2021 Gmc SIERRA 1500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
553 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
49,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2021 model year. Data snapshot: . 116 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 292 of 553 complaints (52.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 95 | 17.2% |
| Braking behavior | 55 | 9.9% |
| Steering behavior | 34 | 6.1% |
| Engine operation | 33 | 6.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 28 | 5.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 10 | 1.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 292 |
| Power Train | 134 |
| Electrical System | 68 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 46 |
| Unknown Or Other | 40 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 34 |
| Steering | 32 |
| Service Brakes | 22 |
Engine: 292; Power Train: 134; Electrical System: 68; Engine And Engine Cooling: 46; Unknown Or Other: 40; Fuel/Propulsion System: 34; Steering: 32; Service Brakes: 22
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 34 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 24 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 23 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 18 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 17 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 34; 25,000 to 49,999: 24; 50,000 to 74,999: 23; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (34). 437 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 32 |
| 2022 | 33 |
| 2023 | 27 |
| 2024 | 50 |
| 2025 | 254 |
| 2026 | 154 |
2020: 3; 2021: 32; 2022: 33; 2023: 27; 2024: 50; 2025: 254; 2026: 154
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 95 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 55 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 34 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11405103 · 2021-03-27 (March 27, 2021)
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD WHEN SHIFTING UP AND WHEN DOWNSHIFTING. VEHICLE JERKS WHEN GOING SPEEDS <40 AFTER COMING OFF HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS >70.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11405103 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11417422 · 2021-05-17 (May 17, 2021)
THE CONTACT'S FATHER OWNS A 2021 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER FATHER WAS DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE STALLED THREE TIMES ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND WAS TAKEN TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS. THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST TOWED TO Bill Kay Buick GMC (2300 Ogden Ave, Downers Grove, IL 60515) AND DIAGNOSED AS BATTERY FAILURE AND REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO Phillips Chevrolet of Lansing (17730 Torrence Ave, Lansing, IL 60438) AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMIS…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11417422 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11378394 · 2020-12-07 (December 7, 2020)
STARTED VEHICLE EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL SHIFTED VEHICLE INTO DRIVE PROCEEDED FORWARD. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLES STEERING SEIZED I WAS UNABLE TWO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WAS ALSO VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. MESSAGES CAME UP ON TO DISPLAY READING SERVICE POWER STEERING AND BRIEFLY IMESSAGE ABOUT THE BRAKES FLASHED QUICKLY ON THE MESSAGE BOARD. AT THAT POINT TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AFTER I GOT IT STOPPED TURN IT BACK ON SAME MESSAGE STILL UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL REPEATED THIS SEVERAL TIMES APPROXIMATE…
Owner-reported narrative. 847 miles reported. Look up ODI 11378394 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11430809 · 2021-08-27 (August 27, 2021)
Driving the car it started backfiring and then the ESC light came on and the car engine seemed to become erratic as well as steering and braking error messages and the check engine started blinking. Very scary before I got it pulled over and very thankful I wasn’t on the highway etc. I’m seeing all the issues online sounds like the supposed fixes for the 2019 models having issues aren’t solving the problem. I bought mine in April and 4 months later it’s become unreliable.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11430809 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11417352 · 2021-05-16 (May 16, 2021)
5300 miles and when you accelerate it knocks and or ticks, and loss of power all lights on dash came on
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11417352 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11408633 · 2021-04-18 (April 18, 2021)
RETURNED HOME AFTER SOME SHOPPING. PARKED TRUCK IN DRIVE WAY. APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES AFTER RETURNING HOME MY WIFE SAW TRUCK SMOKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WITHIN ANOTHER MINUTE OR TWO THERE WERE VISIBLE FLAMES COMING FROM THE BACK EDGE OF THE HOOD. WE CALLED 911. WITHIN 5 MINUTES THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT THE ENTIRE FRONT AND CAB OF THE TRUCK WAS DESTROYED. FIRE INVESTIGATORS DETERMINED FIRE STARTED AT BACK OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT NEAR BATTERY. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11408633 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11396897 · 2021-02-19 (February 19, 2021)
WHILE DRIVING DURING WINTER CONDITIONS WITH TEMPERATURE AT 3 DEGREES ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET WITH LIMITED TRAFFIC, THE DIESEL FUEL IN THE FUEL FILTER GELLED UP WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DISPLAY REDUCE POWER MODE AND THEN IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THE OWNERS MANUAL LISTS UTILIZING TOP TIER DIESEL WHICH I DID. WHILE ADDITIVES ARE NOT NORMALLY NEEDED IN MOST STATES TO FUEL FOR FREEZING CONDITIONS EVIDENTLY THEY ARE NEEDED IN OKLAHOMA. THE FUEL FILTER HOUS…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11396897 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11637031 · 2025-01-20 (January 20, 2025)
Multiple injector and lifter failures. Occurred on 2 separate occasions. Taken to dealer the first time. Told injector failure and lifter failure. Less than a week later experienced multiple lifter failures. Taken to dealer again for repair. They only replaced some of the affected lifters, even though TSB from GM recommends replacement of all of them. Currently awaiting failure of additional components not replaced. There was no warning of either occurrence. Was only driving 45 mph on my way home the first time. The second occasion was on i…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11637031 at NHTSA ↗