VehicleVerdict

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 carries two red flags at once: 1,071 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA — 1.6× the Silverado 1500 norm — and an open NHTSA defect investigation (subject: Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy). It is one of the Silverado 1500 years to avoid. Complainants reported 18 injuries in total across these filings.

Engine leads the complaint categories with 412 reports (39% of the total). In government crash testing it earned 4 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

1,071

NHTSA complaints

8

Recalls

5

Investigations · 2 open

35

Crash-involved

16

Fires reported

18

Injuries

0

Deaths

4

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2021 compare to other Silverado 1500 years?

Silverado 1500 NHTSA complaints by model year, 2021 highlighted2,201 complaints1994: 10 complaints1995: 6 complaints1996: 10 complaints1997: 693 complaints1998: 452 complaints1999: 711 complaints2000: 731 complaints2001: 627 complaints2002: 620 complaints2003: 960 complaints2004: 951 complaints2005: 643 complaints2006: 464 complaints2007: 1,056 complaints2008: 1,094 complaints2009: 553 complaints2010: 451 complaints2011: 698 complaints2012: 278 complaints2013: 392 complaints2014: 2,201 complaints2015: 1,430 complaints2016: 1,050 complaints2017: 957 complaints2018: 754 complaints2019: 1,547 complaints2020: 1,045 complaints2021: 1,071 complaints2022: 857 complaints2023: 524 complaints2024: 401 complaints2025: 139 complaints2026: 107 complaints
Silverado 1500 NHTSA complaints by model year, 2021 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Silverado 1500 years to avoid →

What are the most common 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Engine41238%
Transmission22921%
Electrical System11210%
Other707%
Brakes444%
Steering414%
Fuel System273%
Body & Structure262%
Airbags202%
Suspension161%
Driver Assistance161%
Latches & Locks151%
Tires & Wheels111%
Speed Control101%
Visibility & Wipers71%
Seat Belts71%
Lighting61%
Seats20%

Does the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have recalls?

8 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

26V083000TransmissionFebruary 12, 2026 · 1,055 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

Rear wheel lock up increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect the vehicles and update the transmission control software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 6, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252516560. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 12, 2026.

25V274000EngineApril 24, 2025 · 597,571 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.

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. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N252494000.

24V797000TransmissionOctober 24, 2024 · 463,295 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.

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. Owner notification letters were mailed December 12, 2024. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, GMC customer service at GMC 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N242454440.

21V985000Tires & WheelsDecember 16, 2021 · 626 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

An ABS system that does not function properly can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will provide a new 17" spare tire and wheel assembly that is compatible with the accessory wheels, free of charge. Dealers will also apply a new spare tire information label, and provide owners with an owner's manual insert clarifying which spare tire to use with the accessory road tires and with the 17" original tires. Owner notification letters were mailed February 7, 2022. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212346510.

21V495000AirbagsJuly 1, 2021 · 12 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

The missing tabs may prevent the air bag from deploying properly, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

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. GM's number for this recall is N212336560.

20V811000Seat BeltsDecember 23, 2020 · 470 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202322230.

20V792000Seat BeltsDecember 17, 2020 · 624,216 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

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. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202314670.

20V684000Tires & WheelsNovember 5, 2020 · 7,516 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

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. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202319030.

Open NHTSA investigations

EA26005

Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy

On January 16, 2026, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ26001.  This investigation was opened to assess the remedy effectiveness of Recall 25V-274. ODI has received complaints alleging engine failure in vehicles after the recall remedy had been completed, whether that remedy involved an oil viscosity change or a complete engine replacement. General Motors (GM) issued Recall 25V-274 to address concerns of engine failure in the L87 engines produced between March 1, 2021 and May 31, 2024. GM cited the root cause as a supplier manufacturing and quality issue. GM’s recall remedy for Recall 25V-274 consisted of two different repairs, either an oil viscosity change or an engine replacement, based on the results of the remedy inspection procedure. ODI continues to receive reports of engine failures after the completion of the recall remedy. To date, ODI has received 499 complaints alleging post-remedy engine failure in vehicles subject to Recall 25V-274, 473 of which involved an oil viscosity change and 26 a complete engine replacement. Additionally, ODI has received 191 reports of L87 engine failures in engines produced after the production period cited in Recall 25V-274. GM reported receiving 6,953 complaints of post-remedy engine failure. ODI is opening this Engineering Analysisto continue investigating complaints of post-remedy engine failure. ODI is expanding the scope of this Investigation to include engines produced after the production period cited in the recall. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

EA25007

Loss of motive power due to engine failure

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 1,157 reports of engine bearing failure failures in the L87 6.2L engine produced by General Motors (GM). Of the 1,157 reports received, 173 are outside of the scope of recall 25V-274. These engines are installed in Model Years (MY) 2019–2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, and 2021-2024MY Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, GMC Yukon/Yukon XL, and Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV vehicles. The subject engine failures were investigated as part of a Preliminary Evaluation (PE25001).  GM determined that these engine failures were due to multiple supplier manufacturing and quality issues. GM issued recall 25V-274 to address the supplier manufacturing and quality issues produced between March 1, 2021, and May 31, 2024. Based on the issuance of recall 25V-274, NHTSA has closed PE25001. ODI continues to receive a significant number of reports of engine failure in vehicles outside the scope of 25V-274.  This presents a potential safety risk that warrants further investigation.  ODI is opening this Engineering Analysis (EA) to further evaluate the scope and severity of the potential problem and to fully assess the potential safety-related issues of vehicles built outside the recall scope. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“The transfer case has locked up several times causing me to wreck once. The engine misfires and does not give the MPG advertised. The life of my family has been put at risk with little to no care from the dealer after several attempts for service.”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · August 16, 2022 · crash

“The transfer case has locked up several times causing me to wreck once. The engine misfires and does not give the MPG advertised. The life of my family has been put at risk with little to no care from the dealer after several attempts for service.”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · August 16, 2022 · crash

“A week or two before I took my truck into decorah Chevy isr because tailgate was going up and down all by itself while I was driving or parked without me by it. They said it was just the latch button . So they fixed it they said and still my blinker lights would just come on and then I hit a deer…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · December 23, 2025 · crash · fire

“Truck caught on fire while driving down I75 interstate in Florida. No component or system failure lights where present. Smoke was smelled by the passengers and within seconds the truck was on fire. The safety of the passengers was at FULL risk, and lucky to be alive! The truck was full engaged as…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · July 5, 2022 · fire

“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. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · May 4, 2026 · crash

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 — common questions

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 1,071 complaints put the 2021 model at #5 of 33 Silverado 1500 years, and a defect investigation remains open. It is one of the Silverado 1500 years to avoid.

What are the most common 2021 Silverado 1500 problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are engine (412 complaints), transmission (229 complaints), electrical system (112 complaints).

Does the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns affecting the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 under NHTSA investigation?

Yes — 2 investigations remain open (Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy). An open ODI action means NHTSA is actively assessing a possible defect.

Which Chevrolet Silverado 1500 years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Silverado 1500 years to avoid are 2014, 2019, 2015, 2008, 2021, 2007, 2016, 2020, 2022, 2011, 2009, 2023, 2010, 2024, 2013, 2012, 2025, 2026. The cleanest record among Silverado 1500 years belongs to 1995.

How safe is the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 earned an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through August 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated August 28, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.