2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
- Complaints
- 827
- Recalls
- 8
- Investigations
- 4
- Top problem
- Engine
Campaigns on file for 2021
Opened by NHTSA
45% of complaints
Complaints per year
2021: 827 complaints
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 10 |
| 1995 | 3 |
| 1996 | 7 |
| 1997 | 555 |
| 1998 | 361 |
| 1999 | 587 |
| 2000 | 613 |
| 2001 | 468 |
| 2002 | 509 |
| 2003 | 805 |
| 2004 | 797 |
| 2005 | 525 |
| 2006 | 358 |
| 2007 | 849 |
| 2008 | 914 |
| 2009 | 444 |
| 2010 | 363 |
| 2011 | 563 |
| 2012 | 216 |
| 2013 | 301 |
| 2014 | 1,434 |
| 2015 | 1,105 |
| 2016 | 792 |
| 2017 | 712 |
| 2018 | 518 |
| 2019 | 1,077 |
| 2020 | 730 |
| 2021 | 827 |
| 2022 | 630 |
| 2023 | 381 |
| 2024 | 303 |
| 2025 | 97 |
| 2026 | 98 |
Known problem areas
Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.
Engine
45% · 376 reportsShow complaint excerpts
Engine failed and truck caught on fire from the engine failure
NHTSA ODI report, 2026-09-19
I just got this car from a used car dealership, it has 170K miles and the engine just stopped on me today. Itâs very disappointing for the car to just stop like this. While I had my family in the car with a new born. Very…
NHTSA ODI report, 2026-07-13
Power train
29% · 240 reportsMost commonly citing control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) and seals/gaskets.
Electrical system
13% · 111 reportsMost commonly citing ignition and wiring.
Show complaint excerpts
On the evening of Dec 19th, our 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 DuraMax with 19K miles on it caught fire, burned, and was declared a total loss.
NHTSA ODI report, 2024-01-23
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH a burning rubber odor and a smoke haze was present inside the cabin of the vehicle.
NHTSA ODI report, 2023-12-29
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.
NHTSA ODI report, 2021-07-07
Engine and engine cooling
7% · 56 reportsMost commonly citing hard parts internal/mechanical and engine control module (ecu/ecm).
Service brakes
5% · 44 reportsMost commonly citing hydraulic.
Show complaint excerpts
Turned from [XXX] into my street, about 9 houses down, i could not brake or turn steering wheel. Ended up hitting 2 cars, the problem was that the air bags did not deploy and the seat belt did not lock. truck was totalled.
NHTSA ODI report, 2026-08-12
Also filed under Air bags and seat belts
Safety timeline
8 recalls · 4 investigations · oldest first
To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →
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2020-12-17Tires20V684000 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.
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.
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2021Complaint volume 827 complaints filed for this model year.
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2021-01-26Seat belts20V792000 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.
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.
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2021-01-29Seat belts20V811000 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...
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021.
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2021-04-09Preliminary evaluationClosed 2023-08-24 Air Bag Malfunction
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2021-07-29Air bags21V495000 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.
Remedy: 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.
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2022-02-07Tires21V985000 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.
Remedy: Dealers will provide a new 17" spare tire and wheel assembly that is compatible with the accessory wheels, free of charge.
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2024-12-12Power train24V797000 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...
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.
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2025-01-16Preliminary evaluationClosed 2025-10-23 Loss of motive power due to engine failure
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2025-06-18Engine and engine cooling25V274000 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.
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.
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2025-10-23Engineering analysisOpen Loss of motive power due to engine failure
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2026-01-16Recall queryOpen Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy
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2026-03-06Power train26V083000 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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles and update the transmission control software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 6, 2026.
Buy-smart checklist
2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 — pre-purchase inspection
Inspect
- Engine: 376 reports on file for this year.
- Power train: 240 reports on file for this year.
- Electrical system: 111 reports on file for this year.
Verify these recalls were completed
- Recall 20V684000 · Tires
- Recall 20V792000 · Seat belts
- Recall 20V811000 · Seat belts
- Recall 21V495000 · Air bags
- Recall 21V985000 · Tires
- Recall 24V797000 · Power train
- Recall 25V274000 · Engine and engine cooling
- Recall 26V083000 · Power train
Other years of this model
See all years ranked →FAQ
- Is the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 reliable?
- Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is rated "worse than typical".
- What are the most common problems with the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
- The most-reported component is engine, accounting for 45% of complaints on file.
- How many recalls does the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have?
- 8 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.