2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 recalls & problems

Safety recalls

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

What owners report

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

• Engine

  On October 18, 2026, I was driving my 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with the 5.3L V8 engine at highway speeds with my wife and two young daughters in the vehicle when the engine suddenly lost power and the truck began shaking violently. The check engine light flashed, and "Service ESC" and "Service Parking Brake" warnings appeared on the dashboard. The sudden loss of power at highway speeds created a serious safety risk to my family and surrounding motorists. I was able to get the vehicle off the highway safely. Restarting the truck did not resolve the issue, and it was no longer drivable. The truck was towed by a AAA contractor to a Chevrolet dealership. Following inspection, the…

  Oct 18, 2026
• Engine

  My truck experienced a sudden catastrophic engine failure at highway speeds. It is directly related to the current recall on L87 gm engines and has the same symptoms but is not covered under the current recall. The crankshaft failed thus causing the timing chain to break completely destroying the engine.

  Oct 21, 2026
• Engine

  I was cruising down the highway at 55mph when the engine suddenly shut off. I took it to a mechanic who said the engine suffered a catastrophic failure and would need replaced. The truck only has around 93,000 miles on it and should definitely be looked into. The vehicle has always been very well maintained.

  Oct 21, 2026
• Engine and engine cooling

  The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. While driving approximately 35 - 40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost automotive power. The contact parked and restarted the vehicle; however, the RPM fluctuated and the failure persisted while driving. The vehicle then failed to restart and was towed to the dealer and DTC: P0016 was retrieved. The failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

  Sep 15, 2026 · 85,000 miles
• Engine

  My 6.2L is experiencing engine knocking. Sounds like ball bearings rolling around at idle and acceleration. Its been seen by GM dealer and they notice "something" isnt right but say its not part of recall at this time. They want it to fail more before pursuing.

  Jul 1, 2026
• Engine and engine cooling

  The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine coolant control valve had failed and required replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in Special Coverage Program: N252508341 (Coolant Control Valve), nor was the VIN included in the associated technical service bulletin. The contact stated that the failure occurred on several occasions. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 77,000.

  Dec 15, 2025 · 77,000 miles
• Suspension

  last October 2025 while going a slow rate of speed my passenger front ball joint severed and this past 17 oct 2026 my driver side ball joint broke also going a slow rate of speed after turning onto a highway.

  Oct 17, 2026
• Engine

  Coolant control valve Is available for inspection Safty issues include Loss of power steering and brakes while driving Sudden power limp mode Sudden engine over heating and engine seizure Loss of visibility due to smoke and Loss of defrosting Inspection done by chevolet (live oak Fl) Check engine light and code p1098 appeared after defect.

  Sep 10, 2026

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

• Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedyOpen

  On January 16, 2026, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ26001. This investigation was opened to assess the remedy effectiveness of Recall 25V-274. ODI has received complaints alleging engine failure in vehicles after the recall remedy had been completed, whether that remedy involved an oil viscosity change or a complete engine replacement. General Motors (GM) issued Recall 25V-274 to address concerns of engine failure in the L87 engines produced between March 1, 2021 and May 31, 2024. GM cited the root cause as a supplier manufacturing and quality issue. GM’s recall remedy for Recall 25V-274 consisted of two different repairs, either an oil viscosity change or an engine replacement, based on the results of the remedy inspection procedure. ODI continues to receive reports of engine failures after the completion of the recall remedy. To date, ODI has…

  EA26005 · opened Aug 20, 2026
• Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedyClosed

  On January 16, 2026, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ26001. This investigation was opened to assess the remedy effectiveness of Recall 25V-274. ODI has received complaints alleging engine failure in vehicles after the recall remedy had been completed, whether that remedy involved an oil viscosity change or a complete engine replacement. General Motors (GM) issued Recall 25V-274 to address concerns of engine failure in the L87 engines produced between March 1, 2021 and May 31, 2024. GM cited the root cause as a supplier manufacturing and quality issue. GM’s recall remedy for Recall 25V-274 consisted of two different repairs, either an oil viscosity change or an engine replacement, based on the results of the remedy inspection procedure. ODI continues to receive reports of engine failures after the completion of the recall remedy. To date, ODI has…

  RQ26001 · opened Jan 16, 2026 · closed Aug 20, 2026
• Loss of motive power due to engine failureOpen

  The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 1,157 reports of engine bearing failure failures in the L87 6.2L engine produced by General Motors (GM). Of the 1,157 reports received, 173 are outside of the scope of recall 25V-274. These engines are installed in Model Years (MY) 2019–2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, and 2021-2024MY Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, GMC Yukon/Yukon XL, and Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV vehicles. The subject engine failures were investigated as part of a Preliminary Evaluation (PE25001). GM determined that these engine failures were due to multiple supplier manufacturing and quality issues. GM issued recall 25V-274 to address the supplier manufacturing and quality issues produced between March 1, 2021, and May 31, 2024. Based on the issuance of recall 25V-274, NHTSA has closed PE25001. ODI continues to receive a significant number…

  EA25007 · opened Oct 23, 2025
• Loss of motive power due to engine failureClosedLed to recall 25V274

  On January 16, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE25001 after receiving complaints and field reports concerning engine failures in MY2019-2024 GM’s full-size truck and SUV T1XX platform equipped with the L87 6.2L V8 engine. These complainants alleged engine bearing failures resulting in knocking and growling noises from the engine’s bottom end and in some cases more severe consequences such as broken connecting rods leading to engine damage, or engine failure. If the engine fails during vehicle operation, the vehicle will lose propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. On April 24, 2025, GM issued recall 25V-274 to address the concern with L87 engines produced between March 1, 2021, and May 31, 2024. GM cited the root cause as a supplier manufacturing and quality issues. GM’s recall remedy will be either an oil change to an oil with…

  PE25001 · opened Jan 16, 2025 · closed Oct 23, 2025
• Air Bag MalfunctionClosed

  On April 9, 2021, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE21-010 to investigate instances of air bag malfunction indicator light (MIL) illumination and potential for frontal air bag non-deployment in several vehicles manufactured by General Motors (GM). The vehicles included model year (MY) 2020 through 2021 CT4 and CT5 passenger cars, Sierra and Silverado trucks (1500/2500/3500 models), XT4 and MY 2021 Escalade, Suburban, Tahoe, Yukon SUVs.Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 21-NA-005, issued in March 2021, addresses air bag MIL illumination with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) B0001-1B or B0012-0D. It cites rust particles in the connection terminal interface of the driver air bag inflator housing as the cause of the air bag MIL illumination. Illumination of the air bag MIL under these circumstances may result in a non-deployment of the frontal driver air bag during a frontal…

  PE21010 · opened Apr 9, 2021 · closed Aug 24, 2023