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2021 Gmc SIERRA 1500: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 292 of 553 complaints (52.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting9517.2%
Braking behavior559.9%
Steering behavior346.1%
Engine operation336.0%
Electrical and battery issues285.1%
Fuel system concerns101.8%

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.

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
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine292
Power Train134
Electrical System68
Engine And Engine Cooling46
Unknown Or Other40
Fuel/Propulsion System34
Steering32
Service Brakes22

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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00034
25,000 to 49,99924
50,000 to 74,99923
75,000 to 99,99918
100,000 to 149,99917
150,000 and above0

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.

2020
3
2021
32
2022
33
2023
27
2024
50
2025
254
2026
154
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20203
202132
202233
202327
202450
2025254
2026154

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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 11378245 · 2020-12-07 (December 7, 2020)

REACHED FOR A FALLEN OBJECT BETWEEN THE DRIVER AND MIDDLE FRONT SEAT AND THERE IS A RAZOR SHARP PIECE THAT TOOK A LARGE CHUNK OUT OF THE HAND WHICH CAUSED HEAVY BLEEDING AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND JUST TRIED TO RETRIEVE FALLEN OBJECT BETWEEN THE SEATS. THE INCREDIBLY SHARP PARTS NEED TO BE CUT OR REMOVED FROM THIS AND OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES OR COVERED WITH SOMETHING. IT WAS BARE METAL EXPOSED OUT WITH SHARP EDGES THAT CUT THE RIGHT HAND SO BADLY.

Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11378245 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 11383585 · 2020-12-15 (December 15, 2020)

THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND WAS ONLY DRIVEN FOR A WEEK. IT WAS IN MOTION ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO SOUND NOISIER THAN USUAL, LIKE THAT OF AN OLDER TRUCK. IT WAS HARD TO NOTICE ON HIGHER SPEEDS ON THE FREEWAY, BUT UPON SLOWING DOWN ON CURVES, IT GOT MORE OBVIOUS THAT SOMETHING WAS REALLY WRONG BECAUSE THE NOISE SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING WAS LOOSE INSIDE THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NO 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT OR ANY OTHER WARNING LIGHTS. UPON EXITING THE FREEWAY, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY WHILE IN MOTION. FORTUNATELY, I WAS A…

Owner-reported narrative. 625 miles reported. Look up ODI 11383585 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11388759 · 2021-01-18 (January 18, 2021)

BRAND NEW 2021 SIERRA AT4. KEEP LANE ASSIST HASN'T WORKED SINCE DAY ONE. LANE DEPARTURE WARNING EITHER. IT'S BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE AND STILL NO SOLUTION. IT WON'T TURN ON

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11388759 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 11396939 · 2021-02-19 (February 19, 2021)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. WITHOUT WARNING AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO VEER TO SHOULDER OF THE ROAD GET OUT THE VEHICLE TO CHECK AND SEE WHAT THE NOISE WAS. THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES APPEARED BY THE REAR WHEEL ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE CONTACT GRABBED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER NO REPORT WAS FILED. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11396939 at NHTSA ↗

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 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 ↗

Recall history

7 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

20V684000 · Tires

Reported: 2020-11-05 (November 5, 2020)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT5, GMC Acadia and Chevrolet Traverse vehicles and 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles. The vehicles may have been manufactured with Continental tires that were overcured.

Consequence: Overcured tires may experience a carcass break in the sidewall resulting in a sudden air loss or could develop a belt edge separation which could lead to partial or full tread/belt loss. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect vehicles and replace tires that have DOT number and production mold number combinations identified by Continental, free of charge. The recall began December 17, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202319030.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
20V792000 · Seat Belts:Critical Fasteners | Seat Belts

Reported: 2020-12-17 (December 17, 2020)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon XL and 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The seat belt brackets may not be secured to the seat frame in the front-row center seating position.

Consequence: If a seat-belt bracket is not secured, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the front-row center seat position, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect left-side and right-side front-row center seat-belt bracket attachments and reassemble it correctly as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202314670.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
20V811000 · Seat Belts:Critical Fasteners | Seat Belts

Reported: 2020-12-23 (December 23, 2020)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to secure the seat belts to the vehicle. If an incorrect bolt was used, the seat belt may not be properly attached to the vehicle.

Consequence: If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202322230.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
21V985000 · Tires:Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire

Reported: 2021-12-16 (December 16, 2021)

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2021 GMC Sierra 1500 and Silverado 1500 vehicles equipped with certain accessory road tires and a 17" spare tire. The 17" spare tire provided with the vehicle is not compatible for use with the accessory wheels, which can cause the anti-lock brake system (ABS) to not function properly under certain conditions.

Consequence: An ABS system that does not function properly can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will provide a new 17" spare tire and wheel assembly that is compatible with the accessory wheels, free of charge. Dealers will also apply a new spare tire information label, and provide owners with an owner's manual insert clarifying which spare tire to use with the accessory road tires and with the 17" original tires. Owner notification letters were mailed February 7, 2022. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212346510.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
24V797000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Fluid/Lubricant:Valves/Valve Body | Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module:Software

Reported: 2024-10-24 (October 24, 2024)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with diesel engines. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.

Consequence: Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will install new transmission control module software, free of charge. GM will provide a special coverage program to cover the repair of transmissions that are identified by the remedy software as containing a defective control valve. Owner notification letters were mailed December 12, 2024. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, GMC customer service at GMC 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N242454440.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
25V274000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical

Reported: 2025-04-24 (April 24, 2025)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.

Consequence: Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the engine, and as necessary, repair or replace the engine. For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install 6 oil fill cap, replace the oil filter, and update the owner's manual. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N252494000.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
26V083000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module:Software | Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Fluid/Lubricant:Valves/Valve Body

Reported: 2026-02-12 (February 12, 2026)

General Motors, LLC is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, 3500, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles that may have been repaired incorrectly under recall 24V797. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock up.

Consequence: Rear wheel lock up increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles and update the transmission control software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 6, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252516560. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 12, 2026.

NHTSA campaign record ↗