2020 Chevrolet Silverado suspension problems
severe Owners of the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado have filed 13 NHTSA complaints about the suspension at roughly $900 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See suspension across all vehicles →
| Model year | suspension complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 Silverado | 22 |
| 2017 Silverado | 14 |
| 2018 Silverado | 28 |
| 2019 Silverado | 20 |
| 2020 Silverado (this page) | 13 |
| 2021 Silverado | 11 |
| 2022 Silverado | 4 |
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2020 Silverado suspension problems break down into several distinct failure modes. The most common and dangerous is upper control arm and ball joint failure—owners report corrosion, rust, and sudden separation that can cause wheel collapse and loss of steering control at both highway and low speeds, sometimes with no warning. Several owners driving at 60+ mph experienced hard pulls to one side or wheel twist that easily could have caused crashes. A recall (21V-718) was issued for Trail Boss and AT4 models for ball joint corrosion, but not all 2020 owners believe their vehicles are covered.
Bent subframes from fractured camber nipples have occurred by 9,800 miles, causing vehicles to pull and shift sideways over bumps. Rear suspension develops clunking from worn leaf spring cushions, initially fixed by replacing shocks and springs, but noise recurs within a year. One owner had fuel leak corrosion attack the leaf spring grummet, suggesting fuel system and suspension layout issues. A fractured front driver's axle caused noise at 25,000 miles. Missing alignment cam pins caused dangerous wobbling at 11,000 miles, with tire shops reporting they see this frequently and believe it's a manufacturing defect. Some owners report front-end shaking between 60–75 mph.
Dealers have handled repairs inconsistently: some deny warranty coverage, some now install aftermarket control arms instead of OEM parts, and some claim the manufacturer won't cover failures.
Same Chevrolet Silverado suspension reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Upper Control Arm / Ball Joint Failure
Ball joints corrode, rust, and separate from control arms, causing sudden loss of steering control. Owners report wheel twist and suspension collapse at both highway and city speeds. The defect has occurred on multiple vehicles at relatively low mileage, with no warning signs before failure.
When: Between 10,375 and 68,000 miles; some as early as low mileage; failures have recurred on same vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Hard pulling to one side while driving; Wheel twisting 90 degrees; Loss of steering control; Visible corrosion and rust on ball joints; No prior warning signs; Sudden failure without symptoms
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replacement of upper control arms; owners report dealers installing aftermarket Rough Country control arms instead of OEM; repair costs thousands when damage to brakes, drivetrain, and ABS occurs from control arm collapse
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 21V-718 issued for Silverado Trail Boss and Sierra AT4 for ball joint corrosion; some owners report dealer claims indicate recall does not cover their specific vehicle configuration or model year; GM has conducted internal investigations on some complaints; some dealers deny warranty coverage due to mileage or age
Rear Suspension Clunking (Worn Leaf Spring Cushions)
Clunking noise develops in rear suspension from worn cushions between leaf springs. Occurs within first few years of ownership. Noise temporarily resolves after leaf spring replacement but returns. Dealership has difficulty diagnosing root cause despite multiple inspections.
When: First occurrence under 20,000 miles and under 2 years; noise returned at 30,000 miles and 3 years
Symptoms owners cite: Clunking noise from rear suspension; Sound like two heavy pieces of metal knocked together; Noise worsens over time; Noise returns after initial repair
Repairs/costs cited: Rear shocks replaced; left leaf spring assembly replaced; all repairs performed by dealership but problem recurred
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM contacted owner and states they are investigating the issue and determining responsibility for repair; owner suspects multiple 2020 Silverados affected
Fractured Front Driver's Side Axle
Front driver's side axle develops a fracture, causing loud noise from the front end. Replacement of the axle reduces but does not completely eliminate the noise. Cause of failure was not determined by dealership.
When: By 25,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud noise from front end at various speeds; Slight noise persisting after axle replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Front driver's side axle replaced at dealership
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified of failure
Bent Subframe from Fractured Camber Nipples
Camber nipples fracture, causing subframe to bend. Vehicle pulls to the left and shifts sideways over bumps. Front rubs against axle. Occurs at very low mileage.
When: 9,800 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle pulls hard to the left while driving at highway speed (60 mph) under load; Vehicle shifts sideways when hitting bumps in roadway; Front end rubbing against axle; Vehicle requires steering wheel correction while loaded
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed bent subframe from fractured camber nipples; repair not covered under warranty or recall
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was informed; internal investigation promised with callback to owner; warranty/recall denial
Missing Alignment Cam Pins
Two pins are missing from the alignment cams, causing the vehicle to wobble dangerously. Dealer attributed the issue to alignment work performed at a tire shop. Goodyear reports seeing this issue frequently in their shop and believes GM should recall all models.
When: 11,000 miles (alignment performed at 3,000 miles by third party)
Symptoms owners cite: Dangerous wobbling of vehicle; Vehicle instability
Repairs/costs cited: Repair cost $459.69 out of pocket; repair involved reinstalling/replacing missing pins
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM denied warranty coverage, claiming third-party alignment shop was responsible; Goodyear technicians believe issue is a manufacturing defect requiring recall
Front End Shaking and Shimmy
Severe shaking in the front end occurs between 60-75 mph on newly paved roads. Vehicle exhibits rough ride quality. Complaint links this to earlier transmission shimmy issue, suggesting potential suspension alignment or component failure.
When: Occurred at undisclosed current mileage on well-maintained vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Front end shaking violently from 60-75 mph; Rough ride quality; Transmission shimmy at 60 mph with gear slip; Overall rough driving experience compared to previous performance
Control Arm Failure (Cross Arm)
Control arm (cross arm) fails suddenly, causing wheel to twist 90 degrees. Occurred at low speed but resulted in damage to brakes, drivetrain, ABS, and steering. Dealer now replaces control arms with stronger aftermarket units and levels truck differently.
When: 26,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden control arm failure with no warning; Wheel twists 90 degrees; Loss of steering control; Pop sound at failure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnoses control arm failure and now replaces with Rough Country aftermarket control arms; dealer claims GMC/GM will not cover and calls it out-of-warranty suspension issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer claims GMC will not cover repair; warranty denied citing out-of-warranty status (two months past warranty)
Transmission Shimmy with Suspension Concerns
Transmission exhibits shimmy and slipping gears around 60 mph. Owner also reports front-end shaking from 60-75 mph on newly paved roads, suggesting potential suspension involvement in overall vehicle stability issue.
When: Occurred at undisclosed mileage; shimmy worsened recently
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission shimmy at 60 mph; Gear slipping; Front end shaking from 60-75 mph; Rough overall driving experience
Leaf Spring Grummet Corrosion from Fuel Leak
Fuel leak from fuel delivery system results in corrosion of the left side leaf spring grummet. Corrosion causes abnormal sound from rear suspension. Vehicle repaired but underlying fuel leak issue suggests design problem allowing fuel to reach suspension components.
When: 30,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal sound from rear suspension
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle was repaired; specific repair method not detailed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was not notified of failure
Synthesized from 13 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 suspension problem on the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $900.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Based on the 13 complaints filed, suspension issues most often appear around 15,200 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 $900 for suspension 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 suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension 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.