2021 GMC Sierra 1500

■ Significantly worse — known issue year

2021 GMC Sierra 1500
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had more than double the complaints of 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.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

2021: 511 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
1994	13
1995	3
1996	5
1997	83
1998	59
1999	158
2000	181
2001	140
2002	166
2003	180
2004	212
2005	177
2006	144
2007	261
2008	379
2009	234
2010	167
2011	283
2012	106
2013	115
2014	736
2015	711
2016	337
2017	350
2018	293
2019	601
2020	435
2021	511
2022	528
2023	408
2024	312
2025	90
2026	58

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

ENGINE 52%

52% of complaints: engine — 264 distinct reports on file.

FIRE

Show complaint excerpts

On [XXX] at approximately 3 pm I left my house and was traveling on [XXX] in Fort Mohave Arizona I was only traveling 7 miles.

NHTSA ODI report, 20240617

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 20210219

POWER TRAIN 24%

24% of complaints: power train — 125 distinct reports on file.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%

13% of complaints: electrical system — 66 distinct reports on file.

FIRE

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 8%

8% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 42 distinct reports on file.

STEERING 6%

6% of complaints: steering — 31 distinct reports on file.

CRASH

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 20201217 — tires

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

▮ 2021 — complaint volume: 511

R 20210126 — seat belts

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

R 20210129 — seat belts

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

I 20210409 — PE (closed 20230824)

Air Bag Malfunction

R 20220207 — tires

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

R 20241212 — power train

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

I 20250116 — PE (closed 20251023)

Loss of motive power due to engine failure

R 20250618 — engine and engine cooling

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

I 20251023 — EA (open)

Loss of motive power due to engine failure

I 20260116 — RQ (open)

Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy

R 20260306 — power train

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