2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 12, 2026 · 842 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Silverado 1500 years
More complaints than other years 6th of 32 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
4–5 out of 5 stars (varies by version)

Owners have filed 842 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. That ranks 6th out of 32 Silverado 1500 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (386 complaints, 46%), typically at around 56,400 miles. Complaints mention 20 crashes, 12 fires, 17 injuries. There are 8 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 5 defect investigations involving it.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Engine386 · ~56,400 mi
Power Train242 · ~63,500 mi
Electrical System113 · ~7,500 mi
Unknown or Other73 · ~1,020 mi
Engine and Engine Cooling58 · ~66,000 mi
Steering43 · ~15,249 mi
Service Brakes40 · ~62,755 mi
Fuel/propulsion System30 · ~5,000 mi
Structure29 · ~14,450 mi
Air Bags20 · ~6,937 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Engine problems38646%56,400“engine failed” (5%)$9,150
Power Train problems24229%63,500“valve body” (9%)$7,200
Electrical System problems11313%7,500“service esc” (8%)—
Unknown or Other739%1,020——
Engine and Engine Cooling problems587%66,000“motive power” (19%)—
Steering435%15,249——
Service Brakes405%62,755——
Fuel/propulsion System304%5,000——
Structure293%14,450——
Air Bags202%6,937——
Suspension172%7,500——
Latches/locks/linkages152%45,000——
Forward Collision Avoidance101%———
Vehicle Speed Control101%75——
Wheels81%1,100——
Seat Belts71%16,750——
Exterior Lighting61%50,020——
Visibility/wiper61%———
Service Brakes, Hydraulic40%96,000——
Back Over Prevention30%4,005——
Tires30%———
Electronic Stability Control (esc)20%102,500——
Seats20%———
Equipment10%100,000——
Fuel System, Diesel10%32,000——
Fuel System, Gasoline10%15,000——
Lane Departure10%———
Parking Brake10%80,000——
Traction Control System10%83,830——
Visibility10%9,000——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2025, with 329 complaints
2020: 3202032021: 572021572022: 522022522023: 622023622024: 912024912025: 32920253292026: 2482026248

n = 842 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 recalls (8)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Power train:automatic transmission:control module:software; power train:automatic transmission:fluid/lubricant:valves/valve bodyFeb 12, 2026 · NHTSA campaign 26V083000 · 1,055 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: Rear wheel lock up increases the risk of a crash.

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 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.

Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanicalApr 24, 2025 · NHTSA campaign 25V274000 · 597,571 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.

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 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.

Power train:automatic transmission:fluid/lubricant:valves/valve body; power train:automatic transmission:control module:softwareOct 24, 2024 · NHTSA campaign 24V797000 · 463,295 vehicles

Problem: 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.

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

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 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.

Tires:temporary/emergency spare tireDec 16, 2021 · NHTSA campaign 21V985000 · 626 vehicles

Problem: 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.

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

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 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.

Air bags:frontalJul 1, 2021 · NHTSA campaign 21V495000 · 12 vehicles

Problem: 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.

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

Fix: 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.

Seat belts:critical fastenersDec 23, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V811000 · 470 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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.

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 service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202322230.

Seat belts:critical fastenersDec 17, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V792000 · 624,216 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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.

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 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.

TiresNov 5, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V684000 · 7,516 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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.

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 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.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy (EA26005) — opened Aug 20, 2026, still open.
  • Loss of motive power due to engine failure (EA25007) — opened Oct 23, 2025, still open.
  • Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy (RQ26001) — opened Jan 16, 2026, closed Aug 20, 2026.
  • Loss of motive power due to engine failure (PE25001) — opened Jan 16, 2025, closed Oct 23, 2025, led to recall 25V274.
  • Air Bag Malfunction (PE21010) — opened Apr 9, 2021, closed Aug 24, 2023.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

While driving approximately 30–40 mph through an uphill left-hand curve, the steering suddenly became extremely stiff and very difficult to turn. I do not recall seeing any warning before I noticed the steering becoming stiff. While trying to control the vehicle, I noticed “Service Power…

Electrical System · received Oct 12, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11770545

On my way home to [XXX] from [XXX] around XXX, my 2021 Chevy Silverado with 84,xxx miles with the 6.2 L engine started to make a popping sound. I checked my dash for any error codes and there were none. The oil pressure, temp, and transmission temp gauges all read normal. I stopped and topped the…

Engine · received Oct 12, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11770577

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with the 6.2L V8 (RPO L87), built November 2020. Mileage at failure: 11268. On XXX the check engine light came on with DTCs P0011 and P0016. The engine developed a rattle at startup and when lifting off the throttle around 40 mph. On XXX Fowler Chevrolet ([XXX])…

Engine · received Oct 8, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11769970

2021 Silverado with 5.3 engine/8spd transmission/38,000 miles just outside of the 5-year powertrain warranty *No current recalls under this VIN as of 10/07/2026* Undiagnosed issues with symptoms similar to transmission or rear end slippage, torque converter or clutch pack problems. No warning…

Power Train · received Oct 7, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11769503

While driving vehicle service power steering light came on had no power steering had to wrestle steering wheel no power steering a smaller person would not have able to handle it

Steering · received Oct 7, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11769678

Other Chevrolet Silverado 1500 years

← 2020 Silverado 1500 · 2022 Silverado 1500 →

See all Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems by year, every Chevrolet model, or the Chevrolet VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?

Owners most often report engine, power train, electrical system problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 386 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?

Yes, 8 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Silverado 1500 model years, the 2021 has more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 4–5 out of 5 stars (varies by version) overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.