What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Typical pattern

7.5% of complaints about the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2021 vehicle — around the middle of the 159 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.4 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine (371 complaints), typically at 4.5 yr or about 56,400 miles.

Complaints
1,100
Median age at failure
4.4 yr
Median mileage
53,000 n=211
Crash / fire / tow
9.5% of reports
Safety recalls
8

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine
371 reports · 56,400 mi
4.5 yr
7.8%
Power train
234 reports · 64,000 mi
4.5 yr
5.6%
Electrical system
111 reports · 7,500 mi
4.3 yr
3.6%
Other
71 reports · 1,020 mi
4.3 yr
9.9%
Engine cooling
58 reports · 67,000 mi
4.7 yr
34.5%
Steering
41 reports · 27,000 mi
3.8 yr
2.4%
Service brakes
40 reports · 125,000 mi
3.4 yr
5%
Structure
28 reports · 25,900 mi
3.9 yr
7.1%
Fuel / propulsion
26 reports · 5,000 mi
4.8 yr
3.8%
Air bags
20 reports · 6,937 mi
4.7 yr
50%
Suspension
16 reports · 7,500 mi
3.2 yr
12.5%
Latches / locks
15 reports · 45,000 mi
4.8 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

26V083000 2026-02-12
Power train:automatic transmission:control module:software

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.

25V274000 2025-04-24
Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical

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.

24V797000 2024-10-24
Power train:automatic transmission:control module:software

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.

21V985000 2021-12-16
Tires:temporary/emergency spare tire

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.

21V495000 2021-07-01
Air bags:frontal

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.

20V811000 2020-12-23
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 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.

20V792000 2020-12-17
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. 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.

20V684000 2020-11-05
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. 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.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system 500 mi 3 mo in service
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 mileage not reported 2 mo in service
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 600 mi 4 mo in service
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.
Engine 6,000 mi 6 mo in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING OFF FROM BEING STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SMART CHEVROLET CADILLAC BUICK GMC (3 SMART DR, WHITE HALL, AR 71602, (870) 543-2200) BUT WAS NOT YET DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS STILL AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. A COIL PACK WAS REPLACED.

Other Silverado 1500 model years

20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998

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