2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 6, 2026 · 88 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Silverado 2500 years
About as many complaints as other years 16th of 32 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 88 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. That ranks 16th out of 32 Silverado 2500 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (30 complaints, 34%), typically at around 97,000 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 1 fire, 2 injuries. There are 6 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.

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

Compare with another car

Most common 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 problems

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

Power Train30 · ~97,000 mi
Electrical System17 · ~1,656 mi
Service Brakes12 · ~15,000 mi
Engine8 · ~52,100 mi
Latches/locks/linkages8 · ~39,500 mi
Fuel/propulsion System6
Unknown or Other6
Structure4
Forward Collision Avoidance3
Air Bags2
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Power Train3034%97,000——
Electrical System1719%1,656——
Service Brakes1214%15,000——
Engine89%52,100——
Latches/locks/linkages89%39,500——
Fuel/propulsion System67%———
Unknown or Other67%———
Structure45%———
Forward Collision Avoidance33%———
Air Bags22%———
Back Over Prevention22%———
Exterior Lighting22%———
Steering22%———
Tires22%———
Vehicle Speed Control22%100,000——
Fuel System, Diesel11%83,000——
Fuel System, Gasoline11%12,000——
Trailer Hitches11%110,000——
Visibility/wiper11%———

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

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2025, with 29 complaints
2021: 112021112022: 5202252023: 7202372024: 212024212025: 292025292026: 15202615

n = 88 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 recalls (6)

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

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.

Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latchFeb 1, 2024 · NHTSA campaign 24V060000 · 570,434 vehicles

Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with power-unlatching tailgates. The tailgate's electronic gate-release switch may short circuit due to water intrusion, which can result in the tailgate inadvertently unlatching while the vehicle is in park.

Risk: An unlatched tailgate may open while driving and result in a loss of unsecured cargo, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Owners are advised to check that the tailgate is closed and latched before driving. Dealers will replace the exterior touchpad switch assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2024. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232426400.

Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:electric:control modulePark outsideSep 29, 2021 · NHTSA campaign 21V758000 · 3,241 vehicles

Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, and Sierra 3500 vehicles with electronic brake control modules (EBCM) replaced during vehicle assembly. The bolts that attach the brake pressure modulator valve (BPMV) assembly may not be properly tightened, which could fail to seal the two sub-assemblies and allow water intrusion.

Risk: Water in the BPMV may cause an electrical short circuit and increase the risk of fire.

Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from other structures until the recall repair is completed. Dealers will replace the BPMV assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 20, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212349181.

Tires:temporary/emergency spare tireJul 29, 2021 · NHTSA campaign 21V578000 · 86 vehicles

Problem: General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and GMC Sierra 2500 vehicles equipped with a 17" spare tire (RPO ZHQ or ZXT) and either the 20" accessory road tire (RPO REM) or the 18" accessory road tire (RPO Q2V). Operating the spare tire with other 20" or 18" tires can prevent the Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) from engaging.

Risk: An ABS system that cannot control the rear wheels independently increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will provide the appropriate spare tire and apply a new spare tire information label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 18, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212329780.

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.

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

  • 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.

Vehicle braking does not work- since new- dealer said it was funcitioning- sometimes you will get the warning and other times it does not and it never brakes. Transmission- i received a letter to bring truck in to have a software update for modulator valve wear....which was performed...since that…

Power Train · received Oct 6, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11769229

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact stated that while driving 15 MPH, there was a knocking sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, and the contact was informed that the engine was blown causing complete engine failure. The engine was…

Engine · received Sep 29, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11767683

I opened my passenger front door to load and the tailgate opens and closes by itself but doesn’t and remains open. I physically shut the tailgate and it opened again by itself. I started my truck to see if it would stop. It didn’t stop until I put my truck in reverse to back out of the garage…

Structure · received Sep 29, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11767859

Pulling out from a stop sign, a loud bang came from the transmission, and rear wheels momentarily locked up then truck acted like it was in neutral. Truck was able to drift to side of road. We called our GM dealer, and they told us that our warranty had expired. We had the truck towed to our…

Power Train · received Sep 23, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11766354

My 10L1000 transmission had a catastrophic failure internally which caused it to rough shift, sudden down shifting, not want to shift into gear at all, and high engine rpm prior to roughly shifting. I took it to the Chevy dealers mechanic the very next business day, only to find out that from the…

Power Train · received Jul 22, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11752243

Other Chevrolet Silverado 2500 years

← 2020 Silverado 2500 · 2022 Silverado 2500 →

See all Chevrolet Silverado 2500 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 2500?

Owners most often report power train, electrical system, service brakes problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 30 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500?

Yes, 6 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Silverado 2500 model years, the 2021 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.