Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: running costs are the problem rather than the car itself.
Owners have filed 74 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500, and it carries 9 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 17 | 23% |
| Unknown or other | 12 | 16% |
| Engine | 6 | 8% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 3% |
| Steering | 2 | 3% |
| Power train | 2 | 3% |
| Structure | 2 | 3% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 2 | 3% |
| Tires | 2 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
When I try to start my truck it comes up as service trailer brake control module and it has caused my truck battery to drain so I cant even crank my truck up.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated, and the message "Reduced Power" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the turbo actuato
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
While driving down a highway doing between 45 and 55 mph the transmission suddenly and completely faulted causing the truck to come to a complete stop. Just enough power to get to the shoulder luckily. The transmission h
NHTSA complaint: Power train
A couple times I heard loud clanking coming from rear brakes. One time in particular I was trying to stop and it felt line someone had ran into my truck but must have been the rear wheel locking up
NHTSA complaint: Power train
The main tailgate will not go down or function properly and it says online there is a national recall for this, but does not come up when I search my vehicle. When I turn on my left turn signal the brights flash for no
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
Bad vibration and bad wobble in steering wheel and front end components. This is the 3rd or 4th time my truck has been back to the dealer because of the same issue!
NHTSA complaint: Steering
Catastrophic engine failure after taking it in for the April 2025 recall. Complete engine replacement needed
NHTSA complaint: Engine
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 dow
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The hood-latch striker wires may not have been heat-treated properly, possibly causing them to fracture.
Risk: If a striker wire fractures, the hood may open unexpectedly while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the hood assembly, free of charge. The recall began April 13, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer se
General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and GMC Sierra 2500 vehicles equipped with a 17" spare tire (RPO ZHQ or ZXT) and either the 20" accessory road tire (RPO REM) or the 18" accessory road tire (RPO Q2V). Operating the spare tire with other 20" or 18" ti
Risk: An ABS system that cannot control the rear wheels independently increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will provide the appropriate spare tire and apply a new spare tire information label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 18, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet
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 fram
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.
Fix: 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 Janu
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 cr
Risk: If the diffuser separates from the inflator during deployment, RRAB performance may be degraded, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: 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, Cadilla
| Reliability raw | 72 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 70 | good |
| Maintenance | 46 | below average |
| Depreciation | 87 | excellent |
| Performance | 81 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other pickup trucks in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 74 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 17 of them (23%). There are 9 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 72/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 70/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2020 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: skip unless cheap, because running costs are the problem rather than the car itself. Its overall ownership score is 69/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.