NHTSA // CRASH-TESTED
2020 GMC Sierra 1500 Safety Ratings
The 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 scores 69 out of 100 on the NHTSA Safety Index (Below Average), with a 4-star overall NHTSA crash rating, 12 recalls, and 433 owner complaints on file.
Updated Oct 1, 2026 from NHTSA data · Reviewed by Ivanna Verstliar
The 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 records a dozen recall campaigns, a significant concern that pulls its defect-record subscore to just 2 out of 20. This contributes to an overall NHTSA Safety Index of 69 out of 100, placing the vehicle in the Below Average band. While crash-test results are solid, the recall volume merits careful consideration.
The 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 earned a NHTSA Safety Index of 69 out of 100 and a 5-star NHTSA side-crash rating, according to federal NHTSA data.
MotorCaliber Safety Desk // NHTSA data, verified Oct 1, 2026
Among the 105 Sedans from 2020 that NHTSA has crash-tested, the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 ranks 100 for overall NHTSA Safety Index.
- urban drivers exposed to side-impact risk
| NHTSA Safety Index | 69 / 100 (Below Average) |
|---|---|
| Overall crash rating | 4 of 5 stars |
| Frontal / Side / Rollover | 4 / 5 / 4 stars |
| Rollover risk | 19.8% |
| Recalls on file | 12 |
| Owner complaints | 433 (unverified allegations) |
| Class rank | 100 of 105 Sedans tested for 2020 |
| Data verified | Oct 1, 2026 |
ANALYSISHow safe is the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500?
The 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 moved the NHTSA Safety Index two points upward to 69 out of 100 from the 2019 model year's 67, yet both years sit in the same Below Average band, meaning the improvement is incremental rather than transformative. The crash-protection subscore of 61 out of 70 is the clear strength, anchored by that 5-star side rating and backed by standard electronic stability control. The problem is the defect record: a subscore of only 2 out of 20 reflects 12 recall campaigns attached to this single model year, a figure that pulls the composite index down sharply. The avoidance-tech subscore of 6 out of 10 reflects the fact that both forward collision warning and lane departure warning were optional rather than standard on this truck, meaning many units on the road today may lack those features entirely. The transmission software recalls, one issued years after the original sale, signal that GM identified control-module concerns that persisted well into the vehicle's service life. For a truck in its sixth year of use, the combination of an elevated complaint volume, a high recall count, and optional-only crash-avoidance tech defines the safety profile more than the crash stars alone.
NCAP // CRASH TESTHow did the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 perform in crash tests?
The 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 achieved a 4 out of 5 stars overall safety rating from NHTSA. Its side-impact protection is particularly noteworthy, earning a perfect 5-star result. Both frontal crash protection and rollover resistance were rated at 4 stars. The Sierra 1500 carries a 20 percent rollover risk, though it registered "No Tip" in the dynamic tip-test.
Source: NHTSA NCAP, VehicleId 14386
Index breakdown
NHTSA // RECALLSDoes the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 have any recalls?
Yes. The 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 carries 12 recall campaigns. Named components include automatic transmission control module software (two separate campaigns), tires and accessory spare tires, and seat belts. No park-outside or do-not-drive directive appears in the data provided, but owners should verify current remedy status by VIN through NHTSA.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE26V083000
Risk: Rear wheel lock up increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles and update the transmission control software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 6, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252516560. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on Febr
Reported 2026-02-12
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE24V797000
Risk: Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install new transmission control module software, free of charge. GM will provide a special coverage program to cover the repair of transmissions that are identified by the remedy software as containing a defective control valve. Owner notification letters were mailed December 12, 2024. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-80
Reported 2024-10-24
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE21V985000
Risk: An ABS system that does not function properly can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will provide a new 17" spare tire and wheel assembly that is compatible with the accessory wheels, free of charge. Dealers will also apply a new spare tire information label, and provide owners with an owner's manual insert clarifying which spare tire to use with the accessory road tires and with the 17" original tires. Owner notification letters were mailed February 7, 2022. Owners may co
Reported 2021-12-16
TIRES21V115000
Risk: Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation which could lead to a tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212329050.
Reported 2021-02-25
SEAT BELTS20V792000
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.
Remedy: 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 January 26, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202314670.
Reported 2020-12-17
TIRES20V684000
Risk: Overcured tires may experience a carcass break in the sidewall resulting in a sudden air loss or could develop a belt edge separation which could lead to partial or full tread/belt loss. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect vehicles and replace tires that have DOT number and production mold number combinations identified by Continental, free of charge. The recall began December 17, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-4
Reported 2020-11-05
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT20V650000
Risk: If the driveshaft separates, there may be a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N202314870.
Reported 2020-10-22
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR20V446000
Risk: If the diffuser separates from the inflator during deployment, RRAB performance may be degraded, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: 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, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is N202305380.
Reported 2020-07-30
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER20V116000
Risk: Broken caliper bolts can reduce brake performance or interfere with wheel rotation and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake caliper bolts, free of charge. The recall began March 23, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-866-522-9559. GM's number for this recall is N202294420.
Reported 2020-02-27
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES19V888000
Risk: An intermittent electrical connection between the B+ battery cable and the alternator could cause the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash. The intermittent connection could also lead to electrical arcing, which could generate sufficient heat to damage surrounding material, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect for the presence of glue or other contamination at the B+ cable attachment to the alternator and clean the connection and reattach the B+ cable connection, as necessary. If arcing has damaged the cable, nut, or alternator, the dealer will replace the damaged components. All services will be performed free of charge. GM issued owners an interim notifi
Reported 2019-12-12
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP19V837000
Risk: Over-pressurization can crack the fuel pump and cause leaks, increasing the risk of a fire in the presence of an ignition source.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2019. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N192283991.
Reported 2019-11-21
SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER19V814000
Risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will close off the opening in the pretensioner bracket, free of charge. The recall began December 13, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N192270600.
Reported 2019-11-14
NHTSA // COMPLAINTSWhat do owners report about the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500?
NHTSA has received 433 unverified consumer complaints against this model year. Alleged problem areas include the Engine (208 reports), Power Train (86), Electrical System (77), Service Brakes (51), and Steering (37). These are unverified allegations and have not been established as defects.
433 owner complaints on file. These are unverified allegations reported to NHTSA.
USED BUYERWhat should used buyers know about the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500?
The 2020 Sierra 1500 has been subject to 12 recall campaigns, a notable figure for a single model year. Prospective buyers should prioritize verifying that all recall remedies have been completed by checking the VIN through NHTSA's lookup tool. Among these recalls are campaigns addressing transmission software and seat belt issues, highlighting the importance of confirming the vehicle's current safety status.
- The 2020 model year carries 12 NHTSA recall campaigns, including two separate automatic transmission control module software recalls and a seat belt recall covering 2019-2021 Sierra 1500 units.
- The defect-record subscore of 2 out of 20 is the single largest drag on the 69-point Safety Index, outweighing the strong 61 out of 70 crash-protection subscore.
- Forward collision warning and lane departure warning were both optional on this model year, meaning a used unit without those options has a lower avoidance-tech profile than the 6 out of 10 subscore assumes for equipped vehicles.
- NHTSA has logged 433 unverified consumer complaints for this model year, with alleged Engine issues alone accounting for 208 of those reports, the highest single-component total in the complaint record.
RANKINGSWhere the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 places
The 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 qualifies for these MotorCaliber safety rankings:
FAQ2020 GMC Sierra 1500 safety questions
Was the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 crash-tested by NHTSA?
Yes. NHTSA crash-tested the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500, and it earns a NHTSA Safety Index of 69 out of 100, placing it in the Below Average band. The index combines federal crash-test stars, standard crash-avoidance tech, and the recall record.
What are the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 crash-test star ratings?
In NHTSA testing the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 earned 4 out of 5 stars for overall, 4 out of 5 stars for frontal, 5 out of 5 stars for side, and 4 out of 5 stars for rollover. Its measured rollover risk is 19.8%. Categories NHTSA did not test show as not rated.
How many recalls does the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 have?
According to NHTSA recall data, 12 vehicle recalls are on file for the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. Confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov to see which apply to your car.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500?
According to NHTSA's complaint database, 433 owner complaints are on file for the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. These are unverified allegations submitted by owners, not confirmed defects, and include reports involving a crash or a fire.
Cross-check this record against independent expert reviews and the live NHTSA database before you buy.
Other Sierra 1500 years
Rivals in Sedan (2020)
| Vehicle | NHTSA Safety Index | Overall stars | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Acura RLX | 99/100 | 5 of 5 | 1 |
| 2020 Acura RLX Sport | 99/100 | not rated | 1 |
| 2020 Audi S5 Sportback | 99/100 | not rated | 0 |
| 2020 Infiniti Q50 | 99/100 | not rated | 0 |
| 2020 Mazda Mazda3 | 98/100 | 5 of 5 | 2 |
| 2020 Nissan Maxima | 98/100 | 5 of 5 | 1 |
- DATA Pulled directly from NHTSA: New Car Assessment Program crash tests (VehicleId 14386), the recallsByVehicle and complaintsByVehicle records for the GMC Sierra 1500 2020.
- SCORE The NHTSA Safety Index (0-100) weights crash protection, standard crash-avoidance tech, and the defect record. Full formula on the methodology page. It ranks 100 of 105 in the Sedan class for 2020.
- EDITED Written by the MotorCaliber Safety Desk and reviewed for accuracy and plain-language clarity by Ivanna Verstliar, Editor, against the source figures on this page.
- VERIFIED Data last synced Oct 1, 2026. Recalls change; confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. See our corrections policy and disclosure.