Complaint volume
765 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2021 Chevrolet Silverado Complaints
765 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado, grouped by component category.
765 Total complaints
18 Crash reports
11 Fire reports
12 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are engine, power train, electrical system. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 18 crash reports, 11 fire reports, 12 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 162 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 55,888 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to engine, power train, electrical system?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2021 Chevrolet Silverado?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2021 Chevrolet Silverado
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado complaints?
18 Crash
11 Fire
12 Injury
0 Fatality
64 Towed
8 Medical attention
What are the most common 2021 Chevrolet Silverado complaint categories?
ENGINE 255
POWER TRAIN 145
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 49
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 43
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 34
STEERING 22
SERVICE BRAKES 21
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 20
STRUCTURE 19
AIR BAGS 14
765 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2026 | ENGINE | Loud ticking noise and power loss. Transmission shift slips from 2nd to 3rd . Called factory and dealership for check up. Said no problem… Told to Change oil. Did this, NO CHANGE. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2026 | ENGINE | On June 3, 2026, my 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT Trail Boss, which has a 6.2L L87 V8 engine, stalled and shut off unexpectedly while I was stopped at a traffic light on a public highway. The engine died without warning, leaving me stranded in traffic and creating a serious safety risk for me and other drivers because of the chance of a collision. I had to call the police to come and sit behind me to keep myself safe from a collision while I waited for a tow truck. A dealer diagnosed the vehicle with DTC P0016, indicating a crankshaft/camshaft position correlation fault. This points to either an engine timing problem or an internal engine failure. The dealer confirmed the issue and gave me a repair estimate of about $11,000. Both the vehicle and repair records can be inspected if needed. Before the failure, the vehicle showed signs of an engine timing or internal issue and eventually triggered the check engine light with code P0016. After researching, I discovered many reports from other owners with the same 6.2L L87 engine who faced similar problems, including P0016 faults, engine stalling, internal engine damage, and complete engine replacement. While some vehicles with this engine have been part of recalls or special coverage programs, my vehicle is not included, even though it shows the same failure pattern. At the time of the failure, the vehicle has about 140,336 miles. I believe my vehicle has the same defect affecting other 6.2L L87 engines. I ask that NHTSA look into whether more vehicles should be added to any current or future recalls or defect investigations. Thank you for your attention to this matter. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2026 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | When i first purchased the vehicle off the lot a few years back (its a 21, so probably in 22?) Brand new off the lot minimal miles. Within the first few months we started having issues with the power wanting to shift down. We took it in, the dealership found nothing wrong with it and cleared the codes. This happened a few more times. The last 2 times I took it in. They mentioned that there were recalls on it and could possibly be causing the issue. Took care of that (last august- have docs. to prove it as along with what they did and what we stated). Fast forward now 2 months ago (April of 25) and it starts acting up again and wants to downshift, shifting hard, stuttering and not wanting to drive, the same things we have been complaining about since beginning with lights on etc. However, this time we tried to shut it off and give some down time to get back home. After about 10 mins, we went to start the truck to get it home, and it would not start. We had it towed to the dealership. Once they got it, after 2 weeks of waiting we were finally presented with, the starter went out and the wiring box needed to be replaced (this has to be done before they can look into the original problem again) (because without those 2 things fixed, they wont be able to do) it is now June. I took the vehicle home, due to not having funds to fix right away. After doing some research and some digging, it would appear that the issues that we are having with the truck are issues that are already being recalled on this specific truck and model. However, for mine it is not, because I have the 2.7 l turbo and not the 6.8. THere have been numerous complaints about the known issue.(which i found out is the other wiring by the engine that is being chafed which is causing the wires to break and causing the other box and alternator to go and be replaced). If you replace it fries all again. Why is the 2.6 engine problem thats reported not recalled but rest is and it is known. I also see this online | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2026 | ENGINE | Loud ticking noise and power loss. Transmission shift slips from 2ed to 3rd .Recall to factory for check up. Said no problem? Changed oil. They say it was good. It is not. | Crash: Yes Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | After putting our Silverado in park it will not turn to the off position or release the key from the ignition immediately. We have to wait 1-3 minutes without attempting to turn it in the off position and then the key will release from ignition. No warning lamps. No error codes on reader. Repeatable by auto technician who suggested a battery change- our current battery was fine and did not fix the issue. If you forget and try to remove the key in under a minute after parking you have to restart the truck, go back to park and then start the 1-3 minute countdown all over before it will release the key. The truck is in park, the parking brake is engaged (although we tried without using the brake and still won’t release key) This means the trucks battery has to run until it will release the key. Or chance leaving the key in the ignition (still draining battery) since it won’t turn to the off position. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2026 | ENGINE | Was on way to trade truck in onb6/6/26 and got a cylinder #7 misfire. Replaced spark plug and wire and moved coil packs around to trace and stayed on #7. Just had recall completed on 9/25/25 and stated that I've heard a rattling noise in engine area. They performed recall and changed to new oil suggested by GM. Dealership said noise was transmission. I told them that was replaced already within last 50k miles under warranty. Drive it for a few days and rattling noise still there. Took back to dealer on 9/30/25 at cost of $200 diagnositc and stated there is a grinding noise under light acceleration like it's metal on metal. Dealer stated that it was the rear seat rattling. There were NO noises in the cab, only coming from outside at driverside motor area. Called GM 10/1/25 to let them know the denial of motor replacement and we wanted 2nd opinion but we would have to pay out of pocket again. On 6/4/26 had to have truck towed to new dealer. New dealer won't make deal on new truck because of this and we have 2 trips already booked and paid for and 1 at end of June. New dealer is putting in service on 6/8/26 to verify cause. I have called GM after making repairs and they said it was between me and the dealer, there is nothing they can do. This is unacceptable! Im fine if they would offset cost and buy a new Chevy truck and we are going to fight to get it made right. This does make us want to change brands even though we've bought 5 Chevys in the last 10 years. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2026 | ENGINE | I have fighting this issue since January and have not gotten any help or relief from Chevrolet. This issue caused a significant safety risk and has cost me $12,000. I am writing to formally report a serious safety issue involving my 2021 Chevrolet Silverado that resulted in a sudden loss of power while merging onto an interstate highway. On XXX, I brought my vehicle in for service to replace the upper and lower ball joints, as well as the control arms. I retrieved the vehicle from the repair shop on XXX, and departed the same day for travel to [XXX]. Later that evening, while traveling southbound on [XXX] near [XXX], I stopped at Exit XXX. Upon re-entering the highway and accelerating to merge into traffic, the vehicle began shifting through gears abnormally. While in approximately 6th gear at around 2,900 RPM, a loud banging noise occurred, followed immediately by a significant loss of engine power. At the same time, the check engine light illuminated. Due to the sudden and unexpected loss of power while actively merging into highway traffic, I was nearly rear-ended by another vehicle. I was forced to take immediate evasive action and pull onto the shoulder to avoid a collision. This incident created a highly dangerous situation not only for myself but for surrounding motorists. This failure occurred without warning and directly impacted my ability to safely operate the vehicle in a high-speed traffic environment. I believe this presents a significant safety concern that warrants investigation. Please let me know if any additional information is required. I appreciate your attention to this matter and request that this incident be formally documented and reviewed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2026 | AIR BAGS | Air bag light was on , took to dealership because this was absolutely a safety hazard! The left front crash sensor is defective. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1. An electrical failure from a component of the main wiring harness causes the ECM to respond with Service ESC, Reduced Engine Power, Service parking brake, service traction control. 2. Interstate driving requires maintaining rate of speed to avoid collision. The vehicle is much more difficult to drive as acceleration is very poor and also main safety functions like traction control are disabled. 3. Check engine light stays on until codes have been read. After codes have been cleared, normal driving and usually turning or bumps in the road tend to trigger the recurrence. 4. The vehicle has only been reviewed by the dealership for this issue. 5. No warnings before the failure occurs | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1. An electrical failure from a component of the main wiring harness causes the ECM to respond with Service ESC, Reduced Engine Power, Service parking brake, service traction control. 2. Interstate driving requires maintaining rate of speed to avoid collision. The vehicle is much more difficult to drive as acceleration is very poor and also main safety functions like traction control are disabled. 3. Check engine light stays on until codes have been read. After codes have been cleared, normal driving and usually turning or bumps in the road tend to trigger the recurrence. 4. The vehicle has only been reviewed by the dealership for this issue. 5. No warnings before the failure occurs. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | ENGINE | Truck started ticking/clicking a few months back and the ESC or ECS light came on took it to the dealer Carl Black Chevrolet in Orlando, where the was supposed to to fix the problem under the previous owner, my boss who gave me the truck and 30 days after receiving the title the motor is bad. Mileage now is 112,000, the truck has burned the right fuel and had proper oil changes. Now the motor is blown as per a certified mechanic northeast auto and truck service in Ocala. First owner called General Motors to see if they could help and was told it should have gone to a Chevy dealer so they won’t or cant help. Motor is blown on a truck with low miles and this is how Chevy appreciate its drivers who purchase their vechiles. Buy American, they say…wow! On [XXX] the same reading came on again. This time it said service emergency brakes, parked it, went in store to purchase food, came out, started truck, drove 4 miles, parked truck went in to work and three hour later came out and white smoke rolled out the back and inside cab. What the heck! Embarrassing … had to leave truck… Chevy replace this engine, please. Was concerned about it INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Custom 2.7 L Turbo 4 cylinder with 34,000 miles When Truck cranks and put in gear begins moving at low speed between 1-2 gear (low speed 5-10 mph forward and also in put into reverse) hard jolted severely injuring passenger. Felt like being rear-ended by another car. Passenger was hurt & required Trauma 1 EMS & 2 surgeries (Spinal Fusion Surgery) hospitalization from 12/2/2025 to 12/13/2025. The truck jolt directly caused this accident and there were many recalls for this truck yet we had no direct knowledge of this information & was never notified of any of these issues. Truck was services at same dealership just weeks prior to accident. The truck check engine light came on only after the accident. It happened on a private gated property. Only select trucks have been said to do this very hard jolted injuring passenger and owners are not made aware using Silverado 1500 trucks. Please acknowledge receipt of this report and advise. Thank you. | Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: 1 Medical attention | Unknown |
| May 2026 | AIR BAGS | 25 to 30 MPH front end collision with no air bag deployment. During repair it showed airbags deployed although none were out. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 2 Towed | Unknown |
| May 2026 | ENGINE | I have a 2021 Silverado LT trailboss. Catastrophic engine failure. Camshaft bearing and lifter failure. First lifter replacement @ 16,000 miles. Second at 104,000 miles. Was told by GM the 6.2L L87 I have is not affected due to a Canadian VIN. The sticker on the truck says Assembled in Kentucky. Gm charged $18,000 for a refurbished motor. The “new” motor had lifter failure at 12,000 miles. Canada is now included in the recall but I was again told by GM that my engine is not affected due to being built in September 2020. I believe this engine bearing failure goes back further than they like to admit. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | ENGINE | I was driving and all of a sudden engine and transmission failed many lights appeared on the dashboard brakes were not braking, the truck started to lose power and making weird noises. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | STEERING | Sudden loss of power steering, usually upon initial start. May return, may not return during drive. Began around 1 week ago. Sudden loss of power steering when turning either right or left has occurred causing a dangerous situation. Upon loss of power steering, 2 warnings appear. One for loss of power steering and the other for the trailer brake. Have never trailered anything with truck. Check engine light has come on at times, others it has not. Steering failure has occurred approximately 6 times. An internet search found some reference to my vehicle being informally added to the recall affecting other GM Vehicles. Vehicle has not been inspected yet. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | ENGINE | The engine was burning oil, so did a consumption test. The dealer took apart the engine and found the rings for the pistons were leaking and scaring was resulting. This caused me to buy part of a new engine because it was 6days past warranty with only 44,000mi on it. Also, at 18,000mi, a lifter bent and needed that replaced. There are numerous reports for this engine. It should be recalled! I shouldn't have to pay out of pocket for the defaulted error proned engine. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | SERVICE BRAKES | While driving my 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Trail Boss, multiple warning lights and messages suddenly appeared related to the ABS and brake system. The brake pedal became extremely difficult to press and the truck became unsafe to drive. The issue happened unexpectedly while the vehicle was in operation, creating a serious safety hazard and risk of accident or injury. After the incident, the truck was inspected by a mechanic who advised that the brake booster had essentially fallen apart and that I effectively had little to no braking capability. I was also informed that the condition and quality of the braking components were not acceptable for a vehicle of this age. This vehicle is only five years old and has been regularly maintained. For approximately the last three years, routine maintenance including oil changes, tire rotations, and inspections were performed at a Chevrolet dealership. At no time was I warned of any brake-related issue or safety concern. A major brake system failure should not occur suddenly on a properly maintained vehicle, especially without warning. This incident was extremely dangerous and could have resulted in a serious crash. I am submitting this complaint because I am concerned there may be a defect involving the brake system, brake booster, ABS system, or related components on this vehicle. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, a flashing check engine warning light appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the received fault code PO300 which was a general code for a misfire in the engine. The contact brought the vehicle back to the dealer multiple times due to various fault codes; however, the contact was given the same information. The contact then received a "Low Oil, Check Oil", the contact checked the oil and discovered no oil on the engine's dipstick. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed back to the dealer where they began an oil consumption test. The valves collapsed and the dealer replaced the valve in cylinders 1,3,5, and 7 as well as the spark plugs. Despite the repair, the contact stated that the failure returned almost two months later. The contact continued the oil consumption test and stated that the vehicle was losing 3 quarts of oil each oil change. The manufacturer had been notified of the failure on multiple occasions and had made multiple vehicle buyback requested; the manufacturer denied each buyback request. After his latest phone call with the manufacturer, he was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 12,000. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 12,000 |
| May 2026 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado LD Crew. The contact stated that while reversing the vehicle, the rear end locked up. Also, when accelerated, the vehicle jerked forward and stalled. When the vehicle is shutdown and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage. 64,900. | Crash: No Fire: No | 64,900 |
| May 2026 | POWER TRAIN | My 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with the 3.0 diesel is experiencing constant high running engine fan, engine power reduced notification on the dash, fluctuating temperature and is showing a P1098 code indicating the coolant control valve needs replaced. GM has issued a special coverage on this part, which my truck is well withing the parameters for. However, GM tells me the VIN isn't associated with the special coverage. I have spoken with other owners who have the same year / engine vehicle as I do, and GM replaced their part for free under the special coverage. I have not been giving any explanation as to why my vehicle isn't covered even though the bulletin N25250834 clearly states my vehicle and year. I escalated to the GM executive level and have failed to get my coolant control valve replaced. The vehicle reducing engine power is a major safety concern in traffic as well as the obvious over heating issue. GM is blatantly mishandling the situation. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | POWER TRAIN | 47,000 miles and the transmission coolant lines are weeping and need to be replaced. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | I am submitting a formal safety complaint regarding an electrical system failure on my 2021 Chevrolet Silverado with approximately 61,000 miles. I brought the vehicle to Taylor Grubaugh Chevrolet of Waynesville after the check engine light illuminated. The dealership diagnosed a premature wiring harness failure caused by chafing. They also stated that this issue is known to affect multiple GM vehicles and is documented in Technical Service Bulletin 21 NA 149. Wiring harness failure presents a significant safety concern. A compromised harness can lead to erratic electrical behavior, reduced engine performance, stalling, or sudden loss of power while driving. With that the concern a possible vehicle malfunction or losing power in traffic came to light. The dealerships service department confirmed the problem, verified the wiring harness failure, & referenced the applicable GM technical bulletin. The vehicle was inspected by the authorized Chevrolet dealership. GM declined to cover the repair. No police, insurance, or other third party inspections have been conducted. Despite acknowledging that this is a documented & recurring issue across GM models, the GM informed me that the repair would not be covered under warranty or recall. At only 61,000 miles, a wiring harness failure due to chafing is not consistent with normal wear & tear & instead suggests a premature defect. Given that this is a known and documented defect, I believe it should be recalled. After further research, I discovered that this issue is far from isolated. There are more than 1,500 complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau and approximately 800 complaints submitted to NHTSA reporting the same or similar wiring harness failures across GM vehicles. The volume of complaints strongly suggests a widespread defect that may pose ongoing safety risks to consumers. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Once I disengaged the auto stop on my vehicle, I would accelerate from a stop and I would loose my brakes. This happened several times. I took it to the shop and was told it was fine. Finally, one day I was descending on an overpass, disengaged my auto stop and my brakes were complete failure, even my emergency brakes, my check engine light engaged (the code read emissions issue). Was able to stop in a field, get it back to the dealership to find out I lost the master break cylinder but no indication on prior visits. The truck, check engine light will spontaneously start blinking but hold no codes. I have had it routinely serviced and it will overheat and oil will run hot but mechanics find no issues | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado1500. The contact stated while driving the vehicle he felt shuttering and noticed his automatic start does not start. The contact also experienced engine reduced power issues, preceded by a warning sign on the dashboard stating "Engine Power is Reduced" while driving. Additionally, the contact noticed a significant loss of mileage per gallon and a loss of oil. The contact noticed a check engine light on, which had codes that had a crankshaft and cam shaft sensors that are not operating properly, which the vehicle cannot be inspected due to the failure. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed to need a new timing chain to control on the cams and crankshaft. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 110,000 |