There are 50 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2020 Chevrolet Silveradoin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked forward extremely hard. The power train warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence. Additionally, the vehicle failed to exceed 60 MPH while driving. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or a dealer. The contact stated that the failure was a known failure with the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.
Was driving vehicle and it revved very high and then got stuck in a single gear. MPG have also been impacted as of late. GM saying VIN isnt under the valve body recall, but dealer has determined the valve body needs to be replaced.
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the RPM became extremely elevated. The accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle was turned off and restarted. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and it was determined that the torque converter was inoperable, and that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
Problem#1 :The transmission shits erratically and down shifts really hard and has a vibration going down the highway. Problem #2: The rear-end differential seems to lock up when turning sharp corners.
I replaced the fluid in my truck at 142k miles and when I went through all of the gears and checked for drips or leaking it was fine on that front and then I went to reverse and all of the gears were neural and only revved and when I went into neutral it started driving forward like it was the drive gear.
Internal oil consumption. With no oil puddled or spattered under the vehicle at time of purchase from a dealership or since then, a dealer certified vehicle with AFM at 153 miles from leaving the dealer the oil was non-existant on the dipstick. This directly indicates a TSB, Techical Service Bulletin involving the cause of failed lifters causing internal oil consumption and damage to lifters, cam shaft, push rods, rings and possibly more. This is a common result of the Active Fuel Management system which shuts off some of the cylinders for fuel economy for Chevrolet V6 and V8 engines. The problem was reported to the dealer by me imediately after the oil check at 153 miles and then towed to the dealer. As this is considered a catastrophic amount of oil loss, the vehicle could've been rendered inoperatable during operation in traffic and been a servere safty hazard. The dealer after initial inspection sent me a message that they think the problem is an undetectable small leak so they put some dye in the oil to check it. Which evades the actual internal consumption problem of 1.5 to 2 or more quarts of oil lost in just 153 miles by that ratio that would amount to 13 quarts per 1,000 miles. And helps them stall for time, to try to run out the very short 3 month/3000 mile drivetrain warranty. There was noticable erratic engine performance and some shudder but that shudder may have come from the transmission. The odometer read was 115690 at purchase and 115843 when towed=153 miles driven from when the certified inspection was performed for a loss of 1.5 to 2 quarts that I know of, it could have been much more oil missing. A suddenly inoperatable vehicle in town at intersections or on the highway at high speeds could be deadly for myself or others in traffic. I took and have videos of checking the dipstick to show it dry but it's an mp4 file which I don't see a place to upload it here. Available upon request.
Rear wheel lock at speed up due to failed valve body and transmission
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the rear wheels locked up. The contact stated that the failure almost caused a crash. No warning lights were illuminated. The rear wheels locked up for several seconds, then the rear wheels released, and the tires chirped. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall with a similar failure description; however, the VIN was not under recall. The contact stated that the vehicle was important due to scheduled doctor's appointments. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.
Vehicle was brought to Payne Chevrolet(Weslaco,Tx)for Recall N242454440. After the software update, the vehicle entered 'Limp Mode' and threw a Permanent Fault Code P2817 (Solenoid 8 Stuck Off). The dealership and GM Executive Resolution (Case #86918646) have confirmed this is a mechanical failure of the valve body, but are refusing/delaying the remedy due to a branded title. The vehicle is currently grounded and unsafe to drive as it risks rear-wheel lockup. GM has failed to provide a timely remedy or alternative safe transportation.
To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally file a complaint regarding my 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Diesel and to request immediate review and assistance from General Motors. I purchased this vehicle from a GM dealership in 2024 with approximately 70,000 miles for roughly $42,000. The vehicle currently has approximately 121,000 miles. Since purchasing the vehicle, it has suffered major breakdowns approximately every three months, requiring repeated costly repairs and making the vehicle unreliable for regular use. Most notably, the vehicle experienced a full transmission failure at approximately 103,000 miles — just after the factory warranty expired, requiring complete transmission replacement at my expense. To date, I have spent nearly $20,000 in repairs, including but not limited to: •Full transmission replacement •Two alternator replacements •Glow plug system failure •Coolant control valve failure •Engine control / computer module failure •Transmission cooling system failures •Ongoing electrical system issues •Additional drivetrain and mechanical problems These are critical powertrain, electrical, and engine management components — not routine maintenance items. The repeated failure of such systems strongly suggests underlying manufacturing or design defects. The vehicle has been properly maintained and serviced, yet continues to experience serious and recurring defects well beyond what would be considered normal wear and tear for a modern diesel truck. At this point, my total investment in this vehicle exceeds $62,000, and I am left with a truck that I cannot trust and that has become financially unsustainable to own.
Transmission bucks and truck just stops for no reason.
During an extreme cold event in Interior Alaska (–44°F), the vehicle experienced a sudden emissions‑system failure that triggered an EPA‑mandated Limp Mode, limiting the vehicle to 5 MPH on high‑speed highways. This created an immediate life‑safety hazard because it was impossible to maintain a safe speed or exit the roadway due to snow berms. Prior to the failure, the vehicle displayed “Service Emission System” warnings and multiple DTCs related to the reductant heaters and sensors. A dealership technician later confirmed a “burnt pin” at the reductant pump connector, consistent with thermal‑electrical overload. This failure mode matches GM’s TSB 21‑NA‑006, describing connector overheating in cold climates. After the repair, the vehicle continued to exhibit safety‑critical symptoms, including harsh downshifts, delayed engagement, and jerking during deceleration, consistent with Recall 26V083000 (rear‑wheel lock‑up risk). The vehicle also continues to emit an electrical burning odor in cold temperatures, consistent with Recall N192206310 (block‑heater fire risk). The only GM dealership in the region issued a “Termination of Business Relationship,” preventing access to all recall and warranty repairs. This has created a 321‑mile “Service Desert,” making it impossible to obtain federally mandated recall remedies. The vehicle remains unsafe to operate due to unresolved transmission, electrical, and propulsion issues.
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH and exiting a parking lot, the rear wheels locked up as if the brake pedal was depressed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was stopped and shifted to park(P), and the vehicle was turned off and restarted several times to reset the vehicle; however, the rear wheels were still locked up. The contact disconnected the battery cables and was able to unlock the rear wheels. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent, but was a recurring failure. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was not diagnosed, and the vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V083000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.
Transmission/ torque converter. Truck feels like you are riding over rumble strips and shaking steering wheel. Confirmed by dealer. No warning signs
I own a 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500, the truck currently has 51,400 miles on it. I started noticing a vibration while driving home from work that continued to get worse. After some quick online research I learned that the torque converter on the newer Chevy and GMC trucks is a weak point in their assembly. This is a very common issue and complaint for owners. The manufacturer has done nothing to resolve it or honor repairs on the defective product. My truck was one month out of the 5 year/60,000 mile warranty, they would not honor repairs because it was outside of the time window. The internal parts break up and destroy a transmission. Luckily i caught it early enough before it caused my transmission to fail while driving. I do not have the part with me. I took the truck to a shop for repairs and they did not return the defective part. No warning lights came on the dash.
The Timing Chain failed. It is at the Dealership available for inspection. Vehicle was unable to accelerate correctly while driving. If it had blown a valve or locked up the engine we would have been stuck on the highway with my kids in the vehicle. Problem has been confirmed with the dealer. It is a known defect with this vehicle but my VIN was not one that was recalled. No issues had came up before it failed. Just went to accelerate and you could feel it slipping and the truck stuttering forward.
While driving at highway speeds, multiple warning lights illuminated on the dashboard at the same time, including engine and powertrain warnings. The vehicle suddenly began operating abnormally, with loss of power and unstable driving behavior, making it unsafe to continue driving. This same issue has occurred multiple times previously and the vehicle has been taken to an authorized Chevrolet dealership for repairs on three separate occasions. Each time, repairs were performed, but the problem returned. The most recent incident occurred while driving on the highway and created a serious safety risk to the driver and other vehicles. The vehicle is not safe to drive.
My 2020 Chevy Silverado needs a torque converter replacement. My truck is at 90k miles and out of drivetrain warranty. However, this is a known GM problem with trucks (and other vehicles in this class of engine/transmissions). I have talked to GM corporate and they are only willing to rebate 20% of the cost of this repair. I believe they should pay for the entire repair since this is a known problem for all these vehicles in this class. Please help me to get GM to understand this and fix this known problem.
INTERMITTENTED,NOT ALL THE TIME BUT I GET A HESITATION WHEN I PUT THE TRAN IN DRIVE PRESS THE ACCERATOR THEN IT LURCH FORWARD UNEXPECTED......
Making turn at slow speed. Possibly Transmission slipping and rear tire locking up. engine light turned on
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026