2020 Chevrolet Silverado body problems
moderate Owners of the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado have filed 18 NHTSA complaints about the body at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 Silverado | 16 |
| 2017 Silverado | 19 |
| 2018 Silverado | 6 |
| 2019 Silverado | 14 |
| 2020 Silverado (this page) | 18 |
| 2021 Silverado | 23 |
| 2022 Silverado | 6 |
| 2023 Silverado | 5 |
| 2024 Silverado | 6 |
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report the rear sliding window leaks water into the cab during rain and truck washing, with the issue persisting through multiple repair attempts and two complete window replacements. Metal hardware rusts from the water exposure, and mold develops on the headliner and carpet, creating odors and health concerns. A rear passenger pillar leak causes similar water damage and rust staining, documented by multiple owners on Chevy forums.
Frame and chassis corrosion shows up early and aggressively. Orange-colored rust appears on the subframe within months of purchase; manufacturing undercoating flakes off prematurely, and frame paint peels away within six months, exposing bare metal. One owner discovered cracks in the frame at 40,000 miles allowing water infiltration. Dealers refuse warranty coverage and cite lack of recalls.
Tailgates open randomly while driving—at least three to four times on one truck, once while towing, ejecting cargo and damaging the tailgate. Passenger doors create loud wind noise above 70 mph with crosswind, a problem that worsened after dealer repair attempts.
Additional structural issues include spare tire mounting causing paint rub and rust at frame contact points, oversized windshield pillars creating blind spots at intersections, and chrome hood emblems reflecting harsh sun glare into drivers' eyes.
Same Chevrolet Silverado body reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Premature subframe and chassis rust
Orange-colored rust and severe corrosion appearing on subframe within months of purchase, despite dealer assurance of cleaning. Widespread frame rust reported on multiple vehicles with manufacturing undercoating flaking off prematurely. Paint peeling off frame within 6 months, exposing bare metal to rust.
When: Noted at purchase; recurring at 65,000 miles. Paint failure within 6 months of ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Orange-colored rust on chassis and subframe; Severe corrosion in multiple spots on subframe; Manufacturing undercoating flaking off; Frame paint peeling off drivers and passenger side above rear axles; Bare metal exposed to corrosion
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer claimed no corrosion found; dispute over structural rust diagnosis. Dealership stated no warranty coverage for frame rust. Multiple owners report issues documented on Chevy forums but no factory fix offered.
Rear sliding window water leaks
Rear sliding plastic window frame cracking and allowing water infiltration into cab. Occurs during rain and truck washing. Multiple seal attempts and two complete window replacements have failed to resolve the issue. Metal hardware and brackets rusting due to water exposure.
When: Noted within first year of ownership; ongoing through 19,000 miles and beyond
Symptoms owners cite: Water seeping into cab during rain and washing; Frame cracking on rear sliding window; Mold and mildew odor on warm days; Headliner staining and saturation; Musty smell in interior; Carpet and seat backrest soaking wet; Hardware and metal brackets rusting
Repairs/costs cited: Window resealed multiple times and replaced twice; all attempts failed. One headliner replaced and now stained again. Dealership sealant application failed immediately. No updated GM part exists to remedy the known issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No updated GM part or recall issued
Frame crack with water infiltration
Cracks in frame allowing water to enter cabin interior, particularly affecting seat backrests and areas under spoiler. Water running into cabin during rainfall.
When: Noted around 40,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Cracks visible on frame in multiple locations; Water running into cabin interior and seat backrest; Water entering cabin during rain
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnosed by Water Doctors as multiple frame cracks. Dealer refused repair, stating vehicle not under recall.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Not under recall; manufacturer made aware but no remedy provided
Passenger door buffeting and wind noise at highway speed
Passenger door attachment creates loud wind noise resembling brake sticking sound when vehicle exceeds 70 mph with crosswind. Problem worsened after initial dealer and GM dealership repair attempts. Issue now affects both doors.
When: Occurred before 19,000 miles; ongoing for 1.5+ years
Symptoms owners cite: Loud noise like braking sound at 70+ mph with crosswind; Noise from passenger door, later both doors; Fear of door detaching while driving; Problem worsened after first repair attempt
Repairs/costs cited: Original dealer could not fix. GM dealership performed repair; apparently same issue found on another vehicle. Second repair attempt made problem worse. Waiting on parts for months with no callback.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Known issue on multiple vehicles per GM dealership
Tailgate opening while driving
Tailgate unlatches and opens while vehicle is in motion at highway speeds. Occurred multiple times with cargo and while towing. No warning lights or alerts. Objects and cargo at risk of falling from truck bed.
When: Occurred at least 3-4 times; one incident while towing
Symptoms owners cite: Tailgate opening while vehicle in drive; No warning lights illuminated; Tailgate caught on towing equipment causing damage; Risk of cargo ejection
Repairs/costs cited: Tailgate damaged in towing incident when it caught on trailer tongue jack and propane tanks.
Rear passenger pillar water leak
Leak originating from rear passenger pillar area, possibly from roof seal or rear window seal, causing rust formation, staining of headliner and pillar covers. Issue documented by multiple owners on Chevy forums.
When: Not specified; documented as recurring issue
Symptoms owners cite: Water leaking from rear passenger pillar; Rust staining of headliner and pillar covers; Mold and mildew potential
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple owners report issue on forums; no factory resolution documented
Spare tire mounting contact corrosion
Paint rubbed away where spare tire and frame cross members contact, allowing rust formation. Corresponding rubber wear on tire sidewall. Raises concern about spare tire integrity and availability in emergency.
When: Noted early in ownership after vehicle purchased new December 2020
Symptoms owners cite: Paint rubbed away at frame and spare tire contact points; Rust forming at contact areas; Rubber worn away on spare tire sidewall
Windshield pillar blind spot
Large support structures on either side of windshield with grab handles create dangerous blind spot for cross-traffic visibility when stopped or at intersections. Owner nearly caused accident due to inability to see approaching vehicle.
When: Design issue present from purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Blind spot created by pillar width and grab handle size; Difficulty seeing cross-traffic at intersections; Reduced visibility to left and right of windshield
Chrome emblem sun glare
6.2L chrome emblem on hood reflects intense sunlight directly into driver's eyes during westbound driving, creating glare hazard even with sunglasses.
When: Issue occurs on sunny days during westbound driving
Symptoms owners cite: Bright sun reflection from 6.2L chrome hood emblem; Glare penetrates sunglasses; Distraction and visibility hazard
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 18 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Based on the 18 complaints filed, body issues most often appear around 25,673 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.