2021 GMC Sierra 1500 Problems: Engine (548 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 is Engine (47% of 548 owner reports). There are 7 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Engine — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 548 complaints · 7 recalls
What problems show up on the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500?
255 of 548 filings named Engine (47% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Transmission / driveline (103 reports).
There are 7 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Tires, Transmission / driveline, and Engine. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The 2020 has 453 reports on file; this year has 548. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.
What owners reported
System named most often: Engine 255 complaints · 46.5% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
- Crashes 5
- Fires 6
- Injuries 2
- Deaths 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Which systems owners named
Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.
“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine (ENGINE) | 255 | 46.5% | 0 crashes · 3 fires |
| Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) | 103 | 18.8% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 40 | 7.3% | 0 crashes · 1 fires |
| Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) | 24 | 4.4% | 0 crashes · 1 fires |
| Steering (STEERING) | 24 | 4.4% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) | 11 | 2.0% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Body / frame (STRUCTURE) | 10 | 1.8% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Lane keeping (LANE DEPARTURE) | 7 | 1.3% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) | 6 | 1.1% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 77 | 14.1% | 1 crashes · 2 fires |
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
When reports and recalls showed up
When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.
- Campaign 24V797000 was reported 1,307 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 25V274000 was reported 1,591 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 26V083000 was reported 1,783 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-Q4 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2021-Q1 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2021-Q2 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| 2021-Q3 | Owner reports | 10 | |
| 2021-Q4 | Owner reports | 9 | |
| 2022-Q1 | Owner reports | 12 | |
| 2022-Q2 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| 2022-Q3 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2022-Q4 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| 2023-Q1 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 2023-Q2 | Owner reports | 12 | |
| 2023-Q3 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2023-Q4 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2024-Q1 | Owner reports | 9 | |
| 2024-Q2 | Owner reports | 15 | |
| 2024-Q3 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| 2024-Q4 | Owner reports | 18 | |
| 2025-Q1 | Owner reports | 53 | |
| 2025-Q2 | Owner reports | 98 | |
| 2025-Q3 | Owner reports | 60 | |
| 2025-Q4 | Owner reports | 43 | |
| 2026-Q1 | Owner reports | 54 | |
| 2026-Q2 | Owner reports | 52 | |
| 2026-Q3 | Owner reports | 45 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 20V684000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 20V792000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 20V811000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 21V985000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 24V797000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 25V274000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 26V083000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE21010 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE25001 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA25007 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | RQ26001 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA26005 |
Safety Recalls (7)
Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.
In short, these campaigns were filed about Tires, Transmission / driveline, and Engine.
-
Recall campaign 20V684000
Safety recall 20V684000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- Overcured tires may experience a carcass break in the sidewall resulting in a sudden air loss or could develop a belt edge separation which could lead to partial or full tread/belt loss. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect vehicles and replace tires that have DOT number and production mold number combinations identified by Continental, free of charge. The recall began December 17, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202319030.
-
Recall campaign 20V792000
Safety recall 20V792000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- If a seat-belt bracket is not secured, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the front-row center seat position, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
- Remedy:
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect left-side and right-side front-row center seat-belt bracket attachments and reassemble it correctly as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202314670.
-
Recall campaign 20V811000
Safety recall 20V811000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy:
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202322230.
-
Recall campaign 21V985000
Tires
- Report date
- Component:
- Tires (TIRES)
- Consequence:
- An ABS system that does not function properly can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Dealers will provide a new 17" spare tire and wheel assembly that is compatible with the accessory wheels, free of charge. Dealers will also apply a new spare tire information label, and provide owners with an owner's manual insert clarifying which spare tire to use with the accessory road tires and with the 17" original tires. Owner notification letters were mailed February 7, 2022. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212346510.
-
Recall campaign 24V797000
Transmission / driveline
- Report date
- Component:
- Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
- Consequence:
- Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Dealers will install new transmission control module software, free of charge. GM will provide a special coverage program to cover the repair of transmissions that are identified by the remedy software as containing a defective control valve. Owner notification letters were mailed December 12, 2024. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, GMC customer service at GMC 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N242454440.
-
Recall campaign 25V274000
Engine
- Report date
- Component:
- Engine (ENGINE)
- Consequence:
- Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Dealers will inspect the engine, and as necessary, repair or replace the engine. For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install 6 oil fill cap, replace the oil filter, and update the owner's manual. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N252494000.
-
Recall campaign 26V083000
Transmission / driveline
- Report date
- Component:
- Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
- Consequence:
- Rear wheel lock up increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Dealers will inspect the vehicles and update the transmission control software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 6, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252516560. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 12, 2026.
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
What owners actually wrote
Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Showing 10 of 548 complaints · page 1 of 22
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Lifter locked up causing bent push rod. This situation caused truck to strand the driver without warning. Truck needed to be towed. This repair was performed by the dealership and is a known issue with 6.2 L engine.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Loss of power, had engine repaired, replaced passenger side head and cylinder. Now drivers side is having the same issue.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Transmission stopped at 29,000 miles, engine died and was replaced at 32,000 miles
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Cam Shaft and Lifter failure. Lifters were replaced 3 times
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Driving on the highway lost proportion/acceleration, loud knocking coming from the engine
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Rear wheel lock up. Very unsafe. I am on my 3rd valve body for my transmission. GM doesn’t want to replace transmission but will warranty for 150k miles. I bumped a semi during one of my lock ups.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle began to shake uncontrollably. A knocking sound was heard from the engine, and the vehicle entered limp mode. No warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to coast the vehicle to the residence. The vehicle was later towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine failed and needed to be replaced. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall, and the contact was advised to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was 81,000.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I had the L87 recall completed, and the vehicle passed inspection. The dealership completed the required protocol and replaced the engine oil with 0W-40. Approximately 6,000 miles later, while traveling at about 75 mph and six hours from home, I experienced a brief loss of power followed by an immediate return of power. My wife and I noticed it but, with no warning lights or alerts, continued driving while monitoring the vehicle. About 10 miles later, we began hearing a faint squealing noise that progressively became worse. I was able to exit the highway safely, but once I came to a complete stop, the engine shut off and would not restart. I had the vehicle towed to the nearest dealership, where it was determined that I had suffered a catastrophic engine failure. No loaner vehicle was available, leaving my family stranded six hours from home with an inoperable vehicle. It took approximately seven to eight weeks for the repair to be completed. When I received the vehicle back, I immediately noticed something still was not right. At around 40 mph and 1,000 RPM, the truck would shudder or hesitate. My local dealership diagnosed a poor spark plug connection on cylinder #3, which was causing arcing and a misfire. After the connection was repaired, the issue was resolved. My local dealership is currently working with the repairing dealership to address several minor workmanship issues, including wire clips, fittings, and missing bolts. This entire event was unexpected. There were no warning lights, alerts, or unusual noises before the initial loss of power. The only indication of a problem was the sudden power loss followed shortly thereafter by a horrific screeching noise. Thankfully, I was able to safely exit the highway and bring the vehicle to a stop. Considering I was traveling at 75 mph, the situation could have been much worse.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
2021 GMC Sierra 1500 equipped with 6.2L L87 engine. At approximately 97,000 miles, the engine developed a significant knocking noise. I immediately took the vehicle to an authorized GMC dealership for diagnosis. The dealer determined that the engine required replacement but advised that my VIN was not included in GM Recall 25V-274. The dealer quoted approximately $15,000 for replacement. I subsequently had an independent repair facility replace the failed engine with a genuine GM replacement engine at a cost of approximately $12,400. I am reporting this because the failure appears similar to the L87 engine bearing/crankshaft failures addressed by Recall 25V-274, despite my VIN not being included in that recall.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
My vehicle is on a recall list. Took it to the dealership for engine vibration test. They changed oil and put on a new cap. My engine blew up a couple weeks later. They replaced my motor. It blew up on the mechanics test drive. I'm now waiting on my 3rd motor. They have had it for over 5 months now.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500?
Owners named Engine most often — 255 of 548 reports (47%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500?
NHTSA lists 7 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Tires, Transmission / driveline, and Engine. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.
What should I inspect before buying a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500?
Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.
Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?
No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.