Rear windows water leak. May caue electrical issues and mold in the cab
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: water leaks into the cabin
11 of the 755 complaints about the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 describe water leaks into the cabin.
- owner complaints
- 11
- of this car's complaints
- 1%
- recalls
- 0
Water leaks into the cabin by model year
What owners say
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that the infotainment center intermittently went black, and there was water leaking into the vehicle through the top and lower center of the front windshield and the rear windshield. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where the rear windshield was replaced without a diagnostic being performed; however, the failures persisted. Additionally, the side view mirrors intermittently failed to unfold when starting the vehicle. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, white smoke emitted from the exhaust, the vehicle hesitated, and it lost power. The Check Engine warning light illuminated, along with "Service Electronic Stability Control", "Trailer Brake System", "Steering Assist Reduced", "Service Brake Assist", and "Brake System Failure" messages, and the vehicle failed to exceed 40 MPH. The vehicle was towed to a second dealer, Arcadia Chevrolet Buick (210 S Brevard Ave, Arcadia, FL 34266), where it was diagnosed that the lifter and torque converter had failed. The lifter and torque converter were replaced, and the system was flushed. Approximately 800 miles later, the engine failed again. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the torque converter and transmission had fractured. The torque converter and transmission were replaced; however, the warning lights and messages illuminated again, and the vehicle continued to hesitate when driven over 42 MPH. After being parked for a few days, the warning lights were no longer illuminated and the mirrors opened, but the engine hesitation persisted. The vehicle was not further diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.
Component/System That Failed: The rear sliding window assembly leaked water into the cabin due to a manufacturing defect in the urethane seal and third brake light area. The window has been replaced and no longer leaks, but the water caused lasting damage to the headliner with trapped moisture. Components are available for inspection. Safety/Health Risk: The leak saturated the headliner, creating a serious risk of mold growth. My pregnant wife and unborn baby could be exposed to mold spores. Water intrusion also risks slippery floors, fogging, and potential electrical issues. Dealer Confirmation: Folsom Chevrolet confirmed the leak, replaced the window, and recommended full headliner replacement due to staining and mold risk. This is covered in GM TSB 18-NA-383. Manufacturer Awareness: GM has known about this defect for years but denied full repair (Claim #9582-9999). Symptoms: No warning lights. Leak first noticed in September 2025 after rains began. Due to dry California summer, it went unnoticed earlier, even though the defect likely started while the vehicle was still within the 3-year warranty period (mileage was over 36k when noticed). Additional Info: This is a known workmanship defect unrelated to mileage. A coworker has had the same issue twice on his 2025 Silverado. I paid $492.79 for the window + $144.50 diagnostic. GM offered only $1,250 in points and refused better resolution for the $3,100 headliner repair.
Rear window is leaking onto the carpet beneath it creating mold and could allow water to enter the SRS module. Currently i have a tray blocking that water but without that the SRS system could be affected by the water entering the cabin through the rear window.
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked inside the garage, he noticed a crack on the frame and there was water running back into the interior of the cabin and the backrest of the seat. There were no warning lights illuminated. On a separate occasion, the contact experienced water entering the cabin while it was raining due to the frame cracks. The contact contacted the water doctors and provided a diagnosis of frame crack in multiple locations, allowing water to enter the cabin of the vehicle and underneath the spoiler. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not repaired because it was not under recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
Rear window leaks water into the cab during rain, snow, car wash, etc. GM refuses to abide by comprehensive warranty to fix the issue, and my dealership wants to charge around $1,000 just to apply sealant. Water goes into and behind the rear seat (where my child sits) and goes to unknown area. Water can cause rust, mold, electrical problems, or any other number of issues. I noticed it around November of 2024 but I don’t know how long it has actually been occurring for. When researching this issue, appears to be relatively commonplace for my year and style of vehicle. Even the GM techs at my dealership acknowledged it is a recurring issue that may require MULTIPLE visits before getting a permanent solution (replacing the entire window).
The back window is leaking water into the cab. Water enters the cab any time it rains or when washing the truck. This water is creating a damp environment by soaking into the back of the seat, the carpet, and the headliner, creating the potential for black mold. Immediately after purchasing the truck, the dealership had me bring it back in so they could fix it. Ever since the repair from the dealership, the window has continued to leak at the same rate that it did before the fix.
Water leak above the rear sliding window has soaked into carpet & upper roof inner lining panel.
The rear power sliding window in my 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT leaks whenever it rains. The leaking water enters the cab and runs down the back interior wall of the crew cab and saturates the insulation material and the carpeting on the floor. The moisture has caused the seat brackets that attach the seat to the truck to rust and it has also caused mold inside the cab. I purchased a DIY mold test kit and it was positive for mold. My kids and I have allergies and this is causing issues with our health and if it continues it could cause serious health problems. This known issue of the leaking rear window is very widely discussed on many different gm truck forums and internet sites yet gm will not take ownership of this obvious problem.
water leaking across head liner/ rear sliding window junction. leaking on to granddaughter in child seat. bought truck new, may of 2020. garage kept, day and night. less than 22,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving 10 mph, the vehicle drove through a puddle of water, shuddered and jerked then loss motive power. The contact was not able to restart the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer who inspected the vehicle and diagnosed the failure as water entering the engine, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 21,400.
Service bulletins that may apply
- This informational bulletin provides information on Anti-Chip Coating Appearance.
- This service bulletin provides frame coating repair information to correct a customer concern of wax...
- This informational bulletin provides a procedure on how to remove the paint stain that may present itself...
- This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of the pickup box being...
- This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of vertical misalignment...
- This service bulletin provides information on proper use of floor mats.
- This informational bulletin provides a guide on how to diagnose and test for vibrations utilizing the...
- Structure: body
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 water leak
Is water leaks into the cabin a common problem on the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
11 of 755 owner complaints about the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (1%) mention water leaks into the cabin. The model year with the most reports is 2019.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
There are 0 recalls and 73 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Check engine light 142Engine failure 75Loss of power 70Shudder 45Knocking 41Jerking 38Transmission failure 30Harsh shifting 29Brake failure 28Misfire 28Power steering loss 27Stalling 27Hesitation 23Won't shift 21ABS 18Backup camera 18Warning lights 16Won't start 15Ball joint 14Fire or smoke 14Slipping 14Fuel pump 12Overheating 12Adaptive cruise 8No deployment 6Fuel leak 5Oil consumption 5Whining noise 5
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history