2020 GMC Sierra 1500 · symptom sheet
Power steering cuts out or goes heavy
- 25owner reports
- 17,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jun 8, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
37 of the 468 complaints on this car are about the steering system. 25 of those describe power steering loss.
Tick what matches of 25 reports
Power steering loss 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: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Power steering loss is the steering wheel suddenly going heavy, usually with a warning on the dash. Nearly six in ten complaints in this group mention a warning light or message, and almost two thirds mention driving or highway speed rather than parking.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the EPS motor or module (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the steering system covers the 2020 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 3,000 and 50,000 miles, from the 11 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 service bulletins or notices 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.
This service bulletin advises the technician of a possible loose ground that may be causing customer concerns of Loss of Steering Assist and/or Loss of Brake Assist and Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illuminated.
This Preliminary information communicates a diagnostic tip to inspect the main ground connection when diagnosing any lack of power steering assist issues with DTCs C1597 and/or C1599.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician with additional information on the functionality of Lane Keep Assist.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have Lane Keep Assist inoperative with the lane keep assist switch LED is always on and the lane keep assist Icon is not illuminated on the IPC after a ...
What owners wrote
“My extended warranty expired. I got my oil changed at valvoline and then 2 days later my power steering stopped working and Iâm getting multiple dash messages of other systems malfunctioning. Did gmc cause this to get me to come back to their service center. It seems very suspicious”
Filed Sep 2, 2025
“Loss of power steering. Loss of engine propulsion at high rates of speed. Engine would not start.”
Filed Jun 3, 2025
“While driving, the power steering (electronic) failed. Driver Info Center gave no waring until the system failed. After failure the DEC gave a warning to "Service Poser steering".”
Filed Jan 2, 2024
“Normal driving conditions vehicle decelerated and warning lights and notification appeared. Warning were âService ECSâ and âSteering Assist is reduced Drive with careâ. Shut off vehicle for 30 minutes and warnings were no longer present and vehicle drove normally. Happened again 24 hours later. Received email notifications from GMC to arrive within one day. This was a know recall of the previous model year.”
Filed Jan 16, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 25 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
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 103 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 84 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 68 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 53 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 25 reports