18
Silverado TrailBoss
4-Wheel Drive
5.3 L, 8 cylAutomatic 10-spdRegular Gasoline16 / 21 / 18
Silverado TrailBoss
4-Wheel Drive
6.2 L, 8 cylAutomatic 10-spdPremium Gasoline15 / 19 / 17
Silverado TrailBoss
4-Wheel Drive
5.3 L, 8 cylAutomatic 6-spdRegular Gasoline14 / 18 / 16
Silverado TrailBoss
4-Wheel Drive
4.3 L, 6 cylAutomatic 6-spdRegular Gasoline14 / 18 / 16
Silverado TrailBoss
4-Wheel Drive
6.2 L, 8 cylAutomatic 10-spdPremium Gasoline14 / 18 / 15

Compare

Sources and dates

Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data