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

2021 GMC Sierra 1500

Typical pattern

7% of complaints about the 2021 GMC Sierra 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 4.6 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine (299 complaints), typically at 4.7 yr or about 57,000 miles.

Complaints
773
Median age at failure
4.6 yr
Median mileage
50,000 n=146
Crash / fire / tow
7.1% of reports
Safety recalls
7

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine
299 reports · 57,000 mi
4.7 yr
5.7%
Power train
134 reports · 68,000 mi
4.7 yr
5.2%
Electrical system
73 reports · 21,000 mi
4.2 yr
6.8%
Engine cooling
49 reports · 59,075 mi
4.8 yr
18.4%
Other
41 reports
4.7 yr
4.9%
Fuel / propulsion
34 reports · 2,500 mi
4.8 yr
2.9%
Steering
32 reports · 80,000 mi
3.7 yr
9.4%
Service brakes
23 reports · 21,539 mi
3.3 yr
8.7%

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.

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

Service brakes mileage not reported 11 mo in service
Driving the car it started backfiring and then the ESC light came on and the car engine seemed to become erratic as well as steering and braking error messages and the check engine started blinking. Very scary before I got it pulled over and very thankful I wasn’t on the highway etc. I’m seeing all the issues online sounds like the supposed fixes for the 2019 models having issues aren’t solving the problem. I bought mine in April and 4 months later it’s become unreliable.
Service brakes mileage not reported 1.1 yr in service
I started my truck this morning, drove it 3 miles, and all of a sudden got an ESC warning, Parking break warning, and a degraded power steering warning all at one time. My steering wheel started vibrating vigorously, a clanking sound started under the hood somewhere, and none of my safety features worked after.. Cruise Control, Vehicle Collision Control, Vehicle Gap sensors, etc.. The vehicle is currently at the dealer being looked at.
Service brakes mileage not reported 2.0 yr in service
I start my car and I went to pull off and the steering wheel locked up and I couldn’t turn it and it was just stuck going to sit power steering EC something. And then came home parked the car few days later try driving it and then the ABS brake light came on warning me not to go over 65 mph and my brakes pad feel really loose now.
Electrical system 10 mi 7 mo in service
THE AUTO STOP FEATURE ON MY TRUCK IS DANGEROUS! THERE IS NO WAY TO PERMANENTLY DISABLE IT. WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC FROM A STOP, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DELAY FOR THE CAR TO RESTART AND GET MOVING! I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS. FORGET THE $20 IN GAS THIS JUNK MIGHT SAVE SOMEONE OVER A YEAR! IT IS DANGEROUS

Other Sierra 1500 model years

2026202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999

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