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
827 reports, newest first.
Engine, May 28, 2026
I have a 2021 Silverado LT trailboss. Catastrophic engine failure. Camshaft bearing and lifter failure. First lifter replacement @ 16,000 miles. Second at 104,000 miles. Was told by GM the 6.2L L87 I have is not affected due to a Canadian VIN. The sticker on the truck says Assembled in Kentucky. Gm charged $18,000 for a refurbished motor. The “new” motor had lifter failure at 12,000 miles. Canada is now included in the recall but I was again told by GM that my engine is not affected due to being built in September 2020. I believe this engine bearing failure goes back further than they like to admit.
Engine, May 27, 2026
I was driving and all of a sudden engine and transmission failed many lights appeared on the dashboard brakes were not braking, the truck started to lose power and making weird noises.
Steering, May 26, 2026
Sudden loss of power steering, usually upon initial start. May return, may not return during drive. Began around 1 week ago. Sudden loss of power steering when turning either right or left has occurred causing a dangerous situation. Upon loss of power steering, 2 warnings appear. One for loss of power steering and the other for the trailer brake. Have never trailered anything with truck. Check engine light has come on at times, others it has not. Steering failure has occurred approximately 6 times. An internet search found some reference to my vehicle being informally added to the recall affecting other GM Vehicles. Vehicle has not been inspected yet.
Service brakes, May 25, 2026
While driving my 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Trail Boss, multiple warning lights and messages suddenly appeared related to the ABS and brake system. The brake pedal became extremely difficult to press and the truck became unsafe to drive. The issue happened unexpectedly while the vehicle was in operation, creating a serious safety hazard and risk of accident or injury. After the incident, the truck was inspected by a mechanic who advised that the brake booster had essentially fallen apart and that I effectively had little to no braking capability. I was also informed that the condition and quality of the braking components were not acceptable for a vehicle of this age. This vehicle is only five years old and has been regularly maintained. For approximately the last three years, routine maintenance including oil changes, tire rotations, and inspections were performed at a Chevrolet dealership. At no time was I warned of any brake-related issue or safety concern. A major brake system failure should not occur suddenly on a properly maintained vehicle, especially without warning. This incident was extremely dangerous and could have resulted in a serious crash. I am submitting this complaint because I am concerned there may be a defect involving the brake system, brake booster, ABS system, or related components on this vehicle.
Engine, May 25, 2026
The engine was burning oil, so did a consumption test. The dealer took apart the engine and found the rings for the pistons were leaking and scaring was resulting. This caused me to buy part of a new engine because it was 6days past warranty with only 44,000mi on it. Also, at 18,000mi, a lifter bent and needed that replaced. There are numerous reports for this engine. It should be recalled! I shouldn't have to pay out of pocket for the defaulted error proned engine.
Engine and engine cooling, May 22, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, a flashing check engine warning light appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the received fault code PO300 which was a general code for a misfire in the engine. The contact brought the vehicle back to the dealer multiple times due to various fault codes; however, the contact was given the same information. The contact then received a "Low Oil, Check Oil", the contact checked the oil and discovered no oil on the engine's dipstick. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed back to the dealer where they began an oil consumption test. The valves collapsed and the dealer replaced the valve in cylinders 1,3,5, and 7 as well as the spark plugs. Despite the repair, the contact stated that the failure returned almost two months later. The contact continued the oil consumption test and stated that the vehicle was losing 3 quarts of oil each oil change. The manufacturer had been notified of the failure on multiple occasions and had made multiple vehicle buyback requested; the manufacturer denied each buyback request. After his latest phone call with the manufacturer, he was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 12,000.
Power train, May 19, 2026
My 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with the 3.0 diesel is experiencing constant high running engine fan, engine power reduced notification on the dash, fluctuating temperature and is showing a P1098 code indicating the coolant control valve needs replaced. GM has issued a special coverage on this part, which my truck is well withing the parameters for. However, GM tells me the VIN isn't associated with the special coverage. I have spoken with other owners who have the same year / engine vehicle as I do, and GM replaced their part for free under the special coverage. I have not been giving any explanation as to why my vehicle isn't covered even though the bulletin N25250834 clearly states my vehicle and year. I escalated to the GM executive level and have failed to get my coolant control valve replaced. The vehicle reducing engine power is a major safety concern in traffic as well as the obvious over heating issue. GM is blatantly mishandling the situation.
Power train, May 19, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado LD Crew. The contact stated that while reversing the vehicle, the rear end locked up. Also, when accelerated, the vehicle jerked forward and stalled. When the vehicle is shutdown and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage. 64,900.
Power train, May 16, 2026
47,000 miles and the transmission coolant lines are weeping and need to be replaced.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, May 14, 2026
Once I disengaged the auto stop on my vehicle, I would accelerate from a stop and I would loose my brakes. This happened several times. I took it to the shop and was told it was fine. Finally, one day I was descending on an overpass, disengaged my auto stop and my brakes were complete failure, even my emergency brakes, my check engine light engaged (the code read emissions issue). Was able to stop in a field, get it back to the dealership to find out I lost the master break cylinder but no indication on prior visits. The truck, check engine light will spontaneously start blinking but hold no codes. I have had it routinely serviced and it will overheat and oil will run hot but mechanics find no issues
Power train, Electrical system, May 14, 2026
I am submitting a formal safety complaint regarding an electrical system failure on my 2021 Chevrolet Silverado with approximately 61,000 miles. I brought the vehicle to Taylor Grubaugh Chevrolet of Waynesville after the check engine light illuminated. The dealership diagnosed a premature wiring harness failure caused by chafing. They also stated that this issue is known to affect multiple GM vehicles and is documented in Technical Service Bulletin 21 NA 149. Wiring harness failure presents a significant safety concern. A compromised harness can lead to erratic electrical behavior, reduced engine performance, stalling, or sudden loss of power while driving. With that the concern a possible vehicle malfunction or losing power in traffic came to light. The dealerships service department confirmed the problem, verified the wiring harness failure, & referenced the applicable GM technical bulletin. The vehicle was inspected by the authorized Chevrolet dealership. GM declined to cover the repair. No police, insurance, or other third party inspections have been conducted. Despite acknowledging that this is a documented & recurring issue across GM models, the GM informed me that the repair would not be covered under warranty or recall. At only 61,000 miles, a wiring harness failure due to chafing is not consistent with normal wear & tear & instead suggests a premature defect. Given that this is a known and documented defect, I believe it should be recalled. After further research, I discovered that this issue is far from isolated. There are more than 1,500 complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau and approximately 800 complaints submitted to NHTSA reporting the same or similar wiring harness failures across GM vehicles. The volume of complaints strongly suggests a widespread defect that may pose ongoing safety risks to consumers.
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, May 11, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado1500. The contact stated while driving the vehicle he felt shuttering and noticed his automatic start does not start. The contact also experienced engine reduced power issues, preceded by a warning sign on the dashboard stating "Engine Power is Reduced" while driving. Additionally, the contact noticed a significant loss of mileage per gallon and a loss of oil. The contact noticed a check engine light on, which had codes that had a crankshaft and cam shaft sensors that are not operating properly, which the vehicle cannot be inspected due to the failure. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed to need a new timing chain to control on the cams and crankshaft. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.
Engine, May 8, 2026
While driving on the freeway, the truck suddenly displayed a flashing check engine light along with multiple warning/error messages. I was able to limp the vehicle to the nearest mechanic, where they inspected it and confirmed catastrophic internal engine failure. Upon removing the oil pan, they found large copper-colored metal chunks and metallic glitter throughout the engine oil, indicating severe internal bearing/component failure. The vehicle is no longer safe to operate and now requires major engine repair or replacement.
Engine and engine cooling, May 8, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado. stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the vehicle lost power and did not accelerate as intended. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but was not diagnosed. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the coolant control valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, May 5, 2026
On 4/27/26, my family and I were traveling south on Colorado C470 at 8 AM. Our 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 had catastrophic engine failure at highway speed as we were passing an 18 wheeler. The failure caused the vehicle to lose power and engine, and the display said to put the truck in Neutral and restart the engine. After coasting to the shoulder, the engine would not restart. We were stranded on the highway during rush hour for an hour and 1/2 waiting for a tow truck. This scenario is identical to the safety risks outlined in NHTSA Recall 25V274 (and investigation PE 24-007). This failure resulted in the intake manifold being physically displaced and damage to the timing assembly. The dealership is attempting to deny coverage by claiming the "upper gallery" damage (timing/intake) is unrelated to the "lower end" issues covered under the special coverage/recall [ this is a Dealer Quote]. This logic is technically flawed: Consequential Damage: A catastrophic lower-end failure (e.g., a broken connecting rod or seized crankshaft bearing) at 80 mph creates the massive internal pressure required to shatter or "blow off" a plastic intake manifold. Timing Linkage: The timing chain is physically connected to the crankshaft. It is mechanically impossible to have a catastrophic crankshaft failure at high RPMs without causing secondary damage to the timing gears and "upper gallery". Recall Precedence: My vehicle exhibits the exact failure mode—loss of motive power due to bearing failure—currently being investigated by the NHTSA for 2019-2024 L87 engines.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, May 5, 2026
LIFTER FAILURE AT 50,100 MILES- JUST OUT OF POWERTRAIN WARRANT BY 136 DAYS. FAILURE OCCURED ON FREEWAY. AFTER HEARING METALLIC SOUND SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THIS OCCURED 5/3/26.
Engine, May 4, 2026
Valve Cover leak, Known Issue by GM, TSB 22-NA-027, refusing to warranty known problems & charge the customer $4,000 in repairs.
Steering, Electrical system, Service brakes, May 4, 2026
Two grounding straps failed on my 2021 Silverado Trail boss lt. GM has a recall for this exact problem under N252515590, model years 2019-2024. Apparently my vin number is not associated with this recall, yet my dealer just did the recall repair. They said my truck did not qualify for the GM recall and I was forced to pay for the repair. The failing grounding straps caused my power steering to go out and my brake system and safety traffic sensors to fail as well. This was very dangerous as it would fail randomly while driving the truck. There were no warning signs or lights on the the truck to indicate any problems.
Power train, May 2, 2026
Vehicle: 2021 Chevrolet Silverado VIN: [XXX] Mileage at time of incident: Approximately 68,000 miles Date of incident: April 24, 2026 Approximate speed: 75 mph Weather/road conditions: Clear, sunny day Was the vehicle towed? No Did the engine restart? Yes My 2021 Chevrolet Silverado experienced a sudden loss of power and stalled while I was driving on the highway at approximately 75 mph. The weather was clear and sunny, and road conditions were normal. This created a serious safety concern because the vehicle lost power while traveling at highway speed in traffic and could have caused a crash. The vehicle did restart after the incident and was not towed, but it had to be taken in for service after the power loss/stalling event. The dealership later advised that the oil was low on the dipstick and stated they would change the oil and complete a recall/service update. However, I have maintained the vehicle with regular oil changes, and at the time of the incident, the vehicle’s oil life monitor still showed approximately 50% oil life remaining. I do not believe this should be dismissed as a simple lack-of-maintenance issue. I am concerned that the sudden loss of power/stalling may be related to an engine, fuel, oil pressure, electrical, ECM, or recall/service campaign issue. I am also concerned that the vehicle was low on oil despite regular oil maintenance and the oil life monitor still showing about 50%. The vehicle is currently at Tyrell Chevrolet for inspection/service. I have not yet received a clear explanation of the cause of the power loss, whether diagnostic trouble codes were found, whether oil pressure was affected, whether oil consumption was checked, whether any recall or service campaign caused or corrected the issue, or whether the truck is safe to drive. This sudden loss of power while driving at approximately 75 mph presents a serious safety risk and should be investigated. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Other or unspecified, Apr 30, 2026
The special coverage program on the coolant valve for My 2021 Chevy Silverado (70,000mi) is not covered due to my vin not being on the list. Something they say and know is an issue, but not covering it for the vehicles they say they’re covering it for.
Latches/locks/linkages, Apr 30, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle, it was later discovered that the rear tailgate door had erroneously opened. The contact indicated that the failure had occurred on multiple occasions. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 22,000.
Power train, Apr 30, 2026
The vehicle was shiifting sluggishly and the check engine light came on. The dealer has indicated that I need to replace a transmission controller valve body. This problem has been acknowledged by GM and a recall initiated, but my vehicle was not included in the recall. This does not seem reasonable and I believe the recall should be expanded.
Engine, Apr 29, 2026
While operating my vehicle under normal driving conditions, I experienced a sudden and complete loss of engine power without warning. The engine shut off abruptly in active traffic, creating an immediate safety hazard and increasing the risk of a collision for myself and surrounding motorists. Following the stall, the vehicle would not restart. The engine cranks but does not start (a “dry crank” condition). There were no prior warnings, indicators, or drivability issues suggesting an impending failure. This vehicle is equipped with the L87 6.2L V8 engine, which is subject to a known recall involving internal engine defects that may result in sudden failure. The symptoms and failure mode observed are consistent with reported cases of internal engine damage, including potential bearing or rotating assembly failure. At the direction of GM and the dealership, the vehicle was previously brought in for recall inspection. The recall was subsequently marked as completed. However, I am now being advised that the recall cannot be reopened and that I am responsible for the repair costs. A completed recall inspection does not eliminate manufacturer responsibility when the underlying defect later results in failure. I understand there is an ongoing and recently reopened NHTSA investigation into GM’s “Pico test” inspection process, as multiple engines have reportedly failed after passing this procedure. Given that this failure occurred after the recall inspection was completed, this incident raises concerns regarding the adequacy and effectiveness of the prescribed remedy. This event represents a serious safety issue due to the sudden loss of power in traffic without warning. I am submitting this complaint to document the failure and to request further review of the recall remedy and associated inspection process.
Engine, Apr 27, 2026
I completed the N252494003 recall inspection on my 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 6.2L at Carl Black Buick/Chevy/GMC in Roswell, GA. They said my crankshaft was not one of the vehicles affected and sent me on my way with my free oil change as a remedy to the issue. I subsequently used that information, thinking the “bottom assembly” of my motor was good and not impaired, and proceeded to have the DOD/DFM deleted from the motor because it was a known fail point and this work cost me $7,000. Maybe 6 months after my inspection for the recall, I begin to hear a noise and I take it to the same dealership for service and they tell me the crankshaft is faulty. Nothing about the DOD/DFM delete and subsequent ECM tune had any impact on the crankshaft and yet, the dealership is denying fault when it was there service department hid the truth of the engine during the inspection. The warranty for the crankshaft is no longer applicable because of the modifications I did, but had they been honest about the faulty crankshaft, I would’ve never done that work to it in the first place. The engine should’ve been flagged during inspection and replaced.
Exterior lighting, Apr 27, 2026
While towing at night with horses, trailer lights started blinking on and off, eventually for longer periods, then stopped working all together. Research shows this is a common problem in GM vehicles related to the wiring and trailer light module. This is especially dangerous when pulling horses at night and all of the sudden lights go out. GM issued a technical service bulletin. This should be a recall...