2021 GMC Sierra 1500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
741 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500, alongside 7 recall campaigns and 4 defect investigations. It scores 56/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 57,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 1990, 1992–1994, 2012–2013.
Avoid
Where 2021 sits among all Sierra 1500 years
What owners report
“Had the car since 2021. Recently started shaking while driving over 45 mph. Took the car in gmc dealership where they told me it’s an engine issue and need a brand new engine. How would I need an engine having the car for 4 years? And there is no recall?”— owner report to NHTSA, 2021 Sierra 1500
“Transmission will slam hard then truck goes into low power mode and doesn’t shift.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2021 Sierra 1500
“Power steering locked up while driving. Multiple dash lights turned on, on its own after the issue, 4wd, emergency brake, abs, and other ones im not sure what they are. Took it to the dealership for a recall and told them the issue that happened.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2021 Sierra 1500
“Coolant control valve failure. Instantly reduces power on truck. National back order on parts. No remedy.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2021 Sierra 1500
“15000 miles lifter failure in traffic highway at speed 70 mph lost power engine failed multilane highway rush hour traffic no warning failure”— owner report to NHTSA, 2021 Sierra 1500
“Power steering locked up while driving. Has been inspected and repaired by manufacturer. Recall.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2021 Sierra 1500
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 134 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 50,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 20,095 and 77,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (7)
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…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
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,…
Fix: 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…
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,…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
Federal defect investigations
Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →
Component: ENGINE
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 36 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging engine failure in vehicles subject to Recall 25V274. In each VOQ, the engine had the recall remedy completed prior to the reported failure incident. Recall 25V-274 addresses vehicles equipped with…
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
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…
Led to recall campaign 25V274.
Technical service bulletins
1,446 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2021 Sierra 1500 TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 reliable?
The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 drew 741 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 56/100, scored against the model's worst year (2014).
What are the most common 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 problems?
The top reported problems for the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 are engine (322 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (132), and electrical (75).
At what mileage do 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 problems show up?
Owners most often report 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 problems around 50,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 20,095 and 77,000 miles.
Does the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 have recalls?
7 recall campaigns apply to the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.