general problems of the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 - part 2

Ticking noise coming from engine slight metallic noise as well. Rpms drop and when they drop, you can feel power loss constant hunting in the rpms. Also a weird vibration, not all the time in the front end somewhere.

I noticed a ticking sound in my 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 slt 5. 3 liter on 10/15/2025 after it was serviced at an authorize Buick GMC dealership on 10/13/2025. I made an appointment and returned the vehicle to the dealership for further inspection on 10/17/2025. I was informed later that day that my truck has lifters and camshaft failure. If my truck had stalled or stopped on the express way, myself and others safety could have been at risk. My truck has only been looked at by the dealership at this time, and it is available for inspection upon request. There were no warning lights, check engine lights, messages or symptoms prior to the failure. I did get a low oil level message in April 2024 when the dealership stated they must not have put the correct amount of oil in my truck during an oil change on 1/29/2024. They inspected my truck and assured me there was no damage done to my engine from this issue. I have recently learned there is a recall for gm vehicles manufactured between 2021 and 2024 with the 6. 2l engine installed. I am not sure why this recall does not include 2020 trucks with the 5. 3l engines installed. Apparently, the same problems exist with these engines also. I received an estimate for repair approximately $13,000 which can increase once the engine is town down and inspected further. Any assistance you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

The engine failed and started burning oil at a rate of 3 quarts every two weeks. The vehicle is currently at the GMC dealership having the engine rebuilt at a cost of over $15,000. The vehicle has approx. 116,000 miles at time of failure, so it is outside of the manufacturers warranty. The GMC dealership (fred anderson greer) has photos. The engine is a 6. 2l but not currently under recall as it is a 2020, the recall includes 2021 - 2024 models.

A lifter in my cylinder is bad and damage to my cam shaft. This truck also has the 6. 2l engine that was recalled for other GMC vehicles. My safety was put at risk as I was driving it and it started smoking. I have had 2 different mechanics look at it. One mechanic was an independent business, the other was a certified GMC dealer. There was no warning lamps or messages.

The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact disabled the stop-to-start feature, and the failure ceased. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under recall. In addition, the contact was informed that the vehicle needed to remain with the dealer for two weeks while performing diagnostic tests on the vehicle. The contact was unable to be without a vehicle for two weeks. The vehicle was the only means of transportation. The contact stated that the failure was a known failure with the vehicle and that the manufacturer needed to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the recall. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.

43000 miles 2020 GMC sierra with lifter engine issues. Oil change made every 3k miles.

The check engine light went off and started blinking. The engine started making ticking noise. I pulled over. The check engine light kept blinking. I had the truck towed to the chevy dealership. They found damage to the lifter and camshaft. They had the truck for over 2 weeks. Luckily I purchased the extended warranty. But the repair still cost me 1,200. 00 dollars out of pocket. And cost the warranty company over 9,000. 00 dollars.

When driving at about 30 mph the truck randomly shut off and would not start or try to start. I was later told the engine crankshaft rod bearings seized.

Fuel management system caused a lifter to fail (stuck) which resulted in camshaft damage at 77,611 miles. Gm refused to cover the repair, although there is a pending class action lawsuit against gm for this very issue. Truck was repaired at a gm dealership - sunrise collierville, TN. Repair costs was approximately $7,000. This occurred during a 2. 5 hour road trip which put lives at risk. The truck began to vibrate, and the check engine light came on. There was no other warning before the failure occurred. No police or insurance were involved. This occurred on 9/27/25. It took the dealership 32 days to diagnose and repair the issue. Thanks.

6. 2l v8 engine in 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 at4 suffered two lifter failures, which damaged crankshaft and sent metal shards throughout engine and oil. Total engine replacement required. This issue is subject to a recall for 2021 - 2024 model years and the recall should extend to 2020 model years. Vehicle was traded without functioning engine at a significant loss in value for new vehicle, and is not available for inspection. Vehicle was inspected by service department at GMC dealership and traded to a different GMC dealer. No prior indications of problems or warning lights until engine failure occurred while driving.

The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35-40 mph and hauling a trailer in stop-and-go traffic, there was white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe, and the vehicle started losing power. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road, where the electronic stability control (esc) and the check engine warning lights illuminated. The parking brake was engaging and disengaging independently. After turning off the vehicle and waiting for approximately 15-20 minutes, the vehicle was restarted, and the contact drove to the nearest independent mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the ignition coils needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, it was determined that the repair had not resolved the failure. The mechanic then diagnosed the vehicle cylinder #4 failure. The mechanic was in the process of determining whether the lifter or camshaft had failed. The mechanic determined that the engine might need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.

Constant engine issues, cams, lifters. Transmission problems. These engines in these vehicles need to be recalled. I have bought 6 of these trucks and all of them have the same issues. Spending 14k on new engines one after another is ridiculous. These are classified as “work” trucks and can’t handle “working”.

Constant engine issues, cams, lifters. Transmission problems. These engines in these vehicles need to be recalled. I have bought 6 of these trucks and all of them have the same issues. Spending 14k on new engines one after another is ridiculous. These are classified as “work” trucks and can’t handle “working“.

Constant engine issues, cams, lifters. Transmission problems. These engines in these vehicles need to be recalled. I have bought 6 of these trucks and all of them have the same issues. Spending 14k on new engines one after another is ridiculous. These are classified as “work” trucks and can’t handle “working” .

Engine lost all power while driving highway speed. Vehicle towed to cavender Chevrolet dealer in boerne, TX. Dealer inspected and determined cam bearings damaged. Engine replaced with remanufactured engine.

I heard a ticking noise coming from the engine compartment. I took it to the dealership that I purchased the truck from and that have been using consistently for service. I was told that the noise was coming from a lifter on the driver's side of the engine and, on further investigation, it was determined that the camshaft had been damaged. I was told that it could seize up as I was driving and that my safety and those with and around me would be at risk. At 85,000 miles, the engine had failed and would have to be replaced. There was no prior warning or no check engine light and the vehicle has been in for oil changes and all maintenance at the dealership. The new engine cost me $15000 including diagnosis and towing.

Engine misfiring and rough idle with occasional flashing engine light. Dealer said no codes to know what to look for despite replicating issue. Eventually it threw a cylinder 5 misfire and thus gm dealer was able to look further. They found metal in oil pan and concluded a bearing issue and would need to replace engine.

The engine failed completely while driving. On the day of the incident, I started my 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 at4, and immediately upon cranking, the engine began knocking loudly. I shut the vehicle off right away to prevent further damage and called a wrecker service to have it towed to marianna Chevrolet, GMC. No warning lights or messages prior to the incident. The weather was clear and dry, and the truck was parked on level ground at the time. There were no prior warning lights, leaks, or unusual noises before this event. The vehicle has been well-maintained, with oil changes performed regularly every 4,000 miles at a local auto shop (though receipts are not available). The brakes were replaced earlier in 2025. Marianna Chevrolet, GMC inspected the vehicle and estimated the repair cost at $12,700 due to what appears to be a major internal engine failure.

The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated, and several messages were displayed. The vehicle was driven to the side of the road to safety and turned off. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure milage was approximately 76,000.

2020 GMC Sierra 1500 elevation 5. 3l engine. Lifter failure due do faulty design I’m afm/dfm systems.

Engine timing chains failed at 71,000 miles requiring a $9,700 repair. Warranty covers 5 yr/ 100k miles and was not fully covered by gm since the vehicle was 9 months beyond 5 years, yet still well within the 100k miles. Issue was diagnosed via p0016-00 being set indicating misalignment between crankshaft position sensor and the intake camshaft position sensor. This issue is a known problem with the early lm2 engines, and the timing chain was upgraded in later lm2 engines. Early adopters of the lm2 are left to pay the price for a defective part.

The engine coolant control valve on my 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 with the lm2 duramax diesel failed. The failed part is still in my truck, which remains at the dealership awaiting replacement. The repair is delayed due to the part being on nationwide backorder, further highlighting that this is a widespread issue. When the valve failed, the truck entered reduced engine power mode while I was traveling on the interstate. This limited my speed to about 40 mph while climbing a hill. The sudden loss of power in high-speed traffic created a serious safety hazard, as it significantly increased my risk of being rear-ended or involved in a collision with faster-moving vehicles. I drove the truck directly to the dealership after the incident, where the problem was immediately confirmed. The issue was diagnosed and confirmed by the dealership, which identified the coolant control valve as the failed component. To my knowledge, gm has not yet inspected this specific failure. Prior to the loss of power, the truck displayed a “reduced engine power” warning message and the check engine light on the dashboard. These warnings appeared at the time of the failure. Importantly, gm has already acknowledged this issue by issuing special coverage n252508341 for 2021 and 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 trucks with the same lm2 engine and the same coolant control valve part numbers. However, the 2020 models (like mine) were excluded from that program despite using the identical part and engine configuration.

While driving at highway speed and attempting to pass another vehicle, I experienced an engine failure; loss of power, noise from engine, and numerous warning messages on the display. At the gm dealer, I was informed that a pushrod (cylinder #2) was bent, the source of the engine noise. Upon further inspection (removal of cylinder heads), it was determined that the cam shaft chrome had begun to flake causing pitting (lobe damage) which in turn caused the pushrod to fail. Had the pushrod broke instead of bent at highway speed, I feel there would have been a catastrophic failure with more severe consequences for my vehicle and others around me. Vehicle was diagnosed and repaired by a certified gm dealer. There were no prior warnings/indications of problem(s). I understand there is a current recall of the gm 6. 2l l87 engine for model years 2021-2024. This incident occurred on a model year 2020 gm 6. 2l l87, but the issues I experienced are identical to the 2021-2024 engines identified in the recall.

Vehicle: 2020 GMC sierra denali 1500 (VIN: [xxx] ) description of the problem: my 2020 GMC sierra denali has developed serious engine problems that create unsafe driving conditions. On [xxx], I documented loud knocking and clicking noises coming from the engine. The vehicle also shows warning lights and unpredictable performance. Because of these defects: •I cannot safely drive the truck without risk of engine failure while on the road. •the noises and mechanical issues raise concerns about potential loss of power, stalling, or catastrophic engine damage at highway speeds. •no independent mechanic will touch the vehicle because of the complexity and risk of the defect, leaving me stranded. General motors has refused to take responsibility, and the bbb auto line denied my case due to mileage, but the defect itself is unrelated to mileage or normal wear. This is a manufacturer defect that creates a safety hazard for me, my family, and other drivers on the road. What I’m requesting: I am asking NHTSA to investigate this issue with GMC sierra models, as these engine defects make the vehicle unsafe to operate and could lead to accidents if the engine fails while driving. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

My 6. 3l v8 started having a slight misfire while driving. Took vehicle to a mechanic and was advised to change the spark plugs, changed spark plugs, spark plug wires, and ignition coil packs while still experiencing sudden misfires while driving. Starting to consider the 6. 2l l87 collapsing cylinder issue.

I have a 2020 Sierra 1500 6. 2 with 86,000 miles. I have only had this truck 6 months. This was inspected before I purchased with no engine issues. Since purchasing we have driven less than 6000 miles. While driving my vehicle the rod in the engine failed and started knocking. I am a mechanic and I am GMC master certified. Both myself and the owner of the shop I work at diagnosed the vehicle with a bad engine. We looked at the recall for the 6. 2 engine and noticed that many of the 2020 vehicles with this engine have the same issue that is currently being recalled for this specific engine. I called GMC and they won’t fix the issue that the vehicle is having. They won’t perform the recall and again I have only had this vehicle for 6 months and with 86,000 miles should not be having this issue. I am GMC certified and told them that I looked into the recall and they them selves state that some of the defective engines got out into the 2020 models.

The contact owns a 2020 GMC sierra at4. The contact stated that while on cruise control at 55 mph, the vehicle would independently increase velocity until it reached 98 mph, where it experienced a loss of automotive power. In addition; the contact stated that he attempted to manually power off the vehicle however, the vehicle would not respond to the power button being depressed. No warning lights illuminated. The vehicle restarted and was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed however, no failures were identified. Afterward, upon further notice during rainy weather conditions, water would leak through the rear-view window. The contact stated that the digital screen would occasionally fail to power on as intended or would continuously display a live review image while gear into drive. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, an abnormal sound was heard coming from the transmission, the rpms would not decrease as intended, and would suddenly drop as deaccelerating in speeds. In addition, the contact stated that the headlights, fuel pump, and the main pulley were replaced at the local dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 250.

Check engine light came on. Cooling fan for engine running none stop. Reduce power mode from engine. Took to dealer, said it’s the coolant control valve. Dealer said the part is on back order and don’t know when they will get it in. Looked up the issues and sounds like many people are having the same problem with the 3l diesel from GMC. These people reporting the same thing and having to wait months for the part. My truck was just out of warranty by 200-300 miles.

The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine compartment before the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer for further assistance. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 138,000.

Engine failure at 84000.

On June 19th, 2025, I was driving to work when my truck began to lose power, and the check engine light came on. The error on the display is loss of engine power. I took it immediately to oreilly's so they could run the free engine light check. When they got the report, the employee was amazed that there were over 45 problem codes showing up. As I drive the vehicle there is a pull back from the engine before it starts to pick up speed. On braking as well there is a little kickback before it comes to stop. It takes more foot pressure to pick up speed. The truck using up more fuel because of this issue. I took the truck to a local certified mechanic, and he ran the diagnostics as well and it came up with the over 45 problem codes as well. His recommendation unfortunately was to take into the dealership so they could check it and see if they have a solution for this engine malfunction and error codes.

I purchased my 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 6. 2l in September 2024 with 80,000 miles. 9 months later the lifters gave out. Had them replaced and 6 months later, the lifters again were bad and was knocking. They are now replacing the lifters and cam. I am so disappointed that this is happening. I hear that the 2019 and 2020 was not included in this recall! why not!! if it’s still doing the same thing and it is the same engine, why isn’t my truck in this recall? I would like to know why? if it is doing the same thing as the recall, shouldn’t it be covered by this recall? best, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I took my 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 to the dealership after cylinder #5 seized while driving, and I was forced to replace the entire engine. At the time, I contacted the dealer and was told there was no recall related to this issue. However, I have since learned that GMC has issued a recall for similar engine problems affecting 2021–present Sierra 1500 models, but not for my 2020 model year. I believe this issue may be related and would like further investigation and consideration.

My engine slowed down on the interstate. My steering wheel was visibly shaking and I lost the steering access control. The truck threw an cylinder 6 error code. At the mechanic, they identified that at least one of my camshaft lifters had failed. If I had continued to drive my vehicle, the engine block would have eventually locked up.

For approximately the last year (2024-2025) my 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 at4 with the 6. 2l engine has had noticeable ticking, knocking, and unprovoked shaking upon start up and idle. The pickup has stalled out at stop lights and intersections in the past, posing risk. In June (2025) the pickup was taken to a certified mechanic for inspection who suggested possible lifter or valve failure. The vehicle exhibits a persistent ticking sound from the engine, which I believe may be related to lifter or valve issues, similar to those reported in lawsuits against gm for 2019-2024 models and the recall for 2021-2024 models (NHTSA recall 24v-676). This ticking occurs regularly, including at approximately 54,500 miles, and raises concerns about potential engine failure or sudden loss of propulsion, which could be hazardous, especially at highway speeds. I have noticed approximately 2 quarts of engine oil usage per my last 2 oil changes (roughly every 6,000 miles). I recently had taken the pickup to a local gm dealership where they informed me that I am not longer covered under warranty and the recent recall is not applicable. I was advised to “keep and eye on it, and get a aaa membership”. I am aware of at least 10 class action lawsuits against gm for similar engine issues in vehicles like mine, suggesting a widespread defect. These issues, combined with the potential for engine failure or impaired vehicle control, warrant investigation to ensure driver safety. I have records of the ticking sound and can provide further details if needed. I am willing to cooperate with NHTSA for inspections or further documentation.