Complaint volume
487 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 GMC Sierra Complaints
487 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 GMC Sierra, grouped by component category.
487 Total complaints
5 Crash reports
6 Fire reports
2 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 5 crash reports, 6 fire reports, 2 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 104 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 51,093 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 GMC Sierra?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2021 GMC Sierra
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2021 GMC Sierra complaints?
5 Crash
6 Fire
2 Injury
0 Fatality
30 Towed
3 Medical attention
What are the most common 2021 GMC Sierra complaint categories?
ENGINE 156
POWER TRAIN 59
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 37
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 29
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 26
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14
STEERING 13
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE 12
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 9
SERVICE BRAKES 9
487 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | POWER TRAIN | THE CONTACT'S FATHER OWNS A 2021 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER FATHER WAS DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE STALLED THREE TIMES ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND WAS TAKEN TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS. THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST TOWED TO Bill Kay Buick GMC (2300 Ogden Ave, Downers Grove, IL 60515) AND DIAGNOSED AS BATTERY FAILURE AND REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO Phillips Chevrolet of Lansing (17730 Torrence Ave, Lansing, IL 60438) AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CABLE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN TO Zeigler Buick GMC of Lincolnwood (6900 McCormick Blvd, Lincolnwood, IL 60712) BUT WAS NOT YET DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEALER WANTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 3,000 |
| May 2021 | ENGINE | 5300 miles and when you accelerate it knocks and or ticks, and loss of power all lights on dash came on | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2021 | STRUCTURE,VISIBILITY/WIPER | SUN GLARE REFLECTS OFF CENTER CONSOLE CUP HOLDER WITH SUCH INTENSITY IT'S HARD TO FOCUS ON THE ROAD EVEN WITH SUNGLASSES ON. | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,000 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | THE AUTO STOP FEATURE ON MY TRUCK IS DANGEROUS! THERE IS NO WAY TO PERMANENTLY DISABLE IT. WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC FROM A STOP, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DELAY FOR THE CAR TO RESTART AND GET MOVING! I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS. FORGET THE $20 IN GAS THIS JUNK MIGHT SAVE SOMEONE OVER A YEAR! IT IS DANGEROUS | Crash: No Fire: No | 10 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,ENGINE | RETURNED HOME AFTER SOME SHOPPING. PARKED TRUCK IN DRIVE WAY. APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES AFTER RETURNING HOME MY WIFE SAW TRUCK SMOKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WITHIN ANOTHER MINUTE OR TWO THERE WERE VISIBLE FLAMES COMING FROM THE BACK EDGE OF THE HOOD. WE CALLED 911. WITHIN 5 MINUTES THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT THE ENTIRE FRONT AND CAB OF THE TRUCK WAS DESTROYED. FIRE INVESTIGATORS DETERMINED FIRE STARTED AT BACK OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT NEAR BATTERY. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED PARKED IN OFF CONDITION. IN MY DRIVEWAY. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE NOTICED ON RIDE HOME AND THERE WERE NO PANEL ALERTS FOR PROBLEMS. | Crash: No Fire: Yes | 3,400 |
| Mar 2021 | POWER TRAIN | TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD WHEN SHIFTING UP AND WHEN DOWNSHIFTING. VEHICLE JERKS WHEN GOING SPEEDS <40 AFTER COMING OFF HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS >70. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,000 |
| Feb 2021 | ENGINE | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. WITHOUT WARNING AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO VEER TO SHOULDER OF THE ROAD GET OUT THE VEHICLE TO CHECK AND SEE WHAT THE NOISE WAS. THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES APPEARED BY THE REAR WHEEL ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE CONTACT GRABBED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER NO REPORT WAS FILED. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO QUALITY BUICK GMC, INC (7901 LOMAS BLVD NE, ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87110 (505) 765 1300) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND DETERMINE THE ENGINE WAS FAULTY THAT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTIES TO REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT FEELS UNSAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE STARTED AND STARTED AN INVESTIGATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,800. | Crash: No Fire: Yes Towed | 2,800 |
| Feb 2021 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | WHILE DRIVING DURING WINTER CONDITIONS WITH TEMPERATURE AT 3 DEGREES ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET WITH LIMITED TRAFFIC, THE DIESEL FUEL IN THE FUEL FILTER GELLED UP WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DISPLAY REDUCE POWER MODE AND THEN IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THE OWNERS MANUAL LISTS UTILIZING TOP TIER DIESEL WHICH I DID. WHILE ADDITIVES ARE NOT NORMALLY NEEDED IN MOST STATES TO FUEL FOR FREEZING CONDITIONS EVIDENTLY THEY ARE NEEDED IN OKLAHOMA. THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING IS THE ONLY PLACE WHERE THE FUEL GELLED UP, WHICH APPEARS TO BE A THEME IN MOST GMC DIESEL TRUCKS AND DOES NOT EFFECT FUEL IN THE FUEL TANK DUE TO VOLUME. GMC HAS DONE NOTHING TO IMPROVE THE DESIGN OR INCREASE INSULATION TO THE THIN FUEL FILTER HOUSING. IF I HAD BEEN IN FAST TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE IT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF LIFE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,500 |
| Jan 2021 | STEERING,LANE DEPARTURE | BRAND NEW 2021 SIERRA AT4. KEEP LANE ASSIST HASN'T WORKED SINCE DAY ONE. LANE DEPARTURE WARNING EITHER. IT'S BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE AND STILL NO SOLUTION. IT WON'T TURN ON | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2020 | ENGINE | THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND WAS ONLY DRIVEN FOR A WEEK. IT WAS IN MOTION ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO SOUND NOISIER THAN USUAL, LIKE THAT OF AN OLDER TRUCK. IT WAS HARD TO NOTICE ON HIGHER SPEEDS ON THE FREEWAY, BUT UPON SLOWING DOWN ON CURVES, IT GOT MORE OBVIOUS THAT SOMETHING WAS REALLY WRONG BECAUSE THE NOISE SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING WAS LOOSE INSIDE THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NO 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT OR ANY OTHER WARNING LIGHTS. UPON EXITING THE FREEWAY, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY WHILE IN MOTION. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL IN A PARKING LOT AND PARK IT SAFELY. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START SAFELY AFTER THAT, AND 'CHECK ENGINE' ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED AT A DEALERSHIP. LAST UPDATE WAS THAT THE ENGINE WAS BEING TAKEN APART COMPLETELY BECAUSE THEY SAID IT'S DEFINITELY INSIDE IT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 625 |
| Dec 2020 | STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES | STARTED VEHICLE EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL SHIFTED VEHICLE INTO DRIVE PROCEEDED FORWARD. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLES STEERING SEIZED I WAS UNABLE TWO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WAS ALSO VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. MESSAGES CAME UP ON TO DISPLAY READING SERVICE POWER STEERING AND BRIEFLY IMESSAGE ABOUT THE BRAKES FLASHED QUICKLY ON THE MESSAGE BOARD. AT THAT POINT TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AFTER I GOT IT STOPPED TURN IT BACK ON SAME MESSAGE STILL UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL REPEATED THIS SEVERAL TIMES APPROXIMATELY FOR FOURTH TIME THE MESSAGE CLEARED AND THE VEHICLE WAS BACK TO NORMAL. THIS OCCURRED ON A CITY STREET. | Crash: No Fire: No | 847 |
| Dec 2020 | SEATS | REACHED FOR A FALLEN OBJECT BETWEEN THE DRIVER AND MIDDLE FRONT SEAT AND THERE IS A RAZOR SHARP PIECE THAT TOOK A LARGE CHUNK OUT OF THE HAND WHICH CAUSED HEAVY BLEEDING AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND JUST TRIED TO RETRIEVE FALLEN OBJECT BETWEEN THE SEATS. THE INCREDIBLY SHARP PARTS NEED TO BE CUT OR REMOVED FROM THIS AND OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES OR COVERED WITH SOMETHING. IT WAS BARE METAL EXPOSED OUT WITH SHARP EDGES THAT CUT THE RIGHT HAND SO BADLY. | Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: 1 Medical attention | 700 |