2021 GMC Sierra 1500: problems, recalls and reliability
7 recalls and 577 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine (45% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · 40 new complaints in the last 90 days · latest recall Feb 2026
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 577 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The transmission overheats on this vehicle shutting the vehicle into "limp mode" this is extremely dangerous when at interstate/highway speeds and the vehicle slows it self down to a dangerously low speed and all other vehicles around are traveling at a high rate of speed, this has happened twice, it has also happened while in back roads and tractor trailers have had to swerve to avoid a collision.”Owner report · Power Train · Sep 2026
“The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the battery charge indicator to zero. The vehicle lost motive power, and the vehicle was unable to exceed 30 MPH while driving. The vehicle was driven in LIMP Mode. The battery saver mode message was displayed before and during the failure. The vehicle then failed to restart. The vehicle had been repaired a year prior to the failure. The contact's blood pressure became elevated due to the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Sep 2026
“There is an known issue with the coolant control valve that causes the truck to enter "limp mode" that dangerously reduces the engine power. The part is not recalled but there is a special extended warranty, N252508341, up to 15yrs or 150,000 miles for 2021-2022 GMC 1500 trucks but my VIN is excluded from this for some reason. I would like this investigated.”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2026
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“While driving 40 MPH my entire dash lite up with every known light and the vehicle lost all power. The dealer stated I need an entire engine replacement, as with Many 6.2. My vehicle is 1 months out side of the recall, it has the exact symptoms and the exact damage as the recall.”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2026
“The contact owns at 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the engine was overheating. The message "Reduce Engine Power" was displayed. The contact shifted to neutral to reach the dealer. The contact associated the failure with Special Coverage: N252508341; however, the VIN was not included. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with coolant control valve failure, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the cost of the repair was not covered under the special coverage program. The failure mileage was approximately 94,328.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Sep 2026
“The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the tailgate opened independently. The failure occurred several times and became more persistent recently. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, the side marker lights started flashing, and the tailgate opened. Additionally, upon exiting a store, the contact discovered that the tailgate had opened while the vehicle was parked. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000.”Owner report · Latches/Locks/Linkages · Sep 2026
“Catastrophic engine failure at 77357 miles. I went to the local GM dealer and my VIN is not in the L87 engine recall. Not sure how to repair my truck , but feel like the engine should not have locked up with such low miles, and I done constant engine maintenance , meaning oil changes every 5K miles.”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2026
“Engine I believe The truck died while I was doing 78 MPH on the highway Dashboard stated "shift into neutral and press start" I pulled to the side of the road and did what it stated and it would not crank over. I also put it in park turned the vehicle off and back on to try to start it. The lights on the dashboard, all gauges, the AC, and everything works the truck just will not crank over. Check engine light came on but is not throwing any codes”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2026
“Coolant Control Valve failure. This vehicle year is included in a GM bulletin that extends the Coolant Control Valve replacement coverage to 150K miles due to a faulty design. My is valve failing exactly as described in the bulletin and GM will not cover the replacement due to my vin number. The vehicle randomly goes into reduced power whereby it is prohibited from safely keeping up with traffic. Research shows that there are a significant number of owners in my same situation where GM is denying repair and replacement coverage.”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2026
“Dashboard keeps returning to aljarir type writing. We bought it with American English but won't stay in English. Monday will be 30 day and I believe the dealer is ghosting me. Y'all have any ideas how to reset the dashboard without replacing the radio??? Closest answer I was given.”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Aug 2026
When filing, owners marked a crash in 5 of these complaints and injuries in 3 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 7 campaigns
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
How other years compare
Counts are not adjusted for time on the road here - see all Sierra 1500 years ranked fairly for the age-adjusted comparison.
Check your exact Sierra 1500 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 reliable?
NHTSA has 577 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on record for the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. The most complained-about area is engine (45% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 56,901 miles or less.
Does the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 have open recalls?
7 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning power train. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.