Complaint volume
729 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
729 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado, grouped by component category.
729 Total complaints
16 Crash reports
11 Fire reports
11 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, engine and engine cooling. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 16 crash reports, 11 fire reports, 11 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 160 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 55,255 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to engine, power train, engine and engine cooling?
- 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?
16 Crash
11 Fire
11 Injury
0 Fatality
62 Towed
6 Medical attention
What are the most common 2021 Chevrolet Silverado complaint categories?
ENGINE 211
POWER TRAIN 126
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 41
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 36
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 36
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 21
STRUCTURE 19
STEERING 18
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 14
SERVICE BRAKES 14
729 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling), and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the vehicle had passed the recall inspection, and no repair was needed. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, five months later, the engine seized in the middle of the roadway. The contact was unable to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was shifted to neutral(N) and pushed over to the side of the road with assistance. The vehicle was impounded by the local Police Department. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the engine had seized. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the recall remedy had failed to correct the issue. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: RQ26001 (Engine). The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 125,700. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 125,700 |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle lunged forward while the accelerator pedal was depressed after the brake pedal was depressed. While the contact’s husband was driving approximately 78 MPH and attempting to accelerate, the transmission light drive(D) started flashing, and the transmission unexpectedly shifted to neutral(N). The driver was able to coast to the side of the road, depress the brake pedal, and wait for a while before continuing to drive. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, there was no cause for the transmission failure found. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure, and a case was opened. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 63,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 63,000 |
| Mar 2026 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the message "Service DEF System" was displayed and the check engine warning was illuminated. The message speed would reduce by increments of 10 to 15 MPH until the vehicle could not accelerate 5 MPH after driving 75 miles. The contact stated that a handheld scanner was used to retrieve DTC: P20B9. The contact stated that the failure was a recurring failure. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the DEF tank heater module needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the dealer was aware of TSB: 21-NA-002 and 22-NA-150; however, the vehicle had a Salvage Title and was not eligible for the repairs. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 53,400. | Crash: No Fire: No | 53,400 |
| Mar 2026 | LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the tailgate inadvertently opened. The tailgate was closed, but the tailgate reopened unexpectedly within several seconds. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the tailgate opened unexpectedly. After closing the tailgate, the tailgate reopened within several seconds. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The electronics freeze up and sometimes the stereo turns off and won't come back on. The transmission perks and then revs up then hits gear and kicks real hard. The transmission feels like it's going to vibrate out from under the truck going down the road at certain speeds! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | My vehicle has been at the dealership since February 4 due to a transmission failure involving the valve body, which is currently on national back order along with the converter. These parts are required to complete the repair, and the vehicle is not drivable. This issue occurred after previous major repairs, including engine lifter replacement and a CV axle repair. It has now been 71 days without a repair. The dealer has confirmed the failures, but the manufacturer has not provided a repair timeline or a definitive solution. I have not received consistent updates since March 19, and the vehicle remains out of service with no estimated completion date.. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ENGINE | On February 12th, the check engine light came on in my 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 with the L87 6.2 L engine. The following morning, I took it to the shop and had it checked. It was diagnosed with crank shaft bearing coming apart. I contacted the dealership and they told me that my VIN was not associated with the L87 recall, but that they would see if GM would be willing to help with the costst associated with replacing the engine. They agreed to pay for about 30% of the repair. I pointed out to them that my engine was manufactured in the Tonowanda, NY plant which is the site where many of the recalled engines were manufactured. They still refuse to cover the cost of the new engine. I feel that they should cover my costs since the engine was manufactured in the plant and broke down for the exact reason for the recall. My costs are over $10,000 due to their defective engine. Please add my VIN to the recall. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | - What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? High pressure fuel pump, lifter, and cam shaft failure. - How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Potential crash w/ kids in truck, loss of power, surging, engine damage, etc.. (fuel pump) Potential crash w/ kids in truck, engine seizure, severe engine damaged, metal fragments, loss of power, abrupt lock up, fire hazard, excessive noise, etc.. (lifter/cam shaft) - Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes confirmed by dealer Hiley Chevorlet, case # xxx w/ General Motors. - Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes by service dealer Hiley Chevorlet, case # xxx w/ General Motors. - Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No, no check engine light or messages. Bought the 21' silverado about 18 months ago, recently the truck began to sound and drive terrible, it was found to be a bad high pressure fuel pump, bad lifter, and damaged camshaft. Dealership acknowledged that these are common issues w/ this model & year of vehicle and the parts are defective parts that they use in the manufacturing process of this model. They deemed it was out of warranty range as it's still under year 5 however I exceeded the powertrain warranty by 10,000 miles so they will not cover the issues and damage. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN | I'm reaching out to hopefully prevent a horrific situation not only to myself or any other GM owners. My vehicle has been diagnosed with having a faulty transmission valve body. There are so many that have failed that the dealer cannot give me a time when the part will be available. Because my vehicle is out of warranty, they are not willing to help. When I looked online it said as of late 2024 there were at least 1,888 field reports were identified. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN | On 03/13/26, I was taking a family trip when all of a sudden my 2021 chevy silverado (with 6.2L v8) began to lose power and shake uncontrollably causing me to make an emergency roadside stop. Fortunately, traffic was light and I was able to avoid a collision. I immediately heard a loud knocking sound coming from my engine and several check engine safety lights were displayed. On 3/16, I brought my truck to a local GM dealership and was advised that I needed a complete new engine replacement due to catastrophic engine failure because my rods and crankshaft had blown in my engine. The dealership checked for recalls on my truck but were surprised that my vin did not pull up a recall even though there was a recent major engine recall (# N252494000) issued for my exact model truck with the same issues my truck displayed. It should be noted that my vehicle had less than 24,000 miles on it and I have kept up with regular oil change and maintenance service and that before this issue I have had zero issues with this vehicle. To make matters worse my powertrain warranty expired 2 months prior to this incident so I am having to pay out of pocket over $12k for a new engine. On 03/19/26, I contacted Chevy but was told there was nothing they could do for me and stated that NHTSA would have to get my vehicle added to the recall. I am requesting that my vehicle and others like it get added to this massive engine recall so I can get reimbursed for my new engine and also to protect other families from possibly being involved in a major unavoidable crash. Thanks in advance for your help! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ENGINE | GM 6.2L motor failure causing motor to have to be replaced. Not covered by GM's recall due to being VIN specific | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE | The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle started shaking abnormally. The Service Electronic Stability Control (ESC) warning light, Parking Brake warning light, a wrench warning symbol, and the check engine warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and confirmed that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 125,000 |
| Mar 2026 | ENGINE | 2021 Silverado LTZ L87 6.2L V8 engine. 49753 mi. February 27th 2026 total loss of power when parking. A few weeks later hearing knocking noises coming from driver side engine area. this is my daily driver and need this issued fixed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that upon shifting to park(P) and attempting to turn off the vehicle, the message "Shift to Park" was displayed, and the vehicle failed to turn off unintendedly. The contact stated that upon jiggling the gear shifter, the vehicle responded as intended. The contact stated that the failure recurred intermittently. The contact stated that the failure recurred upon arriving at the residence at 1:00 AM. The vehicle was able to turn off after being reset by temporarily disconnecting the battery. The dealer was contacted, and an appointment was scheduled for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under a related lawsuit settlement. The failure mileage was approximately 53,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 53,000 |
| Mar 2026 | SERVICE BRAKES | Master Brake Cylinder failed according to dealership. This however is the second time this issue has occurred. This system failure caused brakes to not respond correctly leading to risk of collision. My safety and my kid's safety was put at risk due to issue happening while vehicle was in drive. Part was initially replaced in April of 2025 and issue has occurred two more times since then in December of 2025 and February of 2026. Vehicle has been inspected by dealership multiple times but has not been fixed. Symptoms of issue included clicking sound when pressing brake pedal and becomes stiff. There were warning in the dash and lights: "Brake System Failure", "43MPH Top Speed", "Service ESC" and "Service Brake System". Along with Check Engine light, Brake light and Traction Control light. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN | I purchased this vehicle Oct 2024 from CARMAX Tallahassee FL. When I test drove the vehicle I noticed a pause when it was placed in drive. The after about 10 seconds it would engage and begion moving (49,000 miles). I told the dealer and the said it my be the torque and advised me to take it to the GM dealership. I did take it 4 times. The said they adjusted the transmission software , but the problem persisted. Now the manuafactures warranty has expired and the vehicle is much worse now. It atcually throws a check engine light. I went to auto zone for the plug in tester to fine out what the code was. P0700, P0746, P2714. The truck will completely lock and not move. This vehickle has not perfomred properly since my purhcase and I taken it to the dealer x4. Something need to be doner and it shoulod be included iin the recal to be repaire. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ENGINE | In 2024, the vehicle began experiencing severe jerking and drivability issues that appear to be transmission-related. We first took the vehicle to Terry Cullen Chevrolet in Southlake. The vehicle remained in the shop for months while still under warranty, yet the issue was never properly resolved. Attempts to communicate with management were largely unsuccessful, and we received little support in addressing the problem. Following guidance from Chevrolet corporate customer service, we then took the vehicle back to the original dealership, Nash Chevrolet in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Nash Chevrolet also held the truck for several months without resolving the issue. During this time, my husband who is self-employed in the home renovation industry—was left without adequate transportation. Because his work requires a truck, he was unable to complete scheduled projects, resulting in an estimated loss of $50,000–$60,000 in income. After the vehicle was returned to us, the same issue occurred again. When we attempted to contact Nash Chevrolet for assistance, our calls were no longer returned. We were forced to seek help elsewhere and brought the truck to a GMC/Buick dealership in Newnan, Georgia. The vehiche is unsafe to drive and after further research found this information and this is exactly the issue we have experience out of this truck making it unsafe to drive-8-Speed Transmission Issues (2015-2019): Litigation exists for 2015–2019 Silverados equipped with Hydra-Matic 8-speed transmissions, alleging rough shifting, hesitation, and vibration. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | I brought my vehicle to the dealership on March 7, 2026, to address the outstanding safety recall. However, I was informed that the recall repair cannot be completed until I first pay $1,100 to replace the idler pulley. Unfortunately, an unexpected $1,100 expense is not currently in my budget. It is quite concerning to continue driving a vehicle with a known risk of losing propulsion, as the increased risk of a crash is a significant safety worry for me. I would appreciate any assistance or alternative solutions you can provide to ensure this safety recall is resolved. Please find the message from the dealership: Additional Diagnostic recommendations: we are going to want to get the Idler pulley replaced 1st as it can cause unwanted noise and vibration during the testing with the Pico scope. after the repair take the vehicle on a good test drive get it good and warm Then retest the engine with the Pico scope and proceed with those test results. we still want to make sure it is tested correctly If the engine passes just note under Special Coverage N252494003 This special coverage covers if an engine failure occurs in the vehicle as a result of the condition described above for a period of 10 years or 150,000 miles (240,000 km), whichever occurs first, from the date the vehicle was originally placed in service, regardless of ownership." | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, a message that the rear tailgate was open was displayed. The vehicle was stopped and inspected, and discovered that the tailgate had erroneously opened while driving. After closing the tailgate and driving away, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the failure occurred several times while the vehicle was parked. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V060000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 52,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 52,000 |
| Mar 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The tailgate release switch is randomly operating, allowing the tailgate to drop. This has happened at highway speeds (from 55 to 75) and also while in park. I've had to pull over on multiple occasions to close the tailgate. This could allow items to fall out the back of my truck and possible strike other vehicles and their passengers at speed. The dealership has reported it can also drain the battery, which can jeopardize my safety as I am often in the backcountry in very cold temperatures and could be stranded. (Has not happened to me as of yet) This is a known issue that other Chevrolet 1500 trucks have been recalled for (in Canada) and other models of the Silverado in the US. My dealership (Fox Negaunee) stated that they have received numerous complaints on this issue but no recall has been issued for my vehicle yet. I have spoken with the dealership over the phone, but I have not brought it in until further information on a recall may become available. There are no warning lights that appear. This started happening about a month ago, and has continued since then. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | My 2021 Chevrolet Silverado, with approximately 84,000 miles, experienced a premature and catastrophic transmission failure while driving. The vehicle began to shudder severely and lost its ability to accelerate properly, creating an unsafe driving condition. I was able to get the vehicle to a dealership. The dealership diagnosed a complete torque converter failure requiring a full transmission replacement. Crucially, at no point before or during this failure did the vehicle's onboard diagnostic systems provide any check engine light or warning message. A sudden loss of power and transmission function on a highway is a major safety risk. I believe this is a widespread defect that needs to be investigated before it causes a serious accident. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2021 Silverado tailgates often stop working due to a faulty, corroded electronic switch caused by water intrusion. A major 2020-2024 GM recall exists for this, which can cause unexpected opening. Check for corrosion in the tailgate switch/connector, a pinched wiring harness, or check for a blown fuse. This is the 2nd time my truck is at ganley Chevy in Cleveland Ohio. They already fixed 1 rotted wire due to corrosion. And now having same issue again that tailgate won’t open. They told me approximately 1000.00 to find and MAYBE fix the problem. This truck should be included in the recall as to it falls under the year of the issues and that it’s the same EXACT ISSUES AS LISTED Again they have my truck in shop and I feel my truck falls under the recall proximity of said items. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | STEERING | When I started my truck, a "service power steering" error was displayed in my DIC. My power steering lost all control. After driving for 10 minutes and then shutting the truck off for about 5 minutes, the system reset. This looks very similar to the recall #N212333900, but 2021 Silverados were not included with the recall. This is the 2nd time it happened. The first time was in 2023. It's pretty scary when you can't steer without extreme exertion. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ENGINE | The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, there was a metallic sound as if a bolt had fallen inside the engine compartment and was rotating and spinning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the camshaft and the engine lifters had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and NHTSA Action Numbers: EA25007 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) and RQ26001 (Engine). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance because the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 116,000 |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN | UNKNOWN. I have had issues with my vehicle since the purchase. Very subtle in the beginning, then it became more noticeable. There was a recall issue with a valve in the operation of the transmission, this issue is now affecting the shifting into different gears. The other day a vehicle ran a red light and my wife and I were in the intersection. I tried to accelerate to get out of the way, but here was a delay before the truck's transmission engaged. Luckily it did engage and the collision was avoided. This is a serious issue, an issue that shouldn't exist, an issue that the manufacturer knew about. I would like someone to investigate this and hopefully, help me with this issue. [XXX] [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |