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2021 GMC Sierra 1500 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
77% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 96% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 441 of 577 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (77%), and the largest group is filed under engine (308). For comparison, the 2020 scores 69% and the 2022 scores 58%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2021 compares with other GMC Sierra 1500 years
Of the 14 GMC Sierra 1500 years with enough complaints to score, the 2021 is the worst on engine and transmission share (77%). The best is the 2013 (19%). By volume, the 2021 drew 577 complaints (441 drivetrain), against 468 for the 2020 and 588 for the 2022.
GMC Sierra 1500 years to avoid and best years →
2010 Sierra 1500 problems · 2011 Sierra 1500 problems · 2012 Sierra 1500 problems · 2013 Sierra 1500 problems · 2014 Sierra 1500 problems · 2015 Sierra 1500 problems · 2016 Sierra 1500 problems · 2017 Sierra 1500 problems · 2018 Sierra 1500 problems · 2019 Sierra 1500 problems · 2020 Sierra 1500 problems · 2021 · 2022 Sierra 1500 problems · 2023 Sierra 1500 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 441 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2021 GMC Sierra 1500 engine and transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 7 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
General Motors, LLC is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, 3500, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles that may have been repaired incorrectly under recall 24V797. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock up.
Risk: Rear wheel lock up increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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…
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.
Risk: Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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…
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with diesel engines. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.
Risk: Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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…
4 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2021 GMC Sierra 1500? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500
Does the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 441 of 577 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (77%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 is engine: 308 of 577 complaints (53%) name it, followed by power train (140) and electrical system (75). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 77% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 96% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 GMC Sierra 1500 years we score, it ranks worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 7 in total: 26V083000 (power train: automatic transmission: control module: software), 25V274000 (engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical), 24V797000 (power train: automatic transmission: control module: software). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which GMC Sierra 1500 years are better?
Among the GMC Sierra 1500 years we track, the 2013 (19%), the 2010 (22%) and the 2014 (25%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2021 (77%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/gmc-sierra-1500
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.