NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Drove my truck home for lunch. Truck drove normal all morning with no warning lights or audible warnings. Went to leave and head back to work. Put my truck in reverse and it would not move. Still no warning lights or audible warnings. After looking online it said that this was common in the Chevrolet speed transmission. It also says the valve body was bad. They also stated that it could lock up the transmission and cause an accident. Luckily I was not driving down the road to find out. When talking with a Chevrolet dealership they told me that the parts to fix the transmission is on backorder. They also stated that the parts may not be available for months. Because the Chevrolet dealership had other Chevrolet vehicles in with the 10 speed transmission with the same issues and could not get parts because of the valve body being on backorder. They also said that the whole transmission being on backorder. This sounds like it's a common problem with Chevrolet 10 speed transmissions.
No check engine light, and my transmission didn't engage gear. I left vehicle off for the night, started it and it worked perfectly fine. Still, no check engine light was on.
6.2 engine failure second motor put in last week dealer took for test drive truck was towed back for second engine failure
Tailgate, inadvertently opens. Causing, causing items in my truck bed to be exposed, although I haven’t lost anything while traveling. I have witnessed this occurrence while truck is locked sitting in my driveway, last incident was last night, 13 Feb 25. Also, noticed it when pulling out of a repair shop after getting brake pads put on vehicle. Wife had witnessed it a few months ago while driving back from town. I noticed a recall had been made about Chevrolet trucks and inadvertently opening tailgates. However my truck was not listed as a recall, when I checked VIN. Called Chevrolet garage to see if they could find my VIN on the recall list. Most of the recalls were on the 2500 and 3500 series but it also listed trucks with switch in cab for tailgate to open. I do have an appointment for the problem at Chevrolet garage in the 18th. To fix problem and prevent causing a hazard on the roads.
Engine misfire, likely engine will need to be replaced
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle came to a complete stop. The contact shifted into reverse and parked the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the failure had occurred while facing oncoming traffic. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed check valve ball. The contact was informed that the check valve ball body and plates needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 52,648.
My 2021 Chevy jerks and jumps into gear when putting it into drive from park. This has resulted in the truck jetting off uncontrollably. This has happend several times going back to 2021 but Chevy will not do anything about it.
I turned my truck on after grocery shopping and a notice to "Service Power Steering" popped up on my dashboard. I took it to a mechanic shop where they ran diagnostics. They discovered a TSB # 21-NA-149 and error code U0131. They believe there is an intermittent fault within the wiring causing the power steering to go out. My biggest fear is that this happens while I am negotiating a curve and lose power steering causing a crash or someone to get injured. There was also a "Service ESB" notice on the dashboard after the power steering notification.
Engine Seized up on me while driving on the freeway. Four of the crankshaft bearings seized up and one of those four completely melted. good thing the freeway I was on was not too crowded, my dash just all of a sudden lit up saying shift to neutral to restart engine. I was able to get to the shoulder. I tried re starting the engine and nothing happened. I had it towed to Simpson Chevrolet in Irvine CA. they reported back to me and said Engine has seized and I will need a new engine, cost of $16,893. I cannot afford a new engine right now and have been left without a vehicle. GM has taken no responsibility for this failure even though all maintenance has been performed on time every time.
I was driving and my electric steering locked up. I had it towed to a garage and they reset the computer. I'm afraid it's going to happen again. I'm going to the dealership on Tuesday and I don't feel that I should pay for this since it's a safety issue. I only have 50,000 miles on it.can someone please get back to me. Thanks
Around [XXX] on [XXX] the vehicle shut down with no codes showing or any warning. The weather was approximately 13* f. After many failed attempts to restart, and the electrical systems would not power down as if the vehicle thought it was still running. The only way to get the system to shut down was to disconnect the battery. i had to physically push the vehicle to a safe location. The next morning I attempted to diagnose the issue with no success. I had the vehicle hauled to the dealership from which it was purchased in Idaho to have it inspected. Tuesday morning I received word from the dealership that the engine suffered major failure. This will be the 3rd engine in the vehicle. I am uneasy about the dependability of the vehicle as I have recently discovered that this particular engine is having massive failures all over the country. So much so that the NHTSA has opened an investigation for the purposes of safety. I purchased the vehicle for the main purpose of pulling a snowmobile trailer with snowmobile to the mountains and also to tow my boat and trailer. Both of these activities require a vehicle in which I can depend on. While I am waiting for a back order engine the dealership and manufacturer refuse to lend a like vehicle, leaving destitute. I am hoping that this agency can offer some assistance, and I believe it's important that you are made aware of the hazard that this particular engine possesses. As I previously mentioned this the 3rd engine and As far as I can see this will occur again putting myself and others potentially in harms way because of a known issue. This does not make me feel confident of the safety of the vehicle. Be aware where i live there grades in every direction and extreme weather conditions from season to season. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the "Low Oil Pressure - Turn Off Engine" was displayed and the vehicle experienced a loss of automotive power. The contact pulled over to the side of the road to turn off and restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to restart. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Action Number: PE25001 as a possible cause for the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 43,986.
I was driving down the road at no more the 15 mph up hill in 4x4 when the engine shut off. No warning lights or noise and would not turn over. Had it towed to the local dealership to find out the main thrust bearing seized. I have to wait two to three months for a new engine which is covered under warranty. No wheels in the meantime. Only has 25,640 miles on it.
The truck jerks when first driving and will jerk and lundge at various times and speeds. There is a almost grinding nosie. It often says "Reduced Engine Power" and the engine light comes one, the "Service ESC" notice comes on with the vehicle light, when this happens the truck will barely accelerate even if flooring the gas, continues to make a grinding noise. This happens frequently, but then lights go away, then come back on. Dealership pulled multiple codes (image attached). This is a huge safety risk due to failure of acceleration, and the jerking that causes the truck to jerk while in motion and slow.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while washing the vehicle, he noticed that water was entering the vehicle through a crack in the rear window seal. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.
Transmission Overheating and Jerking
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle there was an abnormally loud screeching sound coming from the vehicle, and the engine seized. The contact stated that the transmission was shifting hard. There was an abnormal banging sound coming from the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The Carfax and GM global connect portal warranty document noted an abnormal loud banging noise and front-end damage at 1 mile prior to the purchase, and an insurance claim was filed for the rear main seal. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact filed a claim. The failure mileage was approximately 29,606.
My engine is out due to the piston rings failing and is at a dealership waiting for a new engine. The engine for this vehicle is on national back order with no ETA in sight. Out of nowhere the low oil light came on and I had to stop immediatley to check it as to make sure nothing happened while I was driving down the road. The dealership that has it has confirmed that the issue was due to the pistons. This vehilce was purchased brand new and has had perfect maintenance performed on it since day one. The dealership has inspected the vehicle. The low oil light first came on in February. I took it straight to a place to have them check it and change the oil again just until I could get it to the dealership a few days later. I was advised to have an oil consumption test done. On the 3rd time, which would have been around 3000 miles, it had already consumed more than a quart of oil. They did a borescope and confirmed that the pistons are bad and because of this the inside of the engine is scored. Now I need a new engine on a vehicle that I've taken perfect care of. I believe that this vehicle should be included in the GM recall with the other 6.2 engines as this is also a 6.2 engine in the same year range. I have included the paperwork from the dealership and my carfax showing maintenance.
I am filing this safety complaint regarding a documented engine wire harness chafing defect in my 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with the 2.7L L3B Turbo engine. While driving, my truck experienced erratic acceleration, engine throttling to 3,000 RPM without returning to idle after releasing the accelerator, engine misfires, sudden loss of engine power, stalling, and multiple simultaneous warning lights. These conditions created immediate safety and collision risks on public roads. GM issued TSB 21-NA-149 in June 2021 and a second bulletin September 17, 2021, both before my November 2021 purchase, identifying wire harness chafing in the L3B engine caused by a manufacturing error. A wire harness clip was removed during production creating an uncontrolled harness branch that contacts sharp edges on the ECM/TCM bracket, upper control arm, and shock tower during normal engine vibration. This defect was built into the vehicle at the factory and was never disclosed to me at point of sale. The defect manifested after warranty expiration causing cascading failures; wire harness, catalytic converter, and transmission, all within five weeks. Vehicle has been inoperable since January 8, 2026. Defect confirmed by independent mechanic and by Ancira-Winton Chevrolet (authorized GM dealer) in their own repair documentation referencing GM Bulletin 21-NA-149. Dealer documented catalytic converter failure as consequential damage from wire harness repair. GM created Customer Satisfaction Program N192219370 for this exact defect. My VIN was excluded despite experiencing identical symptoms. No safety recall has been issued. Loss of throttle control and stalling at highway speeds represents an imminent collision risk. I request NHTSA investigate a formal safety recall for 2019-2023 Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with the L3B engine.
2021 Silverado LT Trail Boss 6.2 (production date: 01/2021) was taken to the GM/Chevy dealer (Ed Morse Chevrolet) on 01/29/2024. It was confirmed by the GM mechanic that the engine had failed (75k miles) due to a shattered camshaft and metal in the engine and a complete engine replacement is needed. Had prior complaint at around 6k miles for engine noise along with hard shifts and a check engine light that had appeared then went away on its own (documented). I was told by a GM certified dealership, it was normal in the new trucks and no action was taken. Unsatisfied, I made another appointment for a second opinion and only regular maintenance service was suggested and performed several days after, at a GM certified dealership. All oil changes have been performed in a timely manner. No forewarning prior to engine failure to include check engine light or any system messages, although trucks performance from the initial complaint did not subside. To my knowledge, this vehicles engine is weighing heavy on consumers safety with engine failure and is a well documented issue, leaving many stranded. Thank you!
While driving vehicle pulling out into an intersection lost power do to Transmission failure (valve control body). Truck was towed to a Chevy Dealer and was confirmed transmission failure. There was no warning or symptoms prior to this incident.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle started shaking abnormally, and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that some undisclosed parts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the contact stated that the vehicle was still shaking slightly. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 92,000.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The component that failed is the lifter in my 2021 GM truck, which caused severe engine damage. The vehicle is currently at the dealership and is available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? My safety and the safety of my child were significantly put at risk when the engine failure occurred on the freeway while traveling at 65 miles per hour. Multiple warning lights illuminated on the dashboard, and the truck became hard to control. I was fortunate to maneuver the vehicle safely out of traffic without harm, but the sudden loss of engine power could have led to a serious accident. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the problem has been confirmed by the dealership, which conducted diagnostics and determined that the lifter malfunction caused severe engine damage, necessitating a full engine replacement. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership, which is an authorized service center for GM. However, it has not been inspected by the manufacturer directly, police, or insurance representatives. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? There were no warning lights, messages, or any other symptoms prior to the failure. The vehicle was driving normally when, all of a sudden, it began to shake and slow down,
I have just been made aware that there is a lot going on right now with the l87 6.2 motor. I purchased my truck last September so I e had it almost a year 1/2. I recently started having what seems like a misfire issue as of 1/20/2025. I have it scheduled to be checked out Friday 1/24/2025. I’m just reporting this to cover my back if any recall or anything comes about. In addition I’ve had regular oil changes and maintenance on the truck. It’s currently inspected and insured.
Major engine failure / main bearing failure with the engine burning oil and no warning signs no oil leaks or no burning oil smoke out of exhaust. I’m in the process of having the engine re built out of pocket on this date 1/19/2025 and have no documentation from repair shop at this time so I can’t up load any further information till I get it completed,
Started The Vehicle and the Steering wheel would not turn. Warning said: Service ESC & Service Power Steering Drive and the Stability Control Light came on. After ready many complaints about the same thing, we turned the car off for 20 minutes and then on again and it worked. But this is dangerous.
1st incident cracked frame/suspension support for front suspension, 4 months to fix, 2nd incident oil pump, lifter failure, replaced under warranty. 3rd failure engine sieze while driving at 55-60 mph. Warning light flashed loss of oil pressure shut down immediately, put it in neutral to coat to side of road but moment I shifted to N engine failed, had to tow home cuz dealer was a month out to look at it, had to send to a different dealership 60 miles away to get looked at, confirmed castrophic engine failure, GM dealer wanted me to pay to fix it. I have had 2 major engine issues, 1 major suspension frame issue.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the oil pressure level fluctuated between 60 and 0. The contact stated that the low-pressure oil warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the oil level was continually being topped off. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. In addition, the contact was advised to have an oil change every 1,000 miles while waiting for the recall repair to be performed. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving approximately 65-70 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The message “Reduced Power” was displayed. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the lifters and push rods needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The contact stated that the vehicle started to smoke while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 7,000.
Vehicle has less than 35k miles. Vehicle started and operated normally Attempted to turn onto main thoroughfare from a stop. While still in drive, vehicle engine rev’d up but transmission did not engage. Attempted to cycle through gear selector with same result. Reverse is the only gear that allowed vehicle movement. Serious safety concern if this were to happen while traveling at any significant speed or if trying to merge or cross heavy traffic. Vehicle has not had an official diagnosis, but I believe this is a transmission valve body problem known to the manufacturer. There was no indication prior to this event of any mechanical or electrical problems with the vehicle. This issue could easily get someone killed.
Truck died on busy road. Towed to certified Chevy dealer. They heard knocking noise did oil change drove it truck died again. Stated engine seized. Warranty dept denying claim saying truck driven 30 seconds to 1 minute after oil pressure light came on. But no lights came on for us and verified from diagnostic done at the Chevy dealer.
I washed my truck and now suddenly the tailgate opens and closes whenever it decides and I have paint that is bubbling and it looks as if it’s gonna all chip right off the hood
The rear power tailgate was randomly opening and closing on its own, on several different occasions. The safety risk was, if the tailgate would have opened when traveling down the roadways, items in the back could have fell out and possibly striking another vehicle and causing an accident. The truck has been taken to Gandrud Chevrolet in Green Bay WI, confirmed there was a faulty tailgate switch and replaced. There was no warning before the switch failed, it just happened on its own.
On January 6 and 7, 2025, the broken transmission valve body was subjected to inspection by a Chevrolet dealership. The vehicle exhibited faulty gear shifts, which resulted in reduced speeds and triggered the activation of "limp mode." This malfunction occurred while driving under severe winter storm conditions, posing a potential risk for serious injury. The issue was methodically diagnosed and documented for parts replacement. Furthermore, the transmission service indicator activated via the associated application, and the check engine light illuminated alongside a blinking "D" mode indicator at the time the warning lights were activated. The initial signs and symptoms of the issue were first observed at 11:00 PM on January 5, 2025.
1. The automatic tailgate opens by itself randomly. It appears to be malfunctioning. I am unable to open it from the tailgate now. When it’s open it continues to attempt to unlatch making the noise. It’s opened while driving. 2. So far I lost a cooler on the highway due to this problem which would cause a road hazard to other drivers. 3. I brought it to the dealer they said it’s not there problem due to my vin not matching the recall even though there’s a recall for this problem with same year trucks. 4. It has not been inspected due it not being an official recall. 5. No warning lights regarding this issue.
Engine failed, crank bearings let go. Truck lost power while traveling down the road.
The 6.2 is using 1-1.5 QT. every 3000 or so miles. I have done the check every 1000 miles. Had a bent lifter replaced 2 christmas ago.
Vehicle is shuttering while driving, vibrating at different speeds and it feels like the wheels are locking.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving from a complete stop, the transmission was slipping between the third and fourth gears. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving between the sixth and seventh gears. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed due to the TCM and torque converter failure; however, the parts were not available to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed or while stopping the vehicle, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the top of the engine where the lifters were located. The contact stated that the spring in the engine had collapsed, causing the check engine message to be displayed. The contact stated that the dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the lifters on the top of the engine were causing the DEF sensor to engage. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the temperature gauge remained at hot (Hot) location, with a dinging warning notification. The check engine and "Transmission idle temperature high" messages were displayed. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road each time and turned off for approximately 45 minutes to allow the vehicle to cool down. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
Started my truck and the check engine light was flashing along with a few other warming lamp lit up. When I went to drive the truck the engine started to make some noise, and didn't have much power. After being diagnosed by the dealer ship the motor needed new valves, lifters and camshaft. The bill for the repairs is going to be around $8,500 and GM is not willing to help with the costs.
Driving to work my engine failure light came on….the engine immediately sputtered. I immediately drove inside the bay at Ozark Chevrolet. As soon as I pulled in….the technician told me to turn it off and that I wouldn’t be driving it anymore. See my statement for $3,429.15. I have to carry my grandkids in this vehicle. I traded it in on Tundra. And now I find out about the recall. It was the 8cyl engine currently under recall.
UNKNOWN. PARK Switch module is not working correctly. The vehicle keeps displaying message saying the vehicle needs to be the parking position.
With absolutely no warning, the 6.2 liter V-8 engine with 28,500 miles on it seized up solid and would not run. I was stranded in heavy Christmas traffic and completely blocked one lane. It was an unsafe situation. I had to summon a wrecker to come and tow the vehicle, and I called 911 for police presence to alert and direct traffic. The vehicle was at the Chevy dealer for a month while they installed a new engine. The dealer never fully confirmed what the cause was - I don't believe they really know - and I only have 10 months of warranty left. I am concerned about another failure and thought I should at least get the warranty on the new engine re-set to 60,00 or more miles.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH and attempting to overtake a semi, the vehicle lost automotive power and stalled. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. No further information was available. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 100,000.
While driving down a major, extremely dangerous highway [XXX] in Pasco County, FL) my truck randomly shut off (with zero warning, no check engine lights, nothing) Thankfully, i was already in the right hand lane and managed to coast into a gas station. At 60, 375 miles on my 2021 truck I was 352 miles outside of the powertrain warranty, so I had my truck towed to the closest chevy dealership to see if they would good-will the warranty. They (Chevy) reported to me that there was a rod-knock with an estimate of $17,203.52 to rebuild the motor. I would also have to pay approximately $2000 (10 hrs of labor) for tear down of motor to even see if GM would POSSIBLY pay out anything on warranty. I am the only owner of this truck since day 1. I have every oil change record that was done as specified by the manufacturer. I have no means of transportation at this time. My truck is available for inspection. I am also unable to take out any other vehicle loans while I am forced to pay for a truck that now, has no motor. Also, I went in for a recall of a software update for the forward collision system. Previous to the dealerships update, the system was working fine. After the update, the collision system no longer works. This is greatly affecting my ability to work, and function as a member of society. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
There is a water leak from the rear roof leaking causing water to come inside by the rear window down the rear pillar by the airbag. May cause problems with the rear side airbag and mold. Dealer charged me a $273 diagnostics charge and will not repair under warranty or extended warranty even though there is a TSB on this affecting numerous other trucks
Lifter failure on number 2 cylinder.
The first time it happened my Truck started shaking a lot on the highway and it left me stranded on the side of the road. It had around 20,000 miles on it. When it got repaired I was told it had to do with the lifters on the left side of the engine. Took them 2 weeks to fix the issue. The second time it happened was on the ramp getting on to the highway, this time at 58,000 miles and now the right side lifters. Except this time they couldn’t fix it and they are going to replace the whole engine and give me a new one. Only thing is that it's been in Chevrolet shop for over 2 months and they have an ETA of a new Engine arriving in about a month if even that. So currently don't have my truck.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Aug 30, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.