Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owned a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while stopped at a stop light, he observed smoke emanating from the area of the vehicle between the cab and the bed, prompting him and the other occupants to quickly evacuate. Within moments, the vehicle caught fire and was engulfed in flames. Local emergency services arrived and were able to extinguish the fire. The contact was informed that fire investigators on scene determined that the fire had appeared to originate in the electrical system associated with the seat belt located behind the rear passenger side seat. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and was likely to be deemed a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. A fire report was filed. A police report was filed, and no injuries were reported. …
The truck caught on fire while I was returning from a trip out of state and then it appears it came from underneath either the transmission the engine or electrical. While returning home a message came on the panel on the highway, saying transmission, hot idle run I pulled off and did this and after about 15 minutes, the message light went off and I pursued Coming home nothing was wrong with the truck. After I dropped off to the passengers, I was on the way home and turned on home road and the message came on that says truck powering down all the lights came on the dashboard. I put the truck in park and shut the engine off had a manly open the doors and got out and smoke was rolling from underneath the truck. I grabbed the cell phones and told my passenger to call 911. …
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, however the vehicle failed to accelrate as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, howeve the failure was not duplicated. The failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed wiring harness and a failed coolant oump. The contact was informed that the wirng harness and the coolant pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated thirteen days later the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed transmission and failed coolant pump. The contact was informed that the transmission and the coolant pumo needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure reoccurred three days later. …
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle was shuddering. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the torque converter and transmission needed to be flushed. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle was shuddering and the transmission seized, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The failure had occurred briefly, and the failure was self-corrected, and the contact continued driving. The failure reoccurred approximately 2 - 3 times. The vehicle was returned to the dealer, and the transmission was replaced. The failure persisted, and the vehicle was returned to the dealer, and the transmission was replaced a second time. The vehicle was returned to the dealer, who was unable to diagnose or repair the vehicle. …
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, turned off, and unoccupied, the rear of the vehicle caught fire. The fire was initially extinguished by a maintenance worker, and the fire department later applied water to the area to prevent the fire from reigniting. The fire department was unable to determine the cause of the fire, and a fire report was not provided. The contact was unaware whether a police report was filed. The vehicle was not destroyed or towed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the rear wiring harness had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer also informed the contact that the rear bumper and tailgate were damaged as a result of the failure and would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. While operating in negative (-41 F) degree winter conditions, the "Service Emission System" entered an EPA-mandated speed limitation in LIMP Mode messages were displayed. Dealer diagnostics confirmed DTC: P20B9 (Heater Control Circuit Open) and P20C1. The failure was identified as the melting of the Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) tank electrical connector due to undersized terminal pins overheating (Joule heating). The contact stated that it was a latent design defect that posed a fire risk and a safety hazard due to sudden loss of motive power in arctic climates (-45 F). General Motors acknowledged the defect in 2500HD models, Special Coverage: N212342980; but excluded the 1500 models. The failure mileage was 29,354.
While changing a blown fuse for the instrument cluster, my truck unexpectedly caught fire, endangering my safety and causing significant damage to the vehicle. The fire started behind the passengers side fuse box within the wiring harness (GM# 84717166). The dealership determined that the failure was due to wire harness chafing on the thread side of a tie bar bolt. Due to General Motors not responding to their request for repair information via the TAC, they concluded that the bolt needed to be shorten in order to reduce the chafing. There were no warning signs or indications that this was going to or could occur. The burnt harness is available for inspection but the vehicle has been traded in due to no longer trusting how it was manufactured.
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving at approximately 15-20 MPH, the message "Engine Power Reduced" was displayed on the instrument panel, and the vehicle started shaking and decelerating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the engine wiring harness needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that another part needed to be replaced; however, the contact was unable to recall the exact part. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact of a possible number for assistance. The manufacturer had opened a case regarding the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.
A/C blower motor over heated and caught the electrical wires on fire under the dash. I had just left my house for work about 1 mile from home and the dash started smoking then a fire started under the passenger side glovebox parked the car in the middle of the street and I was able to exit the vehicle and put the fire out with a half bottle of water I had in the car. I then called 911 and I believe it was EAST Pierce fire department. They shortly arrived and confirmed it was an electrical fire and that there was no more heat coming from it. The fire department then gave me A ride home. The vehicle has been towed to Sunset Chevrolet in Sumner Washington where the Vehicle was purchased New in 2020.
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the instrument cluster became inoperable and failed to provide correct information. The contact stated that the alternator cable was loose and intermittently failed to operate as designed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer and was informed there were no open recalls on the VIN. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The contact stated that the failure was related to the NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V888000 (Electrical System). The failure mileage was approximately 19,000.
Related recalls
Electrical system › 12V/24V/48V battery › Cables
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks. The battery positive (B+) cable rings may have been manufactured with excessive glue, potentially causing an intermittent electrical connection between the B+ cable and alternator.
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.
Electrical complaints in other Silverado 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
NHTSA has 114 complaints about the electrical system of the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 15% of the model year's 747 complaints. The component named most often is instrument panel › speedometer/odometer (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 19V-888 (cables, Dec 12, 2019). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 7,000 miles, and 69% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 7 fires and 3 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.