2020 GMC Sierra 1500 · symptom sheet
Engine knocking or ticking
- 31owner reports
- 80,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 15, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
31 of the 103 reports of engine failure on the 2020 Sierra 1500 describe engine knock.
Part of Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing (103 reports)
Tick what matches of 31 reports
Engine knock on other Sierra 1500 years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What got replaced
Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2020 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Sierra 1500
Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy. Open.
Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy. Closed aug 20, 2026.
Loss of motive power due to engine failure. Open.
Loss of motive power due to engine failure. Closed oct 23, 2025, led to recall 25V-274.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 54,500 and 110,000 miles, from the 17 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Service Update. Certain vehicles may present a broken engine valve spring. This may cause the engine to run rough, an engine knocking or ticking noise, a check engine light illumination, or a possible vehicle stall.
What owners wrote
“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.”
Filed Sep 15, 2026 · 117,000 miles
“2020 GMC Sierra 1500 began experiencing a slight knocking sound - mechanic diagnosed as a crankshaft issue. As of last night, 5/10, the truck's knocking sound got extremely loud, the exhaust pipe emitted smoke, and the truck began "bucking." No warning messages or lamps appeared.”
Filed May 11, 2026
“My engine started knocking horribly, I need to get a proper diagnosis but cannot afford to have a shop look at it. I have been building engines my entire life and am certain the rod bearings have failed. The engine has a distinct knock under acceleration, you can hear it clearly when pulling away from a stop sign for example.”
Filed Mar 24, 2026
“The motor went to knocking and lost power. Cost us about 3500. To fix. Lifters went down cam went down which caused major motor knock and loss of payer”
Filed Mar 1, 2026
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 31 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Check engine light or misfire 84 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 68 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 53 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 25 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 25 reports