general problems of the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 - part 2

Engine lifter failure while traveling at highway speeds, loss of power in traffic during rush hour on a multi lane interstate nearly got rear ended and side swiped.

The contact's son owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. While the contact's son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle started shaking erratically, and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road, and the engine seized. The vehicle was towed to the son's residence. The vehicle was later towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with lifter failure in cylinder #5 and a failed cam shaft. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The contact was informed that the failure was a manufacturer's defect. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The manufacturer agreed to assist with a 10 percent discount on the cost of the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 109,758.

Engine started knocking, brought it to dealer, scoped cylinder number two and confirmed piston ring failure. New engine needed.

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, there was a banging sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the lifters and the camshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.

The first thing was the whole engine shut itself off going 40mph and slowing down thankfully after I turned the truck off and back on it started right back up then I was driving 75 on the highway a couple days later and the whole truck started to shake as check engine lights came on and flash and the engine started to tick and groan. We pulled the spark plugs and cylinder 5 had clearly not been firing as it was designed to and then later found that the entirety of cylinder 5 had basically shredded itself from the inside out. Now my truck is waiting at the shop for a new engine. Both cases I had my kids in the car trying to get home.

My entire engine and the right bank lifters failed. Thankfully, these issues didn't fail until my truck was parked in my garage. No warning lamps did not trigger until these issues started. There was no warning. I have been having engine issues with this truck dating back to 2022. I will include all documents showing the issues I've had in the past 3 years. I was informed by the dealer that this is a known issue with this year and model of truck and even they were surprised that gm hasn't issued a recall. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership only.

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle lost automotive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with an engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. In addition, the contact related the failure to an unknown NHTSA investigation. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.

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.

Unexplained complete engine failure. Engine seized, no warnings, on gauges or lights. Dealership repair shop indicates engine has seized up.

Lifter failure in 2020 silverado 5. 3 engine causing loss of power while driving.

The engine started making a lot of knocking sounds and it has no oil pressure now. The shop says the engine needs to be replaced.

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while at a stop light, the engine shut off as intended in the fuel saver mode, but when the brake pedal was released, the vehicle shut off and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer and was repaired but the repair information was unavailable. The contact stated that failure recently reoccurred and the vehicle was towed back to the dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on a busy roadway while the contact’s young daughter was a passenger inside the vehicle. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 40,000.

We own a 2020 silverado with a 6. 2l l87 engine… I am aware of open investigation # ea25007… our vehicle had sudden engine failure. . No prior warning lamps before failure. (our vehicle had no open recalls) once vehicle engine failed left us with no power… had to coast vehicle to a stop. Will not restart. Verified proper oil level on dipstick so vehicle was not low on oil. Had to tow vehicle to shop . . Retrieved code p0016 - crankshaft position oil pan was removed and found bearing material as mentioned by gm issued recall 25v-274. Verified oil pickup tube was not clogged. All symptoms explained by 25v-274, we’ve experienced.

Major engine failure, a lifter went bad and caused metal all through the motor. Had to purchase new motor.

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle unexpectedly sputtered. There were no warning lights illuminated. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for further assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 73,000.

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle lost automotive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that there was bluish-gray smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle. After releasing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle stalled. The contact restarted the vehicle, but the sound became louder. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and metal shavings were found in the engine oil. Additionally, there was a misfire in several cylinders, the camshaft not operating properly, and the engine needed to be repaired or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 131,000.

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving 75 mph, the vehicle lost motive power with a tapping sound coming from the front passenger’s side of the vehicle. The message "monitor brake service system" was displayed. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and inspected, but no failure was found. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the lifters and camshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to a different independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the lifters and camshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

Description of problem: while driving, the engine intermittently revs on its own without any input from the accelerator pedal. During these episodes, the vehicle also shakes/vibrates noticeably. This has occurred [once / multiple times — specify frequency, e. G. , “several times over the past x weeks”]. The engine revving is not consistent with normal acceleration and appears unrelated to throttle position. The shaking is felt throughout the cabin and is most noticeable [at idle / at speed / when the revving occurs — specify if known]. Safety concern: this creates a risk of sudden, unintended changes in vehicle speed or loss of control, particularly if it occurs in traffic, while merging, or at highway speed.

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 •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.

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while his son was driving 75 mph, there was a knocking sound coming from the vehicle. The driver pulled over and turned the vehicle off, but the vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Upon researching the failure, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 25v274000 (engine and engine cooling). The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had seized. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that there was no recall coverage on the VIN for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.

What happened: in mid-December 2025, my 2020 Silverado 1500 (VIN: [xxx] ) suffered a catastrophic failure of the def tank assembly (p/n 84914535) at 29,354 miles—less than 30% of its warranted life. This is a latent design defect involving undersized terminal pins that suffer thermal degradation and melt the connector during high-amperage heater operation in arctic conditions (ref: gm TSB 21-na-006). Component availability: the failed assembly is held at the dealership. I have submitted a "part preservation request" to ensure it is available for forensic inspection by federal regulators. Safety risk: the failure triggers an epa-mandated "limp mode," initiating a software-forced reduction in speed. Unexpectedly losing speed on high-speed, icy alaskan highways—where roadside snowbanks prevent safe egress—creates an extreme risk of rear-end collisions. Furthermore, a vehicle restricted to 5 mph or rendered inoperable in temperatures of -30°f to -50°f poses a direct, life-threatening risk of cold-weather exposure in remote areas. Confirmation: failure was confirmed by lithia Chevrolet GMC of fairbanks on Jan 7, 2026. Gds2 diagnostic verified dtcs p20b9, p20c1, p205d, and p204c. Data was reviewed by the gm district manager of aftersales (dma) and gm customer assistance (case #[xxx]). Warning symptoms: check engine lamp and "service emission system" message appeared in mid-Dec 2025, followed by a "speed limited" countdown. The electrical disconnect was abrupt due to terminal pin melting, as documented in my forensic engineering report. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I pulled up to a traffic light at a busy intersection in lubbock, TX, and the engine just shut down on approach to a red light. The vehicle still had power (radio, headlights, ac/heater, etc. ) but the engine would not start or even turn over and try to start. The vehicle was towed to a chevy dealership in lubbock, TX, and they said they believed it was an internal engine failure but wouldn’t be able to look at it for several weeks. I had it transported to my hometown in taylor, TX, and my certified mechanic replaced the starter and battery solenoid but the engine still wouldn’t start. They drained the oil and found metal shavings in the oil. They too believe that the engine suffered a catastrophic failure and needs to be replaced.

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle started to hesitate with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that there was a misfire in the engine, and her husband pulled off the roadway and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted and driven back to the residence at speeds no greater than 50 mph. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the left engine lifters had collapsed and needed to be replaced. The contact was advised by the dealer that the right-side engine lifters should be replaced while the engine was disassembled. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.

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.

Engine failed on interstate while pulling my RV. Almost had a bad wreck due to this happening. This is the known 6. 2l engine failure issues. Had to have motor replaced by Chevrolet and had to pay out of my own pocket.

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.

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal odor coming from the vehicle. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact became aware of coolant leaking from the front of the vehicle near the transmission, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact retrieved dtc: p0016. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the coolant control valve, motor mount, and camshaft timing had failed. The dealer informed the contact that the coolant control valve, motor mount, and wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for further assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000.

The 6. 2l engine failed. The same as the 2021-2024 recalls.

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormally loud engine camshaft bearing sound coming from the engine. The engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, and after three days, it was determined that the camshaft bearing had failed, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact linked the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 25v274000 (engine and engine cooling) and NHTSA action number: ea25007 (engine and engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.

At highway interstate travel speeds, vehicle was losing intermittent power. Exhaust at stopped, idle during trip smelled heavily of gasoline. White smoke blowing from exhaust with only 38k miles on the truck. Dealership is replacing the entire engine now and sounds like gm doesn’t want them to fully explore the cause of failure.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? based on information from odi resume ea25007 & safety recall n252494002, it is more than likely engine connecting rod bearing failure. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I was traveling at freeway speed, 70mph when it occurred. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? 11/25/25 at 12:33 (pacific), I am currently stranded 190 miles from home and waiting for the truck to be towed to the dealer. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? it has not. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? prior to failure: since I’ve owned the vehicle, I’ve notice slight ticking and slight knocking during cold start within the engine bay. At the time the noises seemed normal and not cause-for-concern. At time of failure: I was traveling on level grade on the highway when I heard a deep knock from the front, bottom left side of the engine bay. Within about a minute from the initial noise, I received a “check engine” warning light and a message of “esc warning” displayed on my instrument cluster. At that moment, I noticed the engine noise become more prevalent and constant. I immediately slowed and coasted to my next exit off the freeway.

Driving on highway truck lose power, engine lights start to flash and cracking noises start to come from engine. The lose of speed almos cause another vehicle to rear end me, truck gave no signs or warnings before. Truck was delivered to a local shop and due abundant amount of metal flakes in oil engine need to be replaced.

Fan started running non stop, we overheated, engine cut out and says reduced power. This diesel engine has 80k miles which is nothing for a diesel.

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while his son-in-law was driving 61 mph, the vehicle made an abnormal clanking sound and stalled. The driver pulled over safely. The onstar mobile app alerted the driver of an issue with the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was making an abnormal ticking sound prior to the failure. Upon arriving to the location of the vehicle, the contact noticed an oil leak underneath the vehicle. The contact stated that he was a certified mechanic, and the vehicle was towed to the contact's auto repair shop, where the contact determined that the rod had gone through the engine block. The contact called an unknown local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

Engine failure 6 Nov 2025 yes, engine is available for inspection. Possible loss power, unable to control the vehicle. Vehicle engine failure has been confirmed by dealership, ruben milton Chevrolet and jim hudson Cadillac in augusta georgia. Vehicle has not been inspection by manufacturer, police, insurance representatives. No warning light, no knocking noise, no messages on dashboard.