2021 GMC Sierra 1500 Engine Problems
Owners have filed 314 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500, 54% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 57,761 miles. The words owners use most often: “coolant control” (11% of reports).
- 314engine complaints
- 57,761median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $2,750typical repair cost reported by owners
- 63%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Coolant control: mentioned in 34 of 314 complaints (11%)
- Engine failed: mentioned in 21 of 314 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 at $2,750, and half of them between $2,300 and $10,050.
Based on 12 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2025–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 40 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 314 complaints, 5 a fire, 1 an injury.
GMC Sierra 1500 engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sierra 1500 | 96 | 68% | 5,509 |
| 2025 Sierra 1500 | 54 | 46% | 25,819 |
| 2024 Sierra 1500 | 188 | 51% | 25,000 |
| 2023 Sierra 1500 | 209 | 43% | 17,500 |
| 2022 Sierra 1500 | 238 | 40% | 60,800 |
| 2021 Sierra 1500 | 314 | 54% | 57,761 |
| 2020 Sierra 1500 | 239 | 50% | 44,000 |
| 2019 Sierra 1500 | 309 | 47% | 74,000 |
| 2018 Sierra 1500 | 67 | 22% | 47,000 |
| 2017 Sierra 1500 | 58 | 16% | 56,000 |
| 2016 Sierra 1500 | 39 | 11% | 73,760 |
| 2015 Sierra 1500 | 84 | 12% | 57,000 |
| 2014 Sierra 1500 | 69 | 9% | 58,500 |
| 2013 Sierra 1500 | 8 | 7% | 151,500 |
| 2012 Sierra 1500 | 6 | 6% | 126,000 |
| 2011 Sierra 1500 | 16 | 6% | 40,688 |
| 2010 Sierra 1500 | 11 | 7% | 67,500 |
| 2009 Sierra 1500 | 13 | 6% | 83,500 |
| 2008 Sierra 1500 | 19 | 5% | 109,000 |
| 2007 Sierra 1500 | 19 | 7% | 87,000 |
| 2006 Sierra 1500 | 5 | 3% | 143,000 |
| 2005 Sierra 1500 | 6 | 3% | 123,500 |
| 2004 Sierra 1500 | 5 | 2% | 96,494 |
| 2003 Sierra 1500 | 3 | 2% | 150,000 |
| 2001 Sierra 1500 | 2 | 1% | 174,900 |
| 2000 Sierra 1500 | 1 | 1% | 270,000 |
| 1999 Sierra 1500 | 1 | 1% | 677 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
2021 GMC with 6.2L motor. The engine begin to produce a clattering noise in the upper part of the engine. When the clattering happens the vehicle will shudder. I took the vehicle into a certified independent service center who diagnosed a catastrophic engine failure as a result of lifter and…
While towing a trailer on 6/26/26, the 6.2L L87 engine suffered a sudden drop in oil pressure, began knocking, and completely lost motive power on the roadway. Because the engine seized instantly, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of power steering and power braking while managing the extreme…
Vehicle is a 2021 GMC Sierra with 3.0 Diesel. Coolant control valve is bad. Vehicle has 108,000 miles. GM issued Bulletin N252508341 extending the warranty to 15 years or 150,000 miles for 2021-2022 GMC Sierra. Now they are saying my VIN # is not effected and they will not cover the replacement…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2021 GMC Sierra 1500s have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 314 owner complaints about engine for the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 (54% of the 585 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 57,761 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,750 (half paid between $2,300 and $10,050), from 12 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500?
The most frequent phrase is “coolant control”, in 34 of 314 complaints, followed by “engine failed” (21).
Other 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 problems
See all 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 problems or engine problems across all Sierra 1500 years.