2020 GMC Sierra 1500 Engine Problems

While slowly accelerating from a stop, with 4 family members in the truck, the engine began to run rough for about 1-2 seconds then multiple notifications flashed across the dashboard (Check Engine, Steering Assist is Reduced-Drive with Care, Service ESC, and Service Parking Brake). The road we were on was steep and twisty and did not have room to pull over which put us in an unsafe position with compromised steering and no shoulder. We made it 2 miles home but there was smoke coming from the exhaust and the engine ran very rough. Truck was towed to my mechanic. Mechanic confirmed issue. Diagnosis was misfire in #5 cylinder, confirmed initial compression upon startup (1 second) then compression loss and cylinder full of oil due to failed lifter. No previous issues prior to failure.

NHTSA ID

11766668

Incident

Aug 16, 2026

Vehicle: 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT VIN: 3GTU9DEL5LG340438 Engine: 6.2L V8, RPO L87 Mileage: approximately 129,854 miles My 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 equipped with the L87 6.2L V8 experienced an engine failure and has been diagnosed as needing an engine replacement. I am reporting this because my vehicle is equipped with the same L87 6.2L engine currently being investigated by NHTSA under Engineering Analysis EA25007 for engine failures occurring outside the scope of Recall 25V-274. My model year is not currently included in Recall 25V-274. However, EA25007 specifically addresses L87 engine failures occurring outside the existing recall population, including 2019–2024 GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles. GM also issued Preliminary Information bulletin PIP5900, “Diagnostic Tips for Seized Engine or Engine Noise,” applicable to 2019–2023 GMC Sierra vehicles equipped with the 6.2L L87 engine, which identifies possible crankshaft bearing failure. I am requesting that this engine failure be documented as part of NHTSA's ongoing investigation of L87 engine failures outside Recall 25V-274.

NHTSA ID

11765481

Incident

Apr 1, 2026

Timing in engine is going out at 150,000 miles

NHTSA ID

11764385

Incident

Sep 14, 2026

5/5/25 woke up back seat entire truck flooring soaking wet back glass cracked. 4/8/25 transmission went out 117,000 miles 7/3/25 exhaust leak and placed nox 1. 7/8/25 127551 mileage exhaust leak replace gaskets, belt , tensioner, and pulley, 6/8/2025 3 knock sensors replaced and replaced intake manifold.

NHTSA ID

11764362

Incident

Apr 4, 2025

The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle started losing power and decelerated. The check engine warning light was flashing with several unknown messages displayed. The vehicle was parked on the side of the road and later towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the lifters, push rods, and camshaft had failed and needed to be replaced. The lifters, push rods, and camshaft were replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that approximately 6,900 miles later, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed back to the local dealer, and the contact was informed that the engine crankshaft and connecting rods had failed and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was 115,000.

NHTSA ID

11764134

Incident

Mar 31, 2026

Mileage

115,000 mi

Powertrain issues and a chassis issue that is extremely dangerous.Tailgate on rare occasions falls open by itself. There is a design flaw in the placement of the catalytic converters. The heat is burning up the fluid. I could not believe my eyes when I serviced the transmission. This is another shortcut by GM to save on the extra wiring needed for the oxygen sensors (2)in the converters and the two oxygen sensors downstream of the converters. There is plenty of room for the converters further down by the tail shaft to drive shaft connections. This is GM’s way of being cheap. Here’s the problem. The converters get way too hot. The fill plug for the transmission which is behind a low rent heat shield crumbled into my hands from excessive heat buildup. GM knows there is a problem with the fluid breaking down. Their bandaid answer is to use Mobil 1 fluid instead of the recommended Dexron 6. What needs to happen is a safety recall issued for the unwanted tailgate deploying all by itself. There needs to be a redesign in the exhaust system. The Transmission (8 Speed) has a catalytic converter exactly on both sides and the crossover pipe runs directly under the transmission sump pan. No wonder they are having issues with transmissions burning up. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD !!! With the converters being so close to the exhaust manifolds, a leak from the engine or the transmission would be enough to ignite and possibly kill the occupants. All in the name of saving a few cents in wiring. Myself, I am a retired GM Mechanic. I started working at Sewell Cadillac in [XXX] in 1975. I have held the title of ASE Master Tech. Cadillac Master Tech. I have been a GM Shop Foreman and A GM Service and Parts Director in my Career. I retired from Federal Express as in charge of Fleet Maintenance and GSE(Aircraft Equipment). I have certifications from Mercedes, BMW, Toyota, Commander Loaders, Goodyear, and more. Given the right set of circumstances, it could end very badly. Dangerous Truck ! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INF

NHTSA ID

11763015

Incident

Sep 3, 2026

I was driving home with my wife. The engine just cut off. No power to the gas pedal. Luckily we were able to coast long enough to find a shoulder to pull off onto. Truck wouldn’t restart. Had to call a tow truck and have it towed to the Chevy dealership. The engine was already repaired once. Ref number 11696129. I just got the truck back and fixed again. So far I’ve had to pay for 2 tows and 2 repairs costing be about 3000 dollars. Both repairs have been done at a Chevy dealership.

NHTSA ID

11763011

Incident

Aug 9, 2026

I was driving on the highway at 70mph when out of no where my truck stopped running and I received a message warning to put the truck in neutral and restart the engine. It was very alarming being on the highway and this happening. I was unable to restart the vehicle so I had to coast and navigate us at high speed to the should of the highway. Since it was Labor day I had to sit for over 4 hours before getting a tow vehicle at 2am to tow my truck to [XXX] FLOW Buick GMC. They contacted me and told me that my engine had seized and that it was possible bearings or something that made it seize and I need a whole new engine. They quoted me $12,500. I have not done anything yet in repairs and I now contacted GM and submitted a Case #XXX. I notified them I am aware of the known issue and the GM service bulletin PIP5900. I am waiting for them to respond now. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11762788

Incident

Sep 7, 2026

Lifter failed due to AFM system. Cyl 8 misfire due to oil fouling. The onboard computer got confused and would not release the parking brake until repeated attemtps to release it. 5.3L V8 2020 model year 115250 miles. Isn't this the same problem as the 2021 and newer engines? 8spd transmission. AFM failure. $9k repair.

NHTSA ID

11762548

Incident

Aug 31, 2026

2020 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4, 3.0L LM2 Duramax. In service 08/13/2020. Five glow plug failures on five different cylinders in under 19,000 miles, all at one GM dealer, all part 24000504: Cyl 1, 10/21/2024, 38,650 mi, P0671, RO 13714, warranty. Cyl 6, 11/05/2024, 38,793 mi, P1330, RO 26665, warranty. Cyl 4, 11/29/2024, 39,683 mi, P133B, RO 57498, warranty. Cyl 3, 01/22/2026, 52,959 mi, P0673/P06C7/P133A, RO 100951, I paid $713.38. Cyl 2, 08/26/2026, 57,466 mi, P06C6/P0672/P1339, RO 115953, GM under N232430460. The first three came within 39 days and 1,033 miles. Every RO documents the same finding: high internal resistance in the plug, circuit tests good. The failure is internal to the plug. Glow plug failure on a diesel causes hard starting, extended cranking, no-start in cold weather, and startup misfire - risk of being stranded or unable to start. GM has documented this defect three times: PIP5762 (12/2020), TSB 22-NA-027 (2/2022), Special Coverage N232430460 (1/2024). All name an inadequate camshaft housing cover baffle plate weld, and all limit the remedy to cylinder 2. On the recorded walkaround for RO 115953 the tech stated my engine serial falls inside the affected population and my earlier failures were probably the same condition. GM replaced only the glow plug. The camshaft cover GM identifies as the cause is still installed; GM quoted me $5,100 to replace it at my expense. Four of five failures were on cylinders 1, 3, 4 and 6, outside that scope. If the bad weld passes oil into the PCV and intake path rather than only the cylinder 2 glow plug well, ingested oil would reach other cylinders. No RO shows anyone inspected the intake tract, charge piping, cooler, PCV separator, a removed plug, or a glow plug well. I ask ODI to examine whether the cylinder-2-only scope of N232430460 is under-inclusive, whether replacing the plug while leaving the cause installed is an adequate remedy, and whether repeated internal failure of part 24000504 warrants a recall.

NHTSA ID

11762016

Incident

Jul 20, 2026

Driving approximately 75mph on a local highway, my engine shut down with no warning, the screen said to shift into neutral to restart but nothing happened so I was stranded along the side of the highway and had to wait 2hrs for a tow truck in the middle of the night and the engine is currently locked up.

NHTSA ID

11760597

Incident

Aug 28, 2026

Misfire on 2 cylinder, noise on start up diagnostic code P0300 P0302 P050 I was driving home and the engine started making a strange sound, vehicle would could no increase speed normally. The dealership did basic analysis from the onboard computer and did a compression test. Heavy knocking sound on passenger side of the engine. The issue happened on Aug 5th 2026. The issue is due to the AFM that causes the lifter to fail and dealership says I need a new engine $15787 or replace cam shaft $14530.

NHTSA ID

11759795

Incident

Aug 5, 2026

On XXX my GMC 6.2L Sierra 1500 Denali engine cutoff in Traffic and had to be towed. There was no indications prior to failure. Found out after replacing battery that the 400amp fuse blew and the engine seized. Vehicle was then towed to Hendrick Buick GMC dealer in [XXX] for repair. My engine has 49,500 miles but is out of warranty due to time. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11759731

Incident

Aug 6, 2026

High pressure fuel pump went at 80k and now on my 2nd transmission under 100k miles this is absolutely absurd

NHTSA ID

11759608

Incident

Jul 15, 2026

Engine went into limp mode and engine is no longer good

NHTSA ID

11759601

Incident

Aug 7, 2026

The 5.3L Engine active fuel management failure problem. This known problem with the GMC motors was not disclosed by any dealerships or the manufacturer. While driving down the roadway, the truck had an engine malfunction and I was fortunate enough to be able to safely pull over. The check engine light activated and I took it to the dealer the next day. I was informed by the dealer that this was a known, common issue that GM was aware of but was not offering assistance. I had to pay $11,000 out-of-pocket because of this.

NHTSA ID

11759295

Incident

Mar 1, 2016

Piston 5 dropped compression to 120 the rest were 190-200. The engine failed therefore none of my parking assist sensors were working and I backed into a car because the truck was misfiring.

NHTSA ID

11759264

Incident

Jul 4, 2026

Our 2020 GMC SIERRA 1500 has suffered catastrophic systems and engine failure including the brakes multiple times for almost 4 years. It has happened in high traffic and on the interstate each time having to be coasted off of the road to come to a rolling stop. There have been nine repair attempts with GM dealers repeatedly stating the issues were repaired and returning our vehicle to us. We began making the CEO and Executive team aware of the potentially deadly safety hazards including the fact that I, [XXX] am disabled and power wheelchair dependent requiring a truck that can carry my power wheelchair. We have sent numerous emails to Ms. [XXX] and the Executive team numerous times informing them in detail, each time, of all issues involved. We started communicating via phone and email with customer care to no avail. All attempts at repair finally ended in complete engine failure leaving us with an estimate to replace the engine of over $13,000. We have also, submitted a detailed complaint to the Attorney General’s Office and after review were given the Case # TCP - XXX. I will attach the Complaint and Addendum sent to the Attorney General along with two of the emails sent to Ms. [XXX] and her team informing her of all issues with the truck. They took no action to actually help us get this truck off of the road knowing it was having catastrophic engine and system failure and that it had to be driven to transport a disabled power wheel dependent with severe medical issues and the medically necessary power wheelchair. I am also attaching the earliest OnStar Diagnostic notice of Engine, Transmission and Emissions system issues from May of 2023. The issues have remained the same from the beginning only worsening though my husband has only driven the truck in town on slower less busy streets learning how to make adjustments such as pumping the brakes and starting and stopping the truck to keep it going. My carrier is installed and yet it is undrivable. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATIO

NHTSA ID

11759239

Incident

Dec 15, 2022

I purchased my 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4 with the L87 6.2L V8 new from a GMC dealer in March 2020 for $65,910 (VIN [XXX]). The truck has primarily highway mileage, very little towing, and has been well maintained. At 166,634 miles on [XXX], the truck developed a flashing check-engine light. The GMC dealer diagnosed “Cyl 3 lifter failure with camshaft damage” and determined that replacing the engine was preferable to repairing it because of the vehicle's mileage. The dealer installed a replacement OEM GMC engine and replaced both broken engine mounts. The replacement engine and installation cost $11,778. The replacement engine has subsequently required multiple repairs. At approximately 170,411 miles, the GMC dealer documented an exhaust leak that had occurred since the engine repair and a coolant leak from the upper radiator hose; both were repaired. At approximately 187,699 miles, the truck experienced overheating, coolant leakage, and loud engine-area noise. The dealer found that the water pump was coming apart and replaced the water pump and related components. I am reporting this vehicle because it is a 2020 Sierra equipped with the L87 6.2L engine and experienced catastrophic lifter/camshaft failure requiring complete engine replacement, followed by multiple engine-related repairs. I believe this history is relevant to NHTSA's investigation of L87 engine failures in earlier model years and warrants consideration when evaluating whether the known L87 engine defect extends beyond the vehicles currently covered by the recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11759035

Incident

Nov 13, 2025

I was driving doing about 60 mph. All of a sudden the engine stopped and the truck just coasted. I was able to find a safe spot on the side of the road and pull over. Called a tow truck and had it taken to the GM dealership nearby. The trucks engine was just fixed in October of 2025 for the camshaft and lifter rods. It’s currently in the shop and I’m waiting for the diagnostics.

NHTSA ID

11756301

Incident

Aug 9, 2026

"While driving, the vehicle suddenly experienced a flashing check engine light, an Electronic Stability Control (ESC) warning light, and violent steering wheel vibrations. The vehicle suffered a severe loss of power and misfired, creating an immediate traffic hazard. The dealership diagnosed the issue as a catastrophic mechanical lifter failure on the 5.3L V8 Ecotec engine with Dynamic Fuel Management (DFM). Despite the dealer replacing an entire bank of lifters, the engine continues to misfire and vibrate. This premature valvetrain failure at only 36,000 miles is a known design defect that causes sudden engine stalling and disables critical safety features like stability control while the vehicle is in motion, presenting a severe crash risk."

NHTSA ID

11755269

Incident

Jul 31, 2026

The truck starting making a ticking noise within 24 hours the check engine light was on and it starting shuttering. I got it to the dealership were they informed me of lifters failure, and catastrophic engine failure. Dealer is recommending replacing engine since it's a 2020 and not part of recall.

NHTSA ID

11754824

Incident

Jul 22, 2026

I brought my truck into a certified GM dealer for recall work on the ground strap. I left the dealership and multiple lights came on dash: check engine light, service ecs, traction control, service parking brake, steering assist reduced. 7 minutes later the engine began miss firing. The dealer asked me to bring it back to the shop and after some digging they discovered my L87, 6.2 engine was missing firing in cylinder 5. Now the motor needs to be replaced and GM is not standing behind the repair.

NHTSA ID

11754382

Incident

Jul 22, 2026

The contact’s mother-in-law owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while her brother-in-law was starting the vehicle, the brake, service engine, and engine warning lights illuminated and the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the failure was associated with NHTSA Action Number: EA25007 (ENGINE, ENGINE, AND ENGINE COOLING) and PE25001 (ENGINE, ENGINE, AND ENGINE COOLING). The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The owner was scheduled to meet with the dealer to discuss the issue. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that there were no open recalls on the VIN related to the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.

NHTSA ID

11751171

Incident

Jul 12, 2026

Mileage

45,000 mi

The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while accelerating from a complete stop on several occasions, an abnormal clicking sound was heard from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failed fan belt pulley. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, while parked on one occasion, an abnormal clicking sound and a loud bang were heard from the engine compartment, and the vehicle stalled. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but it failed to turn over. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where a failed valve spring was diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,127.

NHTSA ID

11749070

Incident

Jul 2, 2026

Mileage

75,127 mi