2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 problems & reliability
40 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500, alongside 8 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train → | 15 | 38% |
| Service Brakes | 7 | 18% |
| Engine | 6 | 15% |
| Electrical System | 5 | 13% |
| Tires | 5 | 13% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 4 | 10% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 5% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 3% |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 1 | 3% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 3% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“Since buying the vehicle I’ve had issues with the truck going into limp mode with codes p0700 as well as p0747. I have taken it to the dealership twice now, when it has arrived the codes were no longer there. Every time the truck went into limp mode the transmission would get stuck into 5th gear stuck at 45 mph. The…”
Power Train · filed Jul 6, 2026
“The fuel pump driver module. I filled my truck up with diesel and it drove home fine. Later that afternoon left the house and got half mile down the road and the truck just shut off with no warning lamps or message. When this happened, you could not steer the truck and the brakes barley worked, now after the truck cut…”
Fuel/propulsion System · filed Jul 1, 2026
“The transmission, without warning, intermittently locks the rear wheels when towing a 13,500 lb 5th wheel RV. It occurs when going uphill and the transmission downshifts to maintain torque. The "D" on the gear indicator on the dashboard also flashes 3-5 times. This is a known issue with the Allison approved (but GM…”
Power Train · filed Apr 13, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- Air Bag Malfunction
Preliminary Evaluation PE21010 · opened Apr 9, 2021 · closed Aug 24, 2023
Technical service bulletins
940 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The 10 most recent:
This PI provides information to repair the door water deflector which is not sealed properly allows water into the door jam/sill area.
PIT5680B · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 23, 2026
PI to help diagnose A/C concern
PIT5099J · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 21, 2026
This PI provides diagnostic tips for diagnosing electric trailer brakes issues.
PIT5509N · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 21, 2026
This PI was created to help avoid unnecessary front camera module replacements
PIT6473F · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 17, 2026
The purpose of this PI is to inform dealer technicians of a normal cab pressure relief valve noise to avoid unnecessary part replacement
PIT6532 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 6, 2026
This Preliminary information communicates information on a hydraulic rush type noise from the power steering gear. This noise is a characteristic of the new Active Hydraulic Assist System RPO NV8 and no repairs should…
PIT5544J · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 24, 2026
This PI provides diagnostic steps for dealer technicians to verify the condition and ensure that part replacement is necessary
PIT6523 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 10, 2026
This Preliminary information communicates that the tool for the HD transfer cases to install the input seal during a repair is incorrect and a new tool is in development
PIP5810D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 19, 2026
This PI provides diagnostic tips for diagnosing electric trailer brakes issues.
PIT5509M · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 14, 2026
This Preliminary information communicates that some customers may comment that after an auto-stop event the engine does not restart and to inspect the engine ground strap. Temporarily on hold while PIE0572 is active…
PIT5689N · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 13, 2026
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 has 8 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.