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 PER YEAR
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 10 |
| 1995 | 3 |
| 1996 | 7 |
| 1997 | 555 |
| 1998 | 361 |
| 1999 | 587 |
| 2000 | 611 |
| 2001 | 468 |
| 2002 | 509 |
| 2003 | 805 |
| 2004 | 797 |
| 2005 | 525 |
| 2006 | 358 |
| 2007 | 849 |
| 2008 | 914 |
| 2009 | 444 |
| 2010 | 361 |
| 2011 | 563 |
| 2012 | 216 |
| 2013 | 301 |
| 2014 | 1433 |
| 2015 | 1101 |
| 2016 | 791 |
| 2017 | 711 |
| 2018 | 514 |
| 2019 | 1058 |
| 2020 | 709 |
| 2021 | 792 |
| 2022 | 602 |
| 2023 | 365 |
| 2024 | 288 |
| 2025 | 87 |
| 2026 | 74 |
KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS
Percentages can add to more than 100% -- a complaint can name more than one system.
45% of complaints: engine — 355 distinct reports on file.
CRASH FIREShow complaint excerpts
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 disappointing
NHTSA ODI report, 20260713
29% of complaints: power train — 230 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) and seals/gaskets.
CRASH INJURY14% of complaints: electrical system — 109 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing ignition and wiring.
CRASH FIREShow 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, 20240123
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, 20231229
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, 20210707
Also filed under UNKNOWN OR OTHER
7% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 56 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing hard parts internal/mechanical and engine control module (ecu/ecm).
FIRE5% of complaints: service brakes — 43 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing hydraulic.
CRASHShow 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, 20260812
Also filed under AIR BAGS and SEAT BELTS
SAFETY TIMELINE
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.
Campaign 20V684000 — check if this car was fixed
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.
Campaign 20V792000 — check if this car was fixed
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.
Campaign 20V811000 — check if this car was fixed
Air Bag Malfunction
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.
Campaign 21V495000 — check if this car was fixed
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.
Campaign 21V985000 — check if this car was fixed
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.
Campaign 24V797000 — check if this car was fixed
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
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.
Campaign 25V274000 — check if this car was fixed
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy
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.
Campaign 26V083000 — check if this car was fixed
BUY-SMART CHECKLIST
2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 — pre-purchase inspection
- Test/inspect for engine issues (355 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for power train issues (230 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for electrical system issues (109 reports on file for this year).
- Verify recall 20V684000 (tires) has been completed.
- Verify recall 20V792000 (seat belts) has been completed.
- Verify recall 20V811000 (seat belts) has been completed.
- Verify recall 21V495000 (air bags) has been completed.
- Verify recall 21V985000 (tires) has been completed.
- Verify recall 24V797000 (power train) has been completed.
- Verify recall 25V274000 (engine and engine cooling) has been completed.
- Verify recall 26V083000 (power train) has been completed.
OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL
BEST YEARS
WORST YEARS
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 2026-09-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.