2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
On the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, the failure owners report most often is other powertrain problem, and the reports cluster around 70,000 miles. The earliest to appear is backup camera failure, reported by a median of 800 miles. Overall it scores 81 out of 100, severe risk for a 2020.
Severe risk for a 2020 — 30th riskiest of the 235 2020 vehicles we can rate. 1,052 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What breaks on the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Owners have reported 78 named failure modes on the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and the three most-reported carry 25% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Other powertrain problem leads with 108 reports, about 1.8 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 5k to 117,500 miles.
Other engine problem follows with 103 reports, usually reported between 3k to 80,000 miles. 2 of those reports mention a fire.
Other electrical problem follows with 53 reports, usually reported between 3k to 70,000 miles. 2 of those reports mention a fire.
By system, the reports fall mostly into engine (226), transmission (171) and electrical (122).
At what mileage it happens
283 of the reports on the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 13,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 68% by 50,000 miles, 88% by 100,000 miles and 97% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 2 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 0 and 10,000 miles, which alone holds 46% of the dated reports.
63% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, which is early enough that a fair number of these cars were still under a factory warranty when the owner complained.
In the order they tend to show up: backup camera failure around 800, loss of braking around 1k, no-start or intermittent start failure around 2k and other brake problem around 4k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 78. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 2 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
Severity, and what it costs
Across the named modes, 17 mention a crash, 14 a fire and 7 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 3.92, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other powertrain problem at $400–$4,500, other engine problem at $300–$4,000, other electrical problem at $250–$2,000 and other brake problem at $300–$1,800. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
39% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 108 | 26 | 5k | 69k | 116k | 1.8 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other engine problem | engine | 103 | 35 | 3k | 40k | 79k | 1.8 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 53 | 9 | 3k | 10k | 68k | 0.9 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 49 | 20 | 983 | 4k | 13k | 0.8 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other steering problem | steering | 42 | 10 | 3k | 5k | 14k | 0.7 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 33 | 6 | — | 86k | — | 0.6 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 29 | 14 | 740 | 1k | 3k | 0.5 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 28 | 11 | 2k | 10k | 57k | 0.5 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Torque converter failure | transmission | 27 | 7 | — | 9k | — | 0.5 | $1,100–$3,200 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 25 | 13 | 13k | 43k | 65k | 0.4 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 24 | 2 | — | 93k | — | 0.4 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| Wiring harness or short circuit | electrical | 24 | 6 | — | 99k | — | 0.4 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 24 | 5 | — | 15k | — | 0.4 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure | suspension | 23 | 4 | — | 37k | — | 0.4 | $400–$2,200 | High |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 19 | 11 | 2k | 2k | 25k | 0.3 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Backup camera failure | infotainment | 19 | 14 | 122 | 800 | 3k | 0.3 | $250–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 19 | 5 | — | 25k | — | 0.3 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 19 | 7 | — | 5k | — | 0.3 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Lifter, cam or cylinder-deactivation failure | engine | 17 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $1,800–$7,000 | High |
| Complete engine failure or seizure | engine | 15 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $4,500–$12,000 | Critical |
| Infotainment screen failure | infotainment | 15 | 7 | — | 3k | — | 0.3 | $400–$2,600 | Low |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 13 | 4 | — | 32k | — | 0.2 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 12 | 2 | — | 18k | — | 0.2 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 11 | 5 | — | 15k | — | 0.2 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Oil leak | engine | 10 | 2 | — | 8k | — | 0.2 | $250–$2,200 | Moderate |
| Overheating | cooling | 10 | 2 | — | 55k | — | 0.2 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 10 | 3 | — | 11k | — | 0.2 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Excessive oil consumption | engine | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $900–$6,500 | High |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 9 | 1 | — | 200k | — | 0.2 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure | electrical | 8 | 3 | — | 5k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,500 | High |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Liftgate, tailgate or trunk failure | body | 8 | 4 | — | 46k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,500 | Moderate |
| Air conditioning failure | hvac | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $400–$2,800 | Moderate |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 8 | 1 | — | 830 | — | 0.1 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 8 | 1 | — | 150k | — | 0.1 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Alternator or charging system failure | electrical | 7 | 1 | — | 19k | — | 0.1 | $450–$1,600 | High |
| Instrument cluster or gauge failure | infotainment | 7 | 1 | — | 2k | — | 0.1 | $350–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 7 | 3 | — | 20k | — | 0.1 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Loss of power steering | steering | 7 | 1 | — | 74k | — | 0.1 | $600–$2,800 | Critical |
| Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure | engine | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $1,200–$4,500 | Critical |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 6 | 1 | — | 65k | — | 0.1 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Harsh or jerky shifting | transmission | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $600–$4,000 | Moderate |
| Master cylinder or brake booster failure | brakes | 5 | 3 | — | 46k | — | 0.1 | $450–$2,200 | Critical |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 5 | 2 | — | 100k | — | 0.1 | $200–$900 | High |
| Steering column or shaft failure | steering | 5 | 1 | — | 14k | — | 0.1 | $600–$2,500 | Critical |
| Fuel leak or fuel odor | fuel | 4 | 2 | — | 59k | — | 0.1 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 4 | 2 | — | 3k | — | 0.1 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Lane keep or steering assist fault | adas | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,600 | High |
| Parking sensor failure | adas | 4 | 3 | — | 7k | — | 0.1 | $180–$900 | Low |
| Head gasket failure | engine | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $1,400–$4,000 | Critical |
| Engine knock or bearing noise | engine | 3 | 1 | — | 76k | — | 0.1 | $2,500–$9,000 | High |
| CVT failure | transmission | 3 | 1 | — | 55k | — | 0.1 | $3,000–$8,500 | Critical |
| Parasitic battery drain | electrical | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Audio or connectivity failure | infotainment | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $150–$900 | Low |
| Brake line, hose or caliper failure | brakes | 3 | 1 | — | 37k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,600 | Critical |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 3 | 2 | — | 89k | — | 0.1 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Rust or structural corrosion | body | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $500–$6,000 | High |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 2 | 1 | — | 53k | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| Differential or transfer case failure | drivetrain | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $900–$4,200 | High |
| Fuel injector failure | fuel | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $450–$2,800 | Moderate |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Engine sensor failure | electrical | 2 | 2 | — | 193k | — | 0.0 | $180–$900 | Moderate |
| Premature brake pad or rotor wear | brakes | 2 | 1 | — | 32k | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Tire blowout or tread separation | wheels | 2 | 1 | — | 40k | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,500 | Critical |
| Paint peeling or clear coat failure | body | 2 | 1 | — | 4k | — | 0.0 | $600–$6,000 | Low |
| Sunroof failure or glass breakage | body | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $700–$4,500 | High |
| DPF, EGR or DEF system failure | emissions | 2 | 1 | — | 53k | — | 0.0 | $800–$5,000 | High |
| Headlight failure or clouding | lighting | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $150–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Electrical fire or melted wiring | electrical | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $1,500–$9,000 | Critical |
| Piston, ring or cylinder wall damage | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $3,000–$9,500 | Critical |
| Turbocharger or supercharger failure | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 77k | — | 0.0 | $1,500–$4,500 | High |
| Thermostat failure | cooling | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$900 | Moderate |
| Transmission slipping | transmission | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $1,200–$5,500 | High |
| Transmission will not engage a gear | transmission | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $1,500–$6,000 | Critical |
| Shifter, linkage or stuck-in-park failure | transmission | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,400 | High |
| Fuel gauge or level sensor failure | fuel | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Strut, shock or spring failure | suspension | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $500–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Software fault or failed update | software | 1 | 1 | — | 14k | — | 0.0 | $0–$600 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 72 | 9 | 800 | 2k | 10k | 1.2 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 draws about 18 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 94th percentile of complaint rates among 2020 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 58,395 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2020 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
Recalls on the 2020 model year
NHTSA has issued 12 recall campaigns covering the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, affecting an estimated 150,614 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover power train:automatic transmission:fluid/lubricant:valves/va, power train:automatic transmission:control module:software, tires:temporary/emergency spare tire and tires. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:FLUID/LUBRICANT:VALVES/VALVE BODY
1,055 vehicles 2026-02-12- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
463,295 vehicles 2024-10-24- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
626 vehicles 2021-12-16- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
TIRES
33,838 vehicles 2021-02-25- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
SEAT BELTS
624,216 vehicles 2020-12-17- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
TIRES
7,516 vehicles 2020-11-05- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
42 vehicles 2020-10-22- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR
769 vehicles 2020-07-30- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
20,352 vehicles 2020-02-27- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
350,371 vehicles 2019-12-12- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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…
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
502 vehicles 2019-11-21- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER
556,399 vehicles 2019-11-14- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2020 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
How 2020 compares with the other years
Severe risk for a 2020 — 30th riskiest of the 235 2020 vehicles we can rate. The comparison is always within the same model year, so an older car is never penalised for having had longer to break.
Across the 30 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2012 comes out best at 65 and 2020 worst at 81, with 2020 itself at 81.
If the model year is negotiable, 2012, 2003, 2004, 2002, 2000, 2005, 2025, 2001, 2013, 2006, 1997, 1999, 1998, 2009, 2014, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2008, 2015, 2023, 2016, 2017, 2026, 2018 and 2022 score lower than 2020 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2014–2020 generation specifically, 2014 is the strongest year at 71 and 2020 the weakest at 81.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2014-2020 generation, 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 scores best at 71 and 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 worst at 81.
What the numbers say to check
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: backup camera failure from about 122, loss of braking from about 740, other brake problem from about 983 and parking brake failure from about 2k.
On a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether backup camera failure has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
None of this is a diagnosis. It is a list of what other owners of the same model year reported, ordered by when they reported it, which is a good place to point an inspection and a poor place to stop.
What this page cannot tell you
1,052 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 1,052 reports, 283 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 27% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
The most-reported failures are other powertrain problem (108 reports, median 70,000 miles), other engine problem (103 reports, median 40,000 miles) and other electrical problem (53 reports, median 10,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems start?
Backup camera failure is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 800 miles and a quarter of reports before 100 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 13,000 miles.
Is the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 reliable?
It scores 81 out of 100 on our risk index, which is severe — 30th riskiest of the 235 2020 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2020 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is best?
Within the 2014–2020 generation, 2014 scores best at 71 out of 100 and 2020 worst at 81. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed