2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 827 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 5th highest complaint count among 19 Silverado 1500 model years with reports.
Of the 2021 reports, 20 involved a crash and 12 involved a fire. 17 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Power train, automatic transmission, control module, softwareFeb 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.
Rear wheel lock up increases the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 26V083000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engine, hard parts internal/mechanicalApr 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.
Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 25V274000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, control module, softwareOct 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.
Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 24V797000 on NHTSA.gov
Tires, temporary/emergency spare tireDec 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.
An ABS system that does not function properly can increase the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 21V985000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontalJul 1, 2021
General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vehicles. The front driver's side air bag module may be missing one or more metal tabs that secure the plastic air bag cover to the housing.
The missing tabs may prevent the air bag from deploying properly, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag, and replace it if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 16, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212336560.
Campaign 21V495000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat beltsDec 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 20V811000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat beltsDec 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 20V792000 on NHTSA.gov
TiresNov 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 20V684000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
112 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Jul 22, 2021
The lifters in the truck are failing, a brand new truck 12,000 miles on it and the lifters have failed. Which is also leading to an oil problem. They are trying to only fox one bank of lifters instead of replacing both. Due to them wanting to wait until the fail. They have known about the problem and i bought the truck from them not knowing that the engine was a faulty engine. When you pay 70,000k for a truck you are expecting it to last a lot more than 6 months. Which is also causing the bent pushrods on the truck. I bought the truck brand new at the end of January, for the lifters to fail, valve springs, and for bent pushrods, I’m estimated to be out of my truck for the next 3/4 weeks which would bring it close to lemon law
Back over prevention, Electrical system, Jul 10, 2021
Upon returning home after a short drive I pulled into my garage and almost drove through the wall… I purchased parking assistance and it was not provided. The feature apparently failed and turned off at some point without clearly notifying the driver. I don’t know if it provided a silent notice that automatically dismissed but it certainly did not notify me when I really needed it… low speed. The park assist light is indeed off now when the vehicle starts. Clicking the button reports “Park Assist Off” even though it already appears off and is certainly not providing the intended safety feature. Clicking the button again does not turn the light back on but if clicked again it will again report it was disabled. This is strange and confusing for the driver. Using the infotainment screen one can toggle “Park Assist” off and the drivers info screen by the speedometer will finally say “park assist off”. Turning the feature back on in the infotainment screen actually turns the park assist button back on for about 5 seconds then it silently turns off and the driver is NOT warned that the system is not working. The driver is not properly warned of feature failure even though it appears the software knows it is not working. The little button goes out but the driver message screen does not warn the driver. This failure and poor awareness is a safety risk. Yes, we are unlikely to be parking super close to someone but we might indeed park near a GAS hot water heater or similar hazard in work trucks. The driver must know if safety features failure during driving. Otherwise they are potentially more hazardous than vehicles without them. Drivers will by design rely on these features and MUST be warned if the vehicle knows they have failed. I don’t love that the vehicle has already had a failure with only 1695 miles but this dangerous software concerns me more.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 7, 2021, crash, fire
Car Fire - Started at the rear of the cabin between the cabin rear window and the truck bed The fire engulfed directly around and inside the fuel tank. The car is available for inspection as far as im aware at the tow / salvage yard The safety of myself and any passengers were greatly put at risk. The fire engulfed the inside cabin within seconds, and caused a total loss on the car. The problem has not been identified elsewhere. However the almost exact scenario has occurred in the manufacturers other 2021 model vehicles on the Tahoe and Yukon, with recalls on file for both for incorrect seal around the fuel tank, causing fuel tank fires. The car manufacturer does not want to help at all, they are willing to deal with insurance company and that is it, who will just pay out the value of the car. The police and fire crew local to the incident have ran reports on the fire. No warning lamps occurred before or during the fire. The car was operating as normal until the large explosion. There was no accident, nothing was hit, witnesses described small embers / flames flying up from the truck bed right before the big explosion, indicating there was fuel spitting out and catching on fire.
Electrical system, Jun 14, 2021
Driver side front marker light bulb not working after 700mi. Not a big problem but annoying enough for a 2 week old, $49,000 truck.
Power train, Electrical system, Service brakes, May 1, 2021
GOT CEL CODE P25A2, C2A02, C2A03 3 TIMES NOW. FIRST TIME DEALERSHIP HAD NO IDEA (SUBURBAN CHEVY SANDY OR), SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED A WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. NOW THIS IS THE 3RD TIME AND THEY HAVE THE TRUCK FOR WHO KNOWS HOW LONG... TRUCK GETS THE CEL WHILE DRIVING.
Suspension, Electrical system, Apr 21, 2021
I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE ROAD BECAME BUMPY. THE VEHICLE WAS BOUNCING UP AND DOWN PITCHING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. I WAS DRIVING THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT. THIS HAPPENED ON THE DAY I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THE VEHICLE WAS ACTING LIKE THAT BECAUSE IT WAS NEW. NOPE. IT'S REAL. THE TRUCK BOUNCES AND PITCHES HARD EVERY TIME I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. I EVEN DROVE BACK TO THE LOCATION WHERE IT HAPPENED ON THE FIRST DAY THAT I BOUGHT IT AND SURE ENOUGH THE VEHICLE ACTED THE SAME WAY. THE ENTIRE TRUCK SHAKES AND BOUNCES VIOLANTLY WHEN I GO OVER BUMPS. I'M TALKING ABOUT EVERY THING. THE SECOND THING IS THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WARMS UP IT STARTS HUMMING LIKE AN ELECTRICAL TYPE OF HUM OR NOISE. THE HUMMING IS COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND I CAN HEAR EVEN WHEN I'M STANDING OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN I SLOW DOWN AND SPEED UP AGAIN. THE VEHICLE THAT I AM DRIVING IS DANGERIOUS AND SHOULDN'T BE ON THE ROAD. CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY DOESN'T MATTER IN MY CASE. THE TRUCK WILL VIOLENTLY SHAKE AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 22, 2021
ON THURSDAY FEB 18TH IS WAS SNOWING WHEN I LEFT WORK, DROVE AROUND THE BELTWAY APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES GOING ON AVERAGE 30-40 MPH.NO ISSUES JUST BAD ROADS. RIGHT AFTER I LEFT THE HIGHWAY AND TURNED ON TO A MAIN ROAD, I WAS APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE ON THAT ROAD IN THE MIDDLE LANE DRIVING STRAIGHT AT ABOUT 25-30 MPH WHEN MY NEW 2021 SILVERADO (5000 MILES) LOSS POWER. THE BATTERY AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH NO ENGINE POWER. AS THE VEHICLE WAS COASTING ATTEMPTED TO GET OFF THE MAIN ROAD, BUT DIDN'T MAKE IT DUE TO THE SNOW COVERED ROADS AND SLUSH. ENDED UP IN A MERGE LANE STILL IN TRAFFIC AND WAS ALMOST HIT NUMEROUS TIMES. TRIED TO RESTART AND GET TO A SAFE LOCATION, BUT WHEN PUSHING THE START BUTTON THE SILVERADO WOULD CRANK EXTREMELY LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN FINAL CUTOUT. WAS ON THE PHONE WITH ON STAR WHERE THEY PUT ME IN CONTACT WITH THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO NEVER SHOWED AND THEN LEFT ME A MESSAGE THEY WERE COMING OUT DUE TO THE INCLEMENT WEATHER. THANKS. AFTER TALKING WITH POLICE DISPATCH ON STAR SETUP A TOW TRUCK, BUT GAVE THEM THE WRONG ADDRESS WHICH WAS MORE THAN AN HOUR AWAY FROM MY LOCATION. ONCE BACK ON THE PHONE ON STAR STATED THEY HAD TO CALL THE SAME TOW TRUCK DRIVER/COMPANY WHICH OF COURSE HE WAS OVER AN HOUR AWAY. ONCE THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER ARRIVED 3 HOURS AFTER MY TRUCK BROKE DOWN HE SAID HE WAS ORIGINALLY ONLY 10 MINUTES FROM MY LOCATION PRIOR TO ON STAR SENDING HIM TO THE WRONG LOCATION. WHAT A MESS. HAVE A LOANER CAR BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TOLD A FUEL PUMP IS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. ALSO THAT THEY WILL BE REPLACING THE VALVE SPRINGS WHICH IS ANOTHER ISSUE I THINK? HOPING TO KNOW MORE THIS WEEK.
Suspension, Electrical system, Back over prevention, Jan 29, 2021
THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS), BRAKES, AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM (ESC) MIGHT NOT ILLUMINATE. THIS COULD CAUSE THE DRIVER TO NOT KNOW IF ANY OF THESE SYSTEMS ARE INOPERABLE.*DT*DT
Electrical system, Jan 11, 2021
INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. XM RADIO HAS NO SOUND AT ALL, OR AS I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE XM RADIO VULUME ON ITS OWN GOES SO LOW YOU CAN NOT HEAR IT AND THEN YOU CAN NOT TURN IT UP OR DOWN WITH THE VOLUME CONTROL ON THE DASH OR THE ONE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE ONE HAS TO TAKE THIER EYES OFF THE ROAD AND USE THIER PHONE IF IT IS PAIRED WITH THE SYSTEM OR TURN THE RADIO TO FM OR AM. AFTER DOING THIS THE VOLUME CONTROL WORKS ON XM. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I GOT THIS VEHILCE NOV 30,2020 UNTIL NOW ON AND OFF.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jan 3, 2021
WHEN THE TRUCK IS PUT IN REVERSE THE BACK UP CAMERA BECOMES VERY 'FUSSY' AN UNUSABLE. THE ONLY HAPPENS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS NEEDED THE MOST. THE BACK UP CAMERA PROVIDE NO HELP IN FACT MAYBE DANGEROUS.
Electrical system, Dec 28, 2020
THIS 2021 SILVERADO HAND A COMPLETE ELECTICAL FAULURE LEAVING THE VEHICLE DEAD IN THE IN THE ROAD AT NIGHT. WE HAD NO POWER AT ALL, NO WARNING FLASHERS IN THE DARK AT 9:00 PM AT NIGHT. WE WERE ALMOST HIT BY A CAR COMING AROUND CONER AS WE BROKE DOWN AT THE INTERSECTION WERE NO STREET LIGHTS WERE. THIS TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 500 MILES ON IT AND HAS ALREADY HAD THE FULL ENGINE REPLACED, PROBLEMS WITH THE INFOTANMENT SYSTEM AND NOW A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SHUTDOWN. WE WERE UNABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO DO ANYTHING AND WAITED FOR TWO HOURS IN THE ROAD FOR A WREAKER TO ARRIVE.
Electrical system, Engine, Dec 23, 2020
FULL ENJINE FAILURE AT 371 MILES CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.VEHICLE WAS DRIVEING ON CITY STREET ABOUT 30MPH WHEN FAILURE HAPPEN. JUST PRIOR TO THAT VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC AT A STOP WHEN WAITING FOR A RED LIGHT. SPRING BROKEN IN PISTON CAUSEING FAILURE. ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH INFO. SYSTEM BLANKING OUT AND NO RADIO THEN WHEN IT DID WORK NO VOLUME CONTROL ON THE RADIO. INFO. SYSTEM FIRST FAILED WHEN BACKING UP AND NO RADIO AT ALL. SECOND TIME WHEN MOVING FORWARD BUT I HAD RADIO BUT NO VOLUME CONTROL. 3RD TIME WHEN BACKING UP AND NO RADIO AT ALL. 4TH TIME WHEN DRIVING FORWARD AND NO RADIO VOLUME CONTROL, THEN A FEW MINUTES LATTER THE ENGINE FULLY FAILED. THIS VEHILCE WAS BOUGHT NEW AND ONLY HAD 371 MILES ON IT. THE ENGINE IS A 5.3 VOTEC GM ENGINE.