Complaint volume
520 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
520 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 GMC Sierra, grouped by component category.
520 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 109 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 51,910 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 169
POWER TRAIN 64
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 41
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 29
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 26
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 16
STEERING 13
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE 12
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 10
SERVICE BRAKES 9
520 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2021 | SUSPENSION | On 22 December 2020, I received a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT X31 Truck. The day that I drove it I notice that the Truck was riding as though it had a low Tire issue. It was riding bouncy. I had no low tire light. I checked the Tire Pressure and they all was over inflated. I brought the pressure back to range, but the Truck was riding the same over rough and bumpy roads that the rear end of the Vehicle was shifting from side too side when you hit a bumpy or on rough roads. it felt like the rear end was coming off the ground very frighten. I called GM they assigned a case number and I took the Truck to Three dealership with the same answer that all bolts were tighten to Spec. Ok I get that, but did not address the problem that the truck is doing. I am not comfortable driving this truck especially when you have no I deal when your terrain will change and the back end of y0our Vehicle moves from side to sider on you. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2021 | ENGINE | Bought GMC Sierra 1500 brand new. At approximately 2300 miles the engine light started blinking. I took it in and they said they couldn't find anything wrong with it. At 3700 miles it started again and I took it in. It has a bent push rod causing engine failure. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2021 | ENGINE | GM has a lifter problem that causes complete engine failure. When this happens the engine completely locks up rendering the vehicle completely shutdown. This is happening over and over in early stages of 2021 Chevrolet and GMC Vortec V-8s. Mine happened at 13000 miles on a 2021 6.2L GMC Denali, and GM is only fixing the problem partially and as I understand with the same defective product that just failed. Also it is known this failure likely will happen again as it is a design flaw. If this happens in the wrong traffic situation it will be very dangerous. I am very concerned. When my vehicle was towed to dealer they had 7 other 2021 complete engine failures just like mine waiting for repair. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2021 | ENGINE | The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving in inclement weather, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact looked under the vehicle and saw that engine oil was leaking from a puncture in the oil pan. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer however, the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 5,800. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 5,800 |
| Jul 2021 | STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving 20-30 mph, she heard abnormal noises coming from the trunk of the vehicle, with no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the dash line had detached from its holder and was rubbing against the frame of the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired, however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who diagnosed that the drive axle, band, and rear pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 420. | Crash: No Fire: No | 420 |
| Jun 2021 | AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS | Airbag light and "Service Safety Restraint System" keep flashing on and off intermittently. Sometimes every 5 seconds. Sometimes once or twice a day. This is a known issue with 2021 GM trucks and SUVs. Trying to get vehicle in for service but dealer said they are booked 2 weeks out and won't given loaner vehicles at all anymore. The vehicle has less than 2000 miles on it. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2021 | LANE DEPARTURE | The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the Lane Departure Assist warning failed to activate when the vehicle drifted out of the driving lane. The failure was intermittent. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to identify the cause of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle operated as intended. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100. | Crash: No Fire: No | 100 |
| May 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | This is the second time I stop at the grocery store for about 15 or 20 min, get back in the car push the start, then the truck keep cranking with no start for about 20 seconds. Then I try second time and it fires up. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| 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,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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |